We continue our run down of South America’s best carnival countries and their traditional celebrations, offering alternatives to the well known Brazilian carnival.
Carnival in Uruguay
The Montevideo Carnaval of Uruguay is one of the most popular carnivals in South America, and is a highly reputable and fun affair. Nowadays the festival includes extravagant costumes, stages, dancers, competitions and a range of drums played throughout the parade. However, it is Uruguay’s rich African traditions that sets the carnival apart. The sounds of the candombe, an African drum and dance, beats through the city, while white men paint themselves black as means of apology to the black slaves of the 19th century. Desfile de las Llamadas, or Parade of the Calls, is a real treat and a favorite among spectators, where the ritual of the black peoples’ calls to one another is remembered in grand style and energy. Uruguay’s Carnaval is celebrated across the country in February and early March, but head to Montevideo where the main activities are held for maximum fun and enjoyment.
Carnival in Bolivia
Bolivia’s Carnaval is notably more religious in its celebrations, though the pagan roots do also come though. Folkloric capital of Bolivia, Oruro, holds the biggest celebrations which are dedicated to the Virgin of the Tunnels, a mural that appeared on a wall. Locals dress up as devils, dancing out their demons from morning till late at night in the eight days before Ash Wednesday. The frantic parade is 5km long and culminates in the reenactment of two plays; one of the Spanish conquests, and the second of Archangel Michael’s fight against the devil. Though strongly connected to the Christian faith, plenty of beer and local spirit chicha goes around during the very relaxed party atmosphere of the Oruro Carnaval.
Carnival in Peru
If you’re in Peru during carnival period, make sure you wear your waterproofs as local boys take to the streets with buckets of water, soaking passers-by. The town of Cajamarca holds the most notorious carnival celebrations in Peru, where the many rival comparsa dancing troupes make it their mission to dance down every street of the town. Those involved bring original music, colorful costumes and joy to the streets while spectators will find it hard to avoid the water, colored dye or local booze chicha that is thrown in the air. Every year the carnival holds the traditional ritual of the decorated unhsa tree, where couples take it in turn to chop the tree down in three strikes of a machete. The couple who succeed in doing so are awarded all the gifts that were tied to the tree and are crowned governor and governess of next year’s carnival.
Catch one of the carnivals in South America with SAAT, experts in tailor made tours that can include Uruguay, Bolivia and Peru.