Cadiz is an ancient, seafaring City on the Atlantic (along the Andalucian Coast) which means it enjoys a nice regular cooling breeze running across itself. Traditionally, its date of establishment is about 1100 BCE. Cadiz is a quiet and serene, except when it plays host to Spain's ultimate party: Carnaval de Cardez, with its choruses, fancy-dress processions, jokes, disguises and float parade.

Cadiz (pronounced CA-deeth) is famous for the sense of humour of its citizens and the age-old Carnival where authority, politicians, celebrities and the church are parodied and ridiculed with unparalleled skill and wit in comic song. The central figures here are the choirs, or agrupaciones , which are groups of between three and forty singers.  The Falla's Contest is a Music festival held in the Gran Teatro Falla before Carnival itself and, to a certain extent, it is a relatively serious competition as t he show is televised across Spain. Competition is keen, and contestants spend months in preparation.

The most popular type of group is the chirigotas , choirs normally of ten unison or close-harmony singers, accompanied by bombo, caja (drum, box - used as a percussion instrument) and guitar. Their repertoire is the most satirical of the different types of groups and the literary quality of the songs can be very high (they may be written by local authors). Only a few musical forms such as the tango or pasodoble are used, so that everyone knows the tune and can concentrate on the words.

As the story goes, the Carnaval fun began in the 17th century when the city tried to outdo the opulent carnival celebrations of Venice. The crews of the great Spanish port on the Atlantic spread their Carnaval song afar, most notably to Tenerife, which has similar competitions for their world-famous Carnaval. The galleons returned from the New World with not only gold and silver, but with even more powerful treasure: the rhythms and musical influences that still dominate today's Carnival. African and Creole rhythms, sambas and rustic Colombian tunes all intermingle in the streets with local Andalusian songs and traditional flamenco music. During the country's civil war in the 1930s, Gen. Francisco Franco banned Carnival in certain areas because of its anti-authority theme. In 1937, he abolished it entirely when fear of revolt was greatest.

In Cádiz, however, the party never stopped. Today, the town of 160,000 people begins planning six months in advance for the parades and the singing showdowns at the theater.

While many Carnivals end the day before the beginning of Lent, the party goes on several more days in Cádiz. Parades are held on the Sundays before and after Ash Wednesday. People on the floats throw confetti, or sometimes candy, to the children.

Other nearby towns such as El Puerto de Santa María, Rota, San Fernando, Chiclana, Algeciras, Medina-Sidonia and Trebujena have lavish carnivals. Isla Cristina and Ayamonte are also famous for their elaborate costumes and excitement, drawing visitors from throughout the region and the other side of the Portuguese border as well. This area has avoided the mass tourism side effects which afflict better known tourist zones. For more Carnaval adventure consider crossing to Africa and enjoying the great Carnaval of Cueta.  Fast [35 minutes] ferries sail from Algeciras near Cadiz to 'The Gateway to Africa.' As elsewhere in the Catholic world, carnival is celebrated before the 40 days of Lent. Most Andalucian towns stage some kind of parade, and there is usually a dance and a "Carnival Queen" contest. As one of Spain´s major ports during the 16th century, Cadiz copied the carnival of Venice, a city with which it had much trade, and since then it has become the liveliest and most dazzling carnival town in mainland Spain, famous for its amusing and creative figurines and satirical song groups.

The Carnival centres around Shrove Tuesday (February 24th 2004, February 8th 2005, February 28th 2006) Cádiz celebrates the carnival with processions from the weekend before, to the weekend after. " www.carnaval.com"

Carnival Links

www.carnavaldecadiz.com - Calendar of carnival in cadiz