Let's visit the Carnival!!

(Photo: Ana Ma. Pimentel)

Although originally carnivals were held a few days before Lent, we can currently enjoy them on almost any time of the year. These holidays are full of music, colors, noise, costumes and parades held in the streets. Within each carnival there’s a Beauty pageant, and an Ugly king (Rey feo) is voted to make the Beauty Queen some company. Since escaping from reality is rarely easy, a carnival is a good pretext for choosing the grotesque and funny over our usual behavior, that’s why there are masks and colors, and flavors or sounds are always over the top. In México, these feasts were born in the nineteenth century and their most popular venues are: Veracruz, Morelos, Mazatlán, Mérida, Quintana Roo and Campeche.

FYI:

Carnaval or carnestolendas mean "remove the meat" because of the idea of avoiding meat during Lent. Its English translation is Shrovetide.
The carnival’s theme usually changes every year.
The Quintana Roo is the oldest in México, born in the late eighteenth century.
Some carnivals emerged as social complaints against mistreat.

VIP Tip:

San Francisco de Campeche celebrates the Pintadera: a paint war.
Fancy some dancing? Visit the famous jumping chinelos in Tepoztlán, Morelos.

Getting There:

Closest to the city and held this month: Carnaval de Tepoztlán: 70km to the south of Mexico city:
Bus: South terminal (Terminal del Sur: Taxqueña).
Driving: Highway 95 D (México-Acapulco) through Cuernavaca: Tepoztlán exit.