Carnival of Wonders 2008

Mexico is known for its fiestas and a BIG one is about to happen. Carnival is to Merida what Mardi Gras is to New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro. The theme of this years Carnival is The Wonders of the World due to nearby Chichen Itza being named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in July ’07.

You will find banners on the Paseo Montejo, Calle 60, and the Plaza with Carnival motifs and the names of the New 7 Wonders. Carnival in general is a time of fun and excesses with its parades, music and dancing, and food and beer consumption.

Merida’s Carnival is one of the five most important in the entire Mexican republic and one of the 12 principal carnivals in all of Latin America. From January 30th to February 6th, locals and visitors will see the local culture as they live the traditional time of Carnival.

Pre-carnival events began on January 19th at the Carlos Iturralde stadium in Merida, where 180 artists danced to tropical rhythms during the presentations of the Children’s King, the King and Queen of people with special capacities and the King and Queen of the magna carnival event Wendy Braga and Raul Osorio.

There will be 18 pre-carnival dances in the different commissaries and neighborhoods around the city. There will be a night when the parade floats are presented, all of this leading up to Wednesday, January 30th when bad humor and moods will be symbolically burned, thus officially initiating the mystery of our happy carnival.

On Thursday January 31st, the Children’s Parade will take place along with fireworks and the enthusiastic dancing of the kings and queens of carnival, thus replacing bad moods and humor with happiness and joy in the hearts of all that are present.

The parade route starts at the Monument to the Flag on the Paseo Montejo then heads south ending up at the San Juan Park in downtown. All along the route you will find stands selling food, beverages and games along with the local radio and TV stationspresenting concerts by local, national and international guests. The downtown box seats are for sale, the bleachers on the Paseo Montejo are free.

The parades will take place from Friday the 1st to Tuesday the 5th of February with the presence of 110 groups that will compete for first place as the best group.

Choreography and costumes will be the key factors that the judges will be looking at. Along the entire parade route 20 local, national and international bands will be in place playing all different kinds of music. Dancing in the streets will be quite appropriate!

Schedule:

• Wednesday, January 30th:
Burning of Bad Moods, 7 PM Municipal Palace Calle 62 Plaza. The fiesta begins with this fun event and the burning of a life sized, stuffed doll which represents bad moods and humor.

• Thursday, January 31st:
Children's Parade, 4 PM The short parade route and also the 1st parade of Carnaval. This short route will start at the corner of Calle 63 and 62, andl proceed around the Main Plaza and then up Calle 60, in this cute parade you will see toddlers and pre-schoolers participating in a tradition that is part of their roots.

• Friday, February 1st:
Corso Parade, 7 PM, The parade regular route. This is the first big parade with all the excitement and energy of the floats, costumes, dance groups, music and pizzazz that is synonymous with carnival.

• Saturday, February 2nd:
Fantasy Parade, 7PM, Parade route. This second parade in the series is similar to the first parade, but with a higher energy as it is on Saturday night. This is a very crowded night with many artist singing in the radio station scenaries on different corners of the route.

• Sunday, February 3rd:,
Bachata Parade, 12 noon, Parade route. Held during day light hours you will find families to be out in force with their coolers, costumes, and folding chairs. There is a lot of people and action this day, and also don't forget it's day time, please drink lots of bottled water.

• Monday, February 4th:
Traditional Regional Night Parade, 7 PM, Parade route. This 4th parade is special in that the colorful costumes of Carnival are replaced by the beautiful traditional wear of the Yucatan. Ladies will be wearing their colorful ternos, the hand-or-machine embroidered white shift type dress, and the gents will be wearing white shirts and pants and leather sandals. The Yucatecan culture will be at an all time high this evening with the presence of the aluxes, la X-Tabay and the Hauy Chivo as they play and tease the parade participants as they dance the jarana in their huipiles. Aluxes are Mayan dwarfs and the X-Tabay are beautiful Mayan spirits that lure men to their death.

• Tuesday, Februrary 5th:
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) at 12 noon, Parade route. The 5th and last parade of Carnival starts at noon and is similar to the Sunday parade with even more people out celebrating. Also called the Battle of Flowers Parade, this day is when the beat and rhythm of the music will be felt and heard by all, letting the world know that the next day, Ash Wednesday, February 6th, Juan Carnival will be buried, thus marking the end of the great party that we want to share with Mexico and the world. The somber time of Lent then begins.

• Wednesday, February 6th:,
Juan Carnaval Funeral, 7 PM, Municipal Palace Calle 62 Plaza. This is the last event of Carnaval. This jokingly solemn event is the funeral of Juan Carnival. The queen of carnival, dressed in mourning clothes, reads his eulogy - a hokey document for the citizens and politicions. It is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

The Carnival of Marvels will be a legend in Merida that you will feel in your heart! Come and live it with us from January 30th to February 6th.

Be part of the Carnival parade
So that tourists can join in on all this fun, the Municipal Tourism office, in conjunction with the red Turibus Hop-on Hop-off bus, will be offering, for the third time, the opportunity for tourists to actively
participate in Carnival, not just as spectators but as members of the
parade. Take a ride on the Turibus and be part of the parade! Tickets are available at the information booths in City Hall (Main Plaza), Paseo de Montejo (by Fiesta Americana Hotel) and Tourism Office (Calle 59 No. 432 x 50 y 52 Centro). The price for adults is $150 peos and kids 12 and younger $75 pesos, and this includes: sodas, water and articles to through from tbe bus into the crowd. Meeting point on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Monday 4th for the night parade is in the Monument to the Flag on Paseo de Montejo at 6:00 pm as the event starts at 7:00. For the day time parades on Sunday the 3rd and Tuesday the 5th the meeting place is the same but at 11:00 am as the parade starts at 12:00 pm.

www.merida.gob.mx/carnaval

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