A small rock in the Atlantic: 07/03/10

Saturday, 13 March 2010

The Octopus's Funeral, Los Cancajos

The octopus's funeral procession, Los Cancajos, Breña Baja, La Palma

The octopus's funeral procession

Most places in Spain end Carnival with a mock funeral for a sardine. Los Cancajos decided to have a few carnival events this year, ending in an Octopus's funeral (just for a change).

Close up of the octopus, Los Cancajos, Breña Baja, La Palma

Close up of the octopus

But the weather was terrible, and they postponed it for two weeks. And when the new date came around, there weather was terrible again, and they had to postpone it again!

The percussion band for the Octopus's Funeral, Los Cancajos, Breña Baja, La Palma

The percussion band

Third time lucky - the funeral went ahead last night. A percussion band (a batucada) provided the music.

The Master of Ceremonies for the octopus's funeral, Los Cancajos, Breña Baja, La Palma

The Master of Ceremonies

The master of ceremonies, looked rather fine as he led the way, keeping the octopus and band together.

The octopus's cremation, Los Cancajos, Breña Baja, La Palma

The procession went through the village and down to the beach, where they cremated it and let off the fireworks.

Fireworks at the octopus's funeral, Los Cancajos, Breña Baja, La Palma

We left, just as the band was starting up for the public dance. It was great fun, and I'm sure they'll do it again next year.

The band

Labels: Breña Baja, Carnival, fiesta, La Palma, Los Cancajos

Bookmark with:

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Fiestas in Breña Baja

Los Cancajos
They'll be having yet another attempt to cremate the octopus in Los Cancajos on Friday 12th, starting at 8pm. This was supposed to happen during Carnival, but it's been postponed twice due to bad weather. The town hall assures everyone that the octopus won't have gone smelly, because it's been frozen during the wait.
[This is a joke. I'm sure it isn't a real octopus.]
Anyway, the procession will leave at 8 pm from the chemist's near the south end of the village.

San José
Spain celebrates Father's Day on March 19th, because that's St Joseph's day. Since the Spanish for St Joseph is San José, the village of San José will hold fiestas, starting on Friday 12th at 5 pm. There will be various sporting events and talks, an exhibition of oil paintings which opens on Monday evening, and films (in Spanish) . There'll be a special mass on Friday evening (the 19th) and on Saturday there's a hike, bouncy castles and a horse race. In the evening, there's batucada (serious percussion) a stage performance by the kids, and a disco.

Labels: Breña Baja, Cancajos, fiestas, La Palma, La Plama, San Jose