Carnaval de Ponce facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carnaval de Ponce
Poster bill of the 2011 Carnaval de Ponce, celebrated 2–8 March 2011, in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Official name	Carnaval Ponceño
Also called	Carnaval de Ponce
Type	Local, cultural
Celebrations	Parades, parties, dances, music, food
Date	Week before Ash Wednesday
2024 date	14-17 February
Frequency	Annual
First time	1858
Related to	Lent

The Carnaval de Ponce (which means Ponce Carnival in English), officially called Carnaval Ponceño, is a yearly celebration in Ponce, Puerto Rico. This fun event lasts for one week. Like many other Carnival celebrations around the world, it ends on Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday. This means it usually happens in February or March.

The Carnaval de Ponce has a long history, going all the way back to 1858. Some experts, like the Smithsonian Institution, even think it might be as old as 250 years! This carnival happens at the same time as other famous carnivals, such as Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Carnival of Venice in Italy, and Rio de Janeiro's Carnival in Brazil. Around 100,000 people are estimated to attend this exciting event each year. In 2011, scenes from the Carnaval Ponceño were even shown on the Travel Channel.

History of the Carnaval

Carnaval de Ponce in 2011

There are no official papers that say exactly when the Carnaval started. However, there are documents that mention the celebration as early as 1858. The Carnaval de Ponce began in 1858 as a mask dance. It was started by a Spanish person named José de la Guardia.

This mask dance became a tradition over the years. But it wasn't until the 1950s that the local government added a big parade to the Carnaval. In the early 1960s, the parade started to include special floats. These floats represented different groups, like schools, colleges, banks, and businesses.

The Office of Cultural Development in Ponce believes that the idea for the Carnaval might have come from the Nice Carnival in France. They think it spread to Barcelona in Spain, and then immigrants from Barcelona brought it to Ponce. Over time, the people of Ponce added their own special touches. They included Afro-Antillean music, which fills the celebration with lively drums, rhythm, and happiness.

In June 1995, the Carnaval de Ponce even traveled to New York City! More than 200 performers, folk artists, and musicians from Ponce marched down New York's Fifth Avenue. The Carnaval's Queen and Child Queen, along with the Banda Municipal de Ponce (Ponce Municipal Band), were also part of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. During the week before the parade, folk artists from Ponce taught children in New York how to make the traditional Ponce carnival masks. In 2012, a local news paper called the Carnaval de Ponce "Puerto Rico's National Carnival."

Costumes and Masks

Illustration of a vejigante mask

One of the most important traditions of the Carnaval is the appearance of the "vejigantes." These are people wearing very colorful costumes. The costumes traditionally represent the devil or evil spirits. Vejigantes carry blown-up cow bladders. They use these bladders to make loud noises and playfully tap carnival attendees during the parades.

The traditional vejigante masks used in the Ponce carnival are made from paper mache. They are easy to spot because they have many horns. Ponce artists developed this unique mask style in the early 1900s. They make the masks using old newspaper mixed with homemade glue and paint. These detailed Ponce carnival masks are very popular with mask collectors. They have even become a symbol of Puerto Rico itself.

The Carnaval ends with a special event called the "Burial of the Sardine." This event started in 1967. During this time, everyone sings a song in Spanish. The song's words translate to:

How the Carnaval Helps the Economy

The local government invests about $100,000 in the Carnaval each year. This event brings in about $500,000 to the city's economy. This means it helps local businesses and people.

List of Events

The Carnaval begins on the Wednesday before Ash Wednesday. Here are the main events that happen each day:

• Wednesday: Vejigantes Party
• Thursday: King Momo Entrance Parade
• Friday: Crowning of the Child Queen
• Saturday: Crowning of the Carnival Adult Queen
• Sunday: Main Parade
• Monday: Carnival's Ball Dance
• Tuesday: Burial of the Sardine

Carnaval Queens and Child Queens

2011 Sand Sculpture by the Sand Masters on Plaza Degetau, Ponce

In 1959, the Carnaval started a new tradition: crowning a Carnaval queen. Later, in 1973, they began crowning a Carnaval child queen too. These queens are an important part of the celebration.

Carnaval Queens

Carnaval Child Queens

See also

In Spanish: El Carnaval de Ponce para niños

• Feria de Artesanías de Ponce
• Ponce Jazz Festival
• Fiesta Nacional de la Danza
• Día Mundial de Ponce
• Festival Nacional de la Quenepa
• Bienal de Arte de Ponce
• Festival de Bomba y Plena de San Antón
• Carnaval de Vejigantes
• Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño