Barranquilla´s Carnival

It is the most important feast in the country, one of the biggest carnivals in the world, after Rio de Janeiro’s. It reflects the jovial and creative nature conduct of the people, through dances, cumbias, litanies and masquerades.

It was proclaimed by the UNESCO in November 2001, as Heritage of Humanity, because of being an event that gathers the cultural displays of Colombian Caribbean.

It takes place the second week of February; the cultural event is four days of intense festivity, begins with a float parade, then, “the Great Parade” and finally Joselito Carvajal´s Funeral.

History of Carnival

The carnival originates from blending of old pagan feasts and catholic tradition, at the beginning of XIX century, by German and immigrants influences of different countries in the world. Some authors indicate that it began in Cartagena, others that it was established in Santa Marta.

In 1888, a character named Rey Momo arose, and in 1899 the President of Carnival and a Board of Directors were elected

In 1903, the first Battle of Flowers took place, thanks to Heriberto Bengoechea´s initiative in order to recover the carnival tradition of the previous years. In 1918, the first beauty queen of the carnival was Alicia Lafaurie Roncallo.

In 1932, the carnival is institutionalized, from that moment on, the queen contests was cancelled for five years. In 1967, a new event is joined in the carnival, the “Great Parade”. In 1974, the first Guacherna took place by Esther Forero´s initiative. In this way, the carnival was growing more and more.

Nowadays, the carnival celebration includes dances, cumbias, comedies, litanies and masquerades. The Barranquilla´s Carnival is the unique anthropological and regional space of the country where cultural expressions as result of the cultures hybridizing.

The parades

The carnival parades are: the Guacherma, taken place the week before the Saturday of carnival, it is a night parade of dances, cumbias, comparsas (groups) and masquerades; the Battle of Flowers, the Great Parade and the Joselito Carnival’s Funeral.

The Pre-carnival begins formally with whistles that announce the New Year arrival. The pre-carnival events begin with Lectura del Bando, then the Toma de la Ciudad, the Children’s Carnival and so on. The most important celebration is the Guacherma, fantastic night parade, two Fridays before the Saturday of Carnival.

The Battle of Flowers is a traditional floats parade, where the national showbiz characters, also the Miss of Colombia and International Misses participate.

The Great Parade takes place usually on Sunday of carnival, on road 40. Several folkloric groups, dances and masquerades participate, except the floats.

The Funeral of Joselito Carvajal, represents the culmination of the festivity. Different groups participate in a parade; it is similar to a burial, with happy widows that cry a lot because of this personage’s death.

The most traditional costumes of Barranquilla´s Carnival are the marinonda, garabato, congo, monocuco, comic personages. Don’t lose the opportunity to visit Barranquilla and its wonderful landscape when you visit Barranquilla.

Barranquilla´s Carnival is one of the most important events, the opportunity to show the cultural diversity celebrated in Barranquilla. It is an example of life, happiness, and union, shared with no differences and reflects strongly the jovial and creative spirit of our people. It is a feast of Colombia for the world, which includes holiday traditions based on the creativity of our people expressed in dance, music, crafts, costumes and ways to celebrate.