In ancient times, many peoples were connected to the joy and color of carnival festivities. Its origins can be considered directly related to ancient Rome, where Momus, the god of laughter and sarcasm, was worshiped. He was also responsible for entertaining the Olympian gods.

During the 16th century, the Roman Empire brought these traditions to different regions of Africa and Europe, although later, with the expansion of Christianity in the Middle Ages, these celebrations came to be considered heresy.

For a time, the world ignored these colorful celebrations; however, with the arrival of the Renaissance, the carnival enjoyed renewed popularity in Rome and Venice, quickly spreading to France, and soon after, to Spain.

Regarding the etymology of the word “carnival,” some think it comes from the time when Pope Saint Gregory the Great established the Sunday before Lent as the day to leave behind the pleasures of the flesh and sex, through the term “carne levamen,” which would soon become “carnevale,” and whose Latin meaning is “goodbye flesh.”

Another meaning that can be attributed to the word “carnival” is that it comes from the wheeled boats (or carrus navalis in Latin), which were used to parade the representative gods of the different regions where the carnival tradition was adopted through the streets.

Traditions of Veracruz

It’s no secret that Veracruz is a state steeped in tradition and cultural expressions in the form of festivals, music, folklore, cuisine, and of course, the renowned carnival celebrated annually since 1866, when the country was still under the rule of Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg.

At that time, the Veracruz people celebrated “The Festival of Masks,” which consisted of dances in which people dressed in costume to attend various social gatherings. Although these celebrations took place indoors, participants who were already wearing their colorful costumes would take the opportunity to show them off in public. This procession attracted so much attention that people began to gather to witness the parade of all these exotic figures.

This tradition was so popular among the population that it was decided to regulate the carnivals, which gave way to the grand celebration of the parades that make up the Veracruz Carnival today.

Veracruz Carnival 2022

Every year, the Veracruz Carnival takes place a few days before Ash Wednesday, depending on Easter, so it is not possible to establish a specific date.

In 2022, the Veracruz Carnival was celebrated from Wednesday, February 23rd to Tuesday, March 1st, and began with the traditional “Burning of Bad Humor.” During this event, the effigy of a political figure disliked by the people of Veracruz is set ablaze. This symbolizes leaving worries behind to make way for the joy of Carnival.

Veracruz Parade

One of the most iconic moments before the parade begins is the coronation of the Carnival King and Queen, who will be responsible for leading the festivities. According to tradition, the queen is chosen based on local beauties, while the king represents the god Momus from Roman mythology.

Carnival is filled with lights, fireworks, music, joy, and lots of fun, bringing together locals and visitors alike to enjoy the excitement of the parades.

To conclude the Veracruz Carnival, the burial of a figure known as “Juan Carnaval” takes place, marking the end of all these celebrations. This always falls on a Tuesday, as the following day is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the purification period of Lent.

Learn more about the traditional Veracruz Carnival and get a preview of the 2023 edition on the official Veracruz Government website.