Hi there!
Hey, everybody is forgeting the other most famous Carnival in Spain, and it's just as popular as the one in Cádiz, I'm talking about the one in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. It is actually more spectacular.
I guess in Cádiz there is more 'juerga', but people's costumes in Tenerife rival those of Rio de Janeiro(well, they tend to be a little bit larger than the ones in Brazil ;)), the 'tinerfeños'(people from that island) prepare their disguises for months, and the more elaborate ones take them the whole year!
This is what I know:
Carnivals always take place in February, but the exact date depends on when is Holy Week each year.
In Madrid, there's a big 'baile de disfraces' at the Círculo de Bellas Artes.
The Carnival was forbidden during Franco's dictatorship! (after all it's a celebration of 'Don Carnal'(=Mr. Carnal)!)
'El entierro de la sardina'...., now THAT'S a peculiar tradition, at least it's always puzzled me!
As for the figures Eddie mentions, I don't know how the 'gaditanos'(people from Cádiz) call the ones they burn, but the figures of Las Fallas of Valencia are called 'ninots'.
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!
[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: pim ]