Carnivals in Aguilas

CARNIVAL


Carnival of Aguilas is the flagship of the Region of Murcia. Was declared in 1997, a Festival of National Tourist Interest.

CHARACTERS:

 MUSSONA

The Mussona
It is one of the most representative in the history of Carnival.
The Mussona is a character with a half human and a half animal, half-civilized half wild. This represents the duality of all human beings.
It concerns the image of a bear, around the time of the carnival comes out of hibernation.
The character opposite to the Mussona is the singer-tamer. This figure represents humanity and the process of moving from the wild to the civilized state by control and music.

Ms. CUARESMA & Mrs. CARNAL

           Ms. Cuaresma              Mrs. Carnal

Ms. Cuaresma represents the opposite of the Musa or festivals. It's abstinence, modesty and compliance with religious rules.

The Saturday before the parade Ms. Cuaresma is defeated in war of words by Mrs. Carnal. Ms. Cuaresma granted a week's respite from the carnival to be held, ending Saturday winning the Piñata.


Mrs. Carnal Is the reincarnation of the god Janus. He's the character that trumps in view of Ms. Cuaresma.
He get a week of celebration, but also knows that his reign is temporary. Saturday Piñata is finally defeated by Ms. Cuaresma. 

MUSA

The Muse represents the festive spirit of carnival, the ingenuity of the people in their last days of revelry before the arrival of Lent, fantasy and humor of the Carnival dates.

HISTORY

The oral testimonies of Carnival of  Aguilas dates back to the XIX century and the first images we have of this carnival is the year 1903. Some historical sources dating back to the Carnival of Aguilas in the XVIII century, during the reign of Carlos III.


In Aguilas retains the regulation of Carnival in the City Hall Municipal Ordinances of the town dating back to 1886. In this regulation governing the hours during which people could be masked, as there was possibility that crimes were committed by the anonymity, the right to the authorities to ask for documentation to the masks, not carry any weapons, prohibition of throwing into the street or pedestrians who passed by her water or flour as well as not making loud noises.


With the Civil War and Franco's subsequent dictatorship made the Carnival of Aguilas will not pass for a good time that even came to be banned.