{"id":7957,"date":"2014-02-21T15:34:16","date_gmt":"2014-02-21T15:34:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=7957"},"modified":"2016-01-11T11:31:06","modified_gmt":"2016-01-11T11:31:06","slug":"carnival-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/carnival-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnival Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"karneval<\/a>Carnival – Munich Style\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

It seems like seconds ago since New Year’s Eve, but somehow Carnival Season is now just around the corner…<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of us have heard of the massive Mardi Gras Celebrations in New Orleans, the huge riotous processions of Brazil, and the masked Balls of Venice, \u00a0but before we lived abroad, I hadn’t realised how much of a big deal it is in other countries too…<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever you want to call it – Carnival, Fasching, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras – it’s all about having a huge knees up before Lent – one last chance to let your hair down before being extremely disciplined for the next 40 days with whatever it is you might be giving up (I did once try to give up school, but my Mother wasn’t having any of that!)…<\/p>\n

I love how different countries make the festival their own too – there are all sorts of interesting rites and rituals surrounding it depending on where you are and who you speak to! \u00a0 \u00a0 In Denmark we celebrated with cats in barrels and stuffed our faces with the most exquisite \u00a0fastelavn-boller (think dressed up Danish pastries – real ones!). \u00a0 Here in Munich it’s also a big deal with costumes \u00a0in every shop in the run up to the big day. \u00a0Then it’s all about seasonal doughnuts (in just about every flavour you can think of!), massive processions, the usual “spirited revelry” and last year – lots of snow.<\/p>\n

\"Tenerife<\/a><\/p>\n

In Tenerife Carnival season started in early February, with huge festivities in the streets of its capital Santa Cruz and across the whole island. \u00a0 Celebrations carry on until March 9th with various masked balls, daytime family Carnivals, and various other galas and parades taking place. \u00a0 Then on Ash Wednesday, celebrations are wound up with the weird and wonderful Funeral of the Sardine – where an enormous cloth and paper sardine is carried through the streets, followed by a menagerie of equally weird and wonderful “mourners”, before the giant fish is ceremonially cremated. \u00a0 \u00a0This year the Santa Cruz Carnival theme is Cartoons, but on previous years it has included subjects as diverse as Bollywood, Hollywood and Space!<\/p>\n

\"755a25e10fed4fab8f2418315d34b52f79grandeCARNAVALREINA1.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My knowledge of Tenerife wasn’t up to much before looking into its Carnival traditions, but I will admit that I am quite intrigued by the place now… It appears to have worked really hard to move away from the package holiday image of the 80’s and 90’s, and today you can find lots of luxury 4 and 5 star accommodation across the island. \u00a0 In\u00a0<\/span>many ways it seems an ideal family destination with pretty much something for everyone – from eco-friendly nature reserves to delve into, pristine sandy beaches to relax on, and of course the iconic black volcanic terrain to explore…. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>As you might expect, outdoor activities are plentiful here too, and the island has become well-known for mountain biking, horse-riding and what with it being an island – fishing… \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s probably obvious from my posts, but one of the things that tempts me to visit a place is the food, as is the case for my other half. \u00a0When I \u00a0told him that I was writing this post earlier, he relayed fond childhood culinary memories of a meal atop Mount Teide, where he indulged in a dish of rabbit in mustard sauce in a tiny local restaurant… I personally like the sound of the famous Canarian Seafood Casserole, perhaps with one or two\u00a0papas arrugadas on the side\u00a0(the renowned wrinkled potatoes)…\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And having found all that out, I think I really would consider Tenerife* as a destination nowadays. \u00a0 \u00a0Besides, I have experienced plenty of Carnivals in the snow, so to see it in the sun would be nice! \u00a0 Plus I want to see The Funeral of the Sardine! \u00a0Oh well, one day maybe! \u00a0 \u00a0I will be looking at Web Tenerife<\/a> the official site of Tenerife Tourism to help plan any future trip though – \u00a0most in-depth and informative destination planning website ever!<\/p>\n

*Disclaimer – partnered post – I was asked to write this post by Tenerife Tourism, and was compensated for doing so. \u00a0 \u00a0 All words and thoughts are my own however. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Share me:<\/h3>