The big Carnival weekend arrives in Euskadi
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The most carnival-like weekend is coming to the Basque Country. From Friday 17th to Tuesday 21st you can enjoy the party, joy and fancy dress all over the territory. Here, we give you details of what this long weekend will be like in Lantz, Tolosa and Donostia San Sebastian, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Bilbao.
Vitoria - Gasteiz
Saturday
This is the main day par excellence of the Vitoria-Gasteiz Carnival festivities. Usually, as tradition dictates, the characteristic day of the Vitoria carnival begins at midday with the arrival of the painters at the train station to the rhythm of the Calejira de los pintores de Vitoria, which tells the story of how they come to their city to celebrate the carnival. After their arrival, the painters dress the statue of El Caminante in the Plaza del Arca surrounded by a great festive atmosphere.
In the afternoon, the troupes set off with their floats, parading through the main streets of the town. The entertainment continues with a verbena in the Plaza de Nueva and a batucada in the centre of town.
Sunday
In the morning, the comparsas once again take to the streets of Vitoria-Gasteiz in a new Carnival parade, prolonging the festive atmosphere throughout the city all day long.
Tuesday
In the afternoon, the Burning of the Sardine takes place in the Plaza de España. The event is attended by the mourners, the comparsas and many people who sadly bid farewell to the days of festivities.
Lantz
When the last light of day begins to fade, the people of Lantz dress up as different characters and take to the streets to act out the legend. According to the legend, a very fat man called Ziripot once lived in Lantz. His obesity prevented him from working, and in exchange for food he told stories to the villagers. But one day, the giant called Miel Otxin appeared, accompanied by Zaldiko (a character who is half horse and half man). All the people of the village were forced to obey them and, frightened, they went after them, giving them everything they had.
But Ziripot could not give them anything... and Zaldiko, angry, pushed him to the ground, and there he remained unable to get up, thinking that he would have to spend the whole night like this.
But, at night, the villagers came out of their houses to help Ziripot, and decided to go after Miel Otxin. Armed with stakes, hoes, pitchforks and layas, they caught Miel Otxin and burnt him. Although it can be a bit scary... it's worth it! And watch out for the carpenters and blacksmiths, because they try to scare people!
In Navarre, the typical Basque carnival costumes are preserved with great care (they are different in each village), so you can also find costumes of this tradition in Lesaka, Bera, Igantzi, Alsasua, Goizueta or Luzaide (Valcarlos).
Tolosa and San Sebastián
In Gipuzkoa, the best known carnivals are those of Tolosa and Donostia San Sebastián.
Tolosa Carnival
Tolosa undoubtedly has the liveliest atmosphere, with charangas, tamborradas, groups of friends, comparsas... This is where the most original costumes and the best revelry come from. The Tolosa carnivals attract people of all ages every year.
Donostia San Sebastian
Young and old from San Sebastian take part in different comparsas (groups) touring the city and filling it with dancing and fun all weekend long. This year there will be 24 groups parading through the streets of the city on Saturday and Sunday at 17:00. Two circuits have been designed, one through the Centre and the other through Gros, so that the groups can be divided and parade through both areas, one each day.
This great celebration will culminate with the 'burial of the sardine' in which a mourning procession will mourn the herring during its last moments of peaceful existence. It will take place on 21 February, Tuesday.
Bilbao
The big Carnival weekend starts on Friday in Bilbao. From first thing in the morning, the little ones will dress up for the traditional school parade that will go through Jardines Albia, Gran Vía and El Arenal until it reaches Plaza Nueva.
In the afternoon, from 18:30, another of the most awaited moments will take place, the arrest of Farolín and Zarambolas in Plaza Arriaga and their traditional trial and public mockery in Plaza Nueva, at 19:15.
Fancy dress competition
The following day, Saturday 18th, the town will dawn with children's workshops in the Plaza Nueva and the Gargantua in the area around the courthouse. In addition, the public will experience one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the carnival in the Plaza Circular; the opening of the festival site with the beloved characters Farolín and Zarambolas (12:00h).
The party will continue in the Plaza Arriaga and Casco Viejo with the Giants and Big-heads. In fact, this year, they will accompany the classic dances of the schools organised by Bizkaiko Dantzarien Biltzarra in Arriaga Square (12:30h). Once they have finished, the Giants and Big-heads will go through the streets of the Old Quarter until they return to the Arriaga Square again.
But the highlight will come at 16:30, when the best costumes will invade the streets in the great kalejira of the Costume Contest which, once again, will set off from the Plaza Circular to El Arenal.
The party will continue there at 19:30 with ZIRKOZAURRE circus kalejira that will head to Plaza Nueva, the place where the prizes for the fancy dress competition will be awarded (20:30h). The day will be rounded off with a musical performance by Demode Quartet at 21:30 and concerts by Meridian and Arde Marte at 23:00 in Plaza Nueva.
Sunday 19th
The Giants and Big-heads will once again meet the citizens between Plaza Arriaga and the Casco Viejo from 12:30. And, from 18:30, the Beti Jai Alai dance group will set the scene in the streets and keep the carnival spirit alive with their show "Aratusteak, plazara dantzan iluntzerarte".
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