The unique article was printed in TravelAwaits on Feb. 24, 2022.
I’ve spent 4 winters in Mazatlan since 2018 and I’ve been dazzled
by its pre-Lent Carnaval thrice. In 2021 I didn’t go and the occasion
didn’t occur both. So when it was introduced that the Carnaval de Mazatlan could be held in 2022 with the theme, “Lanao, El Viaje Continuar,” I
was excited. The 124th season of one of many largest carnivals within the
world alongside the 10-day Rio and the single-day New Orleans, befell on Feb. 24 to March 1. It was a six-day Mardi
Gras of coronations, fireworks, concert events, video games, parades, and events
celebrated alongside the 21-kim lengthy Malecon, the longest boardwalk in Latin
America.
Thursday Feb. 24. The Coronation
of the Carnival King
The primary occasions had been the coronations of the Royal Carnival Household who will preside over the festivities:
The King, The Queens, and the Little one Queen. These occasions had been held on the Teodoro
Mariscal Baseball Stadium with a capability of 16,000 and featured numerous dancing,
animated video results, and epic fireworks.
From 1898 to
1928 the Carnival King was known as the King of Insanity, celebrating the satirical
position kings typically play. From 1929 to 1964, the coronations had been suspended.
When the organizers introduced again royalty into the Carnaval, it grew to become The King
of Pleasure. This Coronation was held at 8 pm, on Feb. 24. It was a enjoyable and
rowdy opening evening adopted by an enormous live performance.
Friday Feb. 25 & 26
The Coronation of the Carnival Queens
The Queens
are chosen from among the many winners of many magnificence contests held throughout
Mazatlan. The winner is asserted The Carnival Queen and the runner-up is the
Queen of the Floral Video games. Folks costume casually for the King’s Coronation however
for the Queens’ celebrations, they arrive out of their finest get together apparel. The
Carnival Queen was topped at 6 pm on Feb. 26.
The day
earlier than, a poetry and literature contest that began again in 1925 known as the
Floral Video games, was staged. It included an award for the perfect literary work
printed in Mexico that yr. Its title got here from the flowers initially given
as prizes however now with the myriad of entries it receives, the literary awards
have turn out to be very prestigious with many well-known authors among the many previous winners. The
Queen of the Floral Video games was topped at 8 pm.
Saturday, Feb. 26. The Burning of Dangerous Humor and Naval Fight
Proper after
the Coronation of The Carnival Queen, an uncommon occasion is held. The Burning of
the Dangerous Humor is a Mexican custom. A large puppet that has been crammed with
firecrackers is hanged after which burned to banish one thing unhealthy that’s hovering
over the town. More often than not, it’s an unpopular public determine however in 2020
it was, in fact, Coronavirus. The virus has not left us, nevertheless, so that they burned it
once more this yr!
Instantly after,
the most well-liked occasion of the week bursts into the scene. Over 500,000 folks congregate in Olas Atlas, the long-lasting golden seashore of Mazatlan and the Carnaval get together zone at
the southern finish of the Malecon. Extravagant fireworks show accompanied “Naval Fight,” the reenactment of the battle between a French naval ship that
tried to invade Mazatlán and the residents who fiercely fought again. The occasion has
been the image of Mazatlan’s valor and victory. This yr we tried to rearrange
to observe it aboard a rented ferry boat however we failed. Others reserve spots on roofs of inns
and condos.
Sunday, Feb. 27. The Carnival
Parade
However it’s the
Carnival Parade that highlights the week. About 300,000 folks watch because it slowly
travels alongside the Avenue del Mar that hugs the lengthy boardwalk of the Malecon. Households
stake out their spots early and carry their folding chairs and coolers on lengthy
walks from distant parking tons. In 2019 we watched from a raised platform
constructed by the Resort Hacienda. Our front-row seats had been a strategic spot from
which I took photos of the revelry as much as late into the evening. Others reserve
a desk at a excessive sufficient restaurant deck or guide an evening at one of many many inns
with balconies fronting the Malecon.
The parade
leaves at about 4:30 pm from the Fishermen’s Monument going north to the well-known
Valentino’s, a stretch of 11 kilometers of the Malecon. A pre-parade will see participation
from companies like Pacifico tossing out freebies to the group. The principle parade
rolls out half-hour later. This yr we noticed 30 (was 40) elaborately
adorned themed floats, hundreds of dancers, musicians, and even dancing
horses and current carnival royalty. Prior to now few days, big monigotes
(artistic stick males) have been rapidly put in alongside the everlasting Malecon
monuments.
Monday, Feb. 28. The Youngsters’s
Dance and the Little one Queen Coronation
And the
kids have their very own day on the Carnaval! At 10 am on Monday, the Youngsters’s Dance
was held on the Salon Spectaculare which crammed up with keen little
kids dancing to the delight of household and mates. There have been numerous awards
and prizes for each choreography and costumes. Within the night at 6:30 pm the
Coronation of the Little one Queen, a practice that began in 1921, was held
on the baseball stadium.
Tuesday, March 1. The
Second Parade
On the final
day, Shrove Tuesday (the day earlier than Ash Wednesday), a second parade marks the
finish. The parade flows alongside the identical route however instantly after, epic get together bursts and lasts lengthy into the evening. It’s the final likelihood to get together earlier than the
solemn observance of Lent begins. On this parade that begins earlier at 4 pm,
every thing is extra informal, relaxed, and fewer crowded.
The Carnaval de Mazatlan encapsulates vibrant Mexican tradition and
historical past with an abundance of typical Mazatleco music and brass bands at each
nook, competition meals at each flip, and costumes and pageantry at each hour. On
Carnaval week, many many extra satellite tv for pc occasions will occur all week lengthy in every single place when the entire metropolis is in get together mode. It doesn’t fail to dazzle yearly. 2022 was the identical!
Professional-Tip:
Carnaval 2022 was managed at 75% capability consistent with the Mexican Covid
Site visitors Mild System which put Mazatlan at code yellow. We’ve got felt secure right here as a result of folks follow mask-wearing not solely indoors however even outside! Temperature-monitoring
and hand sanitizer stations had been in every single place!
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