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COLOMBIA CARNIVAL
Introduced by the Spanish, the carnival in Colombia has added elements of the European culture and has synthesized and interpreted the traditions that belonged to the African and Indian culture of Colombia. There’s evidence which shows that the carnival had already existed in the country in the XVIII century and that caused disturbances among the authorities who banned the celebrations in the main powerful colonial cities such us Cartagena, Bogotá and Popayán. The carnival, as a consequence, had to continue its evolution in the villages and small towns, places that were not important at all and where the celebrations didn’t offend the elites.
The result was the never ending celebration of carnivals in Barranquilla (Carnival of Barranquilla), and in other towns along the Magdalena River, as also in Pasto (Carnival of Blacks and Whites) in the south of the country. In modern times, during XX century, there were many attempts to introduce the carnival into the capital of the country but this aim was never achieved since they didn’t get the permission of all the authorities. The Carnival of Bogotá had to wait until XXI century to be brought back by the same authorities of the city. |
Colombia carnival
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Carnival in the North of Colombia
The Carnival in Colombia has European roots. This kind of festivities were introduced into the new continent by the Spanish and the Portuguese. The Carnival celebrations of Barranquilla took place in the XVIII century and has its roots in Cartagena during the colonial period as slaves events. The Carnival of Barranquilla started to become famous when the festivities were banned in Cartagena in the year 1781, since they disturbed the authorities who were afraid of losing the control over the population.
The carnivals in the XVIII century were also celebrated in the Mompos city and in the towns located along the Magdalena River, place that added and adapted Indian influences which got mixed with the African and European traditions.
The carnival of Barranquilla was celebrated in an official way since 1876, however, it was celebrated years ago. The Carnival of Barranquilla shows the pattern of immigrants that came from rural areas and established their selves in the city, a city that was growing and developing constantly. The African and Indian female descendents, such us the animal dances, were brought through these routes during different periods and still today they are danced in their original places.
There are also events, dances and costumes that are typical of certain regions and had not been added to the Carnival of Barranquilla, although they belong to regions over routes that carried the traditions of the city.
Carnival in the Bajo Magdalena
The Carnival of Riosucio in Caldas is perhaps one of the most authentic carnivals. It’s celebrated in an official way since 1847, when the populations of Quiebralomo and Montaña got united. It started as the celebration of The Three wise Men, a festivity that the people of Quiebralomo already celebrated since the XVI century and in where they mixed European and African traditions. In this carnival people pick up Indian elements worshipping the ground, symbolized in Guarapo and in pumpkins, places where they kept the elements, they also worshipped the sun, invocating by using feline features, specially the jaguar, a sacred animal that symbolized the astral king. This symbol has been showed in the devil sculptures of the carnival.
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The Carnival of Blacks and Whites of Pasto is a very traditional and important one. Is one of the oldest celebrations of the continent which commemorates a free day, in where the African slaves could spread their creativity and joy.
Some historians say that in 1607 there was a slave rebellion in Remedios, event that caused panic among the authorities. This event was remembered by the black population of Popayán who claimed for a day to rest, a day in where they could be really free.
The King of Spain gave them that day, it was January 5th. It is said that when the news arrived, the black populations went directly to the streets to dance African music and they started painting in black all the white walls of the city.
This enthusiastic celebration was brought to Pasto by the Ayerbe family around 1854. By the year 1887, this celebration had seduced many of high class members and had achieved a refined level. The people had started wearing masks. The Castañeda Family is showed in the music groups of January 4th and is perhaps a cartoon of the Ayerbe Family.
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Colombia carnival costume
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Carnival of center of Colombia
The carnival arrived at the capital of Colombia in modern times. The celebration of the first carnival in Bogotá began in 1916 and started as an student carnival in where Queen congeniality was chosen. The first Queen of the carnival was Elvira Zea. When Elvira won the contest decided to use her own name as a real name, that’s how she was called Elvira I. The Queen of the carnival was the one who was in charge of the opening ceremonies of the carnival celebrations. In the years that came after the carnivals, the number of music groups increased as the Queens of beauty. During the 30s, the national government and the mayoralty of Bogotá banned the carnival due to disturbances caused by the alcohol consume. There was an attempt to organize the carnival again in 1960 but also failed because of the alcohol and violence problems.
The carnival finally was brought back by the mayor of Bogotá, Luis Eduardo Garzón, following the resolution of the government on April 14th of 2005. The objective was to promote a friendly atmosphere, to celebrate life and the creative expression. It pretended to take this festivity as part of the country, part of the culture, and also to reinforce the process of reconciliation and fair play, and to include the different areas and cultures of the capital of Colombia.
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