Newsletter February 2008

The summer months of January and February bring to Latin America one of the largest celebrations of the year, “El Carnaval”, a Christian festival of extravagance just before the austerity of Lent. Although Brazil’s wild and extravagant Carnival celebrations take the world’s stage, the rest of South America can lay claim to some grand carnival celebrations. Carnival is traditionally celebrated with dancing, music, festivities and huge parades through the streets but each region has contributed its own history and culture to give their carnival celebrations a unique touch that can’t be found elsewhere.

In Argentina, the largest celebrations take place in Gualeguichu, which is known as the “National Capital of Carnival”. A purpose-built center can seat up to 38,000 people while watching 4 samba groups, each comprised of over 700 dancers, a percussion band, a singing band and 5 grand stages, competing for the national title, "Kings of the Carnival".

Meanwhile, in Peru, the Carnaval season is celebrated most vigorously in the Andean regions.  In Cusco, this means water and music and no-one is spared from the celebrations: everyone is liable to get soaked by water balloons thrown from the sidelines while groups of dancers move to the rhythm of traditional music in the emblematic Plaza de Armas.

In Huancayo, sweating couples line up in groups in the streets, accompanied by orchestras playing traditional tunes for the festival celebration known as Huaylarsh. The women raise their hands and lift up there multi-colored skirts and stamp the floor heavily with their feet, creating the rhythm and rocking like a pendulum. The men take their right hand to their hat and open their arms as if preparing for a fight and also stamp as if trying to create deep hole in the earth. While performing the dance, each pair demonstrates their ability and happiness.

In Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca and known as the Folklore Capital of Peru, the Fiesta is in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria, Puno’s patron saint, and the centerpiece is a traditional regional dance contest in the city stadium, which attracts thousands of spectators, both national and international.

Source: argentour.com

PAST NEWSLETTERS:

• Newsletter January 2008