From Carnival Friday to Ash Wednesday, Madrid transforms year after year into a who’s who party, with parties, parades, musical performances and many more activities. In 2024 it will be celebrated from February 10 to 14. eMadrid brings you closer to this tradition, which in other cities around the world has great significance and in Madrid is achieving great recognition for the complete offer that the capital of Spain offers.
The history of Carnivals in Madrid dates back centuries, influenced by the carnival traditions of different regions of Spain and the cultural legacy of the city. Although the celebration has gone through ups and downs over the years, it has now become an essential event in the Madrid festive calendar.
Carnivals in Madrid are a vibrant and colorful celebration that attracts locals and visitors from all over the world. Although the city is not traditionally considered one of the main destinations for this festival, in recent years it has been gaining popularity thanks to the cultural diversity and contagious energy that characterizes the Spanish capital.
The couturier Lorenzo Caprile gives the proclamation on Saturday the 10th, at 11:00 a.m., the starting signal for this year’s festival programming, whose nerve center will be the Matadero Madrid.
The Carnival parades in Madrid are true spectacles of creativity and fun, with decorated floats, dance groups, music bands and participants dressed as a wide variety of characters. From classics, such as harlequins and clowns, to movie characters and historical figures, the parade is a display of the imagination and ingenuity of the people of Madrid.
On Saturday, February 10, three creative expression workshops for children will give free rein to their imagination. The children’s party does not stop with a themed gymkhana for the carnivals of the world and the Almavera puppet show, by the Etcétera company. And so that this day doesn’t leave your mind, the traditional giants and big heads and the Jingle Django band of musicians will continue. At 2:00 p.m., all of them will be the protagonists of an end-of-party parade that will invade the Matadero facilities in Madrid.
In the afternoon, the wig party takes to the streets, three hours of music of different styles in which wigs will be mandatory to join. The DJs El Cuerpo del Disco, Oro Jondo and Laura Put will set the rhythm in which to move the hair of the wig.
Madrid has its traditions
On Sunday, February 11, again at Matadero Madrid, it will be the turn to revive Madrid’s own traditions:
- The manteo of a rag doll, which will be staged by the Arrabel Cultural Association at 11:00 a.m. Together with the troupe of giants and big heads, it will transport children and adults to the time that Goya portrayed in his famous tapestry cartoons.
- At 12:00 p.m., musical creativity and the most eccentric performances will come from the murgas and chirigotas.
One of the most emblematic places to celebrate Carnival in Madrid is Puerta del Sol, where crowds of people gather to enjoy the festive atmosphere and participate in the different scheduled activities. Another popular meeting point is the Chueca neighborhood, known for its LGTBIQ+ community and its vibrant celebrations throughout the year.
Gastronomy also plays an important role in the Carnivals in Madrid, with numerous restaurants and bars offering themed menus and special dishes inspired by the festival. From traditional sweets like ears and buñuelos to creative tapas with names alluding to Carnival, food is an essential part of the experience.
The Burial of the Sardine (Ash Wednesday. February 14, 2024)
The Carnival festival closes, like every year, with the Burial of the Sardine, an event that Goya himself transferred to one of his paintings.
So that the party doesn’t end with a bad taste in our mouths, we’re going with sardines!
The program “The Courtship of the Sardine: We’re going sardines!” celebrates its fifth edition in Carnival 2024 with a tour of more than a hundred places in Madrid where you can taste original versions of the “carnival sardine”, worthy of the most demanding palates
In short, Carnivals in Madrid are a unique celebration that combines tradition, creativity and fun in a festive and welcoming atmosphere. Whether enjoying the main parade, participating in themed activities or simply strolling through the decorated streets, this festivity offers an unforgettable experience for all those who are lucky enough to experience it in Madrid.
*Post by eMadrid.com
