Maybe you didn't know it, but February is the month of carnivals on the Costa Brava. Well established since the 15th century, this tradition is not ready to stop. If the big cities attract many carnival-goers, you should know that the small villages of the region are also worth a visit.
Although it's already March, there's still one important event to discover: the burial of the sardine. Between the many parades, floats and disguises, here's a look at the folklore of the Girona coast.
Spanish gastronomy during Carnival
In addition to all the festivities, Carnival is also a time for gastronomy. On the Costa Brava, it all begins on Jeudi Gras (the last Thursday before Ash Wednesday), when the traditional meal is an omelette with sausage. In some villages, this meal is eaten together, as tradition dictates. It's the perfect opportunity to mingle with the locals and share a moment of conviviality.
Burying the sardine: another tradition to discover
According to Spanish tradition, a sardine is buried or burned on Ash Wednesday. Originally, the tradition was to bury meat, which symbolized sin, to mark the transition to Lent. Over the centuries, however, meat became sardines due to mistranslations. Meat originally comes from the word cerdo, which in many places was called cerdina (pronounced serdina) and from cerdina, which eventually became sardina. As far back as the 19th century, students in Madrid wore a sardine on parade, symbolizing the coming abstinence and the start of Lent. Legend has it that it was with this event that the students wanted to celebrate Carnival one last time. It then became a tradition to close the celebrations with this ceremony.
Every year in Tossa de Mar, a huge sardine is carried through the streets during the last parade by children dressed as skeletons. This year, the sardine will be buried on March 14, just after the Lloret de Mar Carnival.
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