Carnival in Uruguay

CARNIVAL IN URUGUAY

Carnival is considered the annual national festival of the nation. While the Carnival extends to all the country with important events in several cities of the interior, the main activities are made in the capital of Montevideo. 

Homes and streets are grandly decorated, humorous shows are staged at open-air theatres ("tablados"). There are many competitions for murgas, lubolos, humorists, parodists and magazines.

The preparation of the Carnival begins months earlier with the election of the zonal queens; often in December of the previous year. The Carnival of the Promises or the children's parade occurs at the beginning of the month of January.


A great highlight of the Montevideo Carnival is the Parade of the Calls in the old districts Sur and Palermo. “The Calls” evoke the encounter of the black slaves of the colonial days in the freedom of the Candombe, which has made a fundamental contribution to Uruguayan culture. The black carnival is called "Las Llamadas", "The Calls", because in colonial times the different carnival groups "called" each other with their drums.


lubolos

 
parodists