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Every year in the month of February, life in Cadiz becomes a Carnival. The joy and the party fill the streets of this historical city and the people enjoy and dance to the rhythm of canivalesque music. When Don Carnal arrives, everything is possible because the people of Cadiz say goodbye to the strict social conventions and the tight restraints of the decent.
For 11 days, Cadiz is filled with partygoers who flow the streets aiming to laugh, sing and have some fun.
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History of the Carnival of Cádiz
The origins of the Cadiz carnival: how it all began
It seems like the carnival in Cadiz is a cultural heritage from the ones in Venice in the 16th Century–boths cities had an enormous fruitful maritime commerce at that time period, although Cadiz ended up adapting to its own characteristics and features throughout the years. Nowadays this carnival is one of the most famous in the world and became part of the ten Treasures of the Immaterial Cultural Heritage of Spain.
The most important events of the Carnival of Cádiz: everything you cannot miss
The preparations start one month earlier, when more than one hundred official associations start rehearsing for the Teatro de Falla Contest. The chirigotas are, by far, the most well-known and they stand out from the rest of the shows for its dynamic and colorful visual characteristics. The associations also start preparing the gastronomic sessions of typical dishes from Cadiz, liven up with ironic funny songs that describe the country’s most significant issues during that year.
In The first Friday of the Carnival is celebrated the Teatro de Falla Contest Grand Final–it lasts until early Saturday morning and, in the end, it all explodes with joy in the streets. The associations that took part in the contest go across the city center, which is packed with people singing their own shows. The Choir Carousel takes place on Sunday and Monday across the streets.
Teatro de la Falla Contest from the Carnival of Cadiz
It is mandatory to disguise, either individually or by couples, even in groups–looking forward to disguising is actually taken for granted. Verbenas, parades, processions, fireworks, costume balls and a thousand other activities prevent fun from stop.
And if you need to familiarize yourself with the basic terms to feel like one more in the Cadiz carnival, stay with this terminology:
- The Chirigotas. These fun and famous groups are, in themselves, the alma mater of the Carnival of Cádiz. They are made up of twelve people (tenors, seconds and altos) and use instruments such as guitars, bass drums, snare drums, etc. The star genre is usually the cuplés, but they also have a repertoire of pasodobles and different medleys full of critical, ironic and vindictive lyrics.
- The Choirs. It is usually a crowded group of approximately forty people and, mainly, they are accompanied by guitars, lutes or bandurrias. Among its main genres is the tango.
- The comparsas. These groups made up of 14 people also use, like the chirigotas, guitars, bass drums, and cajas to carry out, above all, pasodobles.
- The Quartets. They are known for handling the Parody better than anyone, only accompanied by pairs of sticks and with the aim of making the audience laugh.
Chirigota from the Carnival of Cadiz
When is the Carnival of Cádiz?
Dates of the Carnival of Cádiz
Write down dates on the calendar: the Carnival of Cádiz 2023 is celebrated from Thursday, February 16 to Sunday, February 26.
And, the Grand Final of the Gran Teatro Falla, one of the most important events, is held on February 17.
In case you didn’t know, the four modalities that participate in the Official Contest of Carnival Groups are: choirs, comparsas, chirigotas and quartets. And these, at the same time, are divided into three categories: children, youth and adults.
And once the Grand Final is over… The party begins in the streets of Cádiz! Undoubtedly one of the best carnivals in Spain.
