Arrecife’s carnival comes to an end this evening with what is one of the strangest traditions of the season – The Burial of the Sardine.
This involves parading a large papier-maché sardine along the seafront before cremating it on a big bonfire. The float bearing the deceased sardine is followed by dozens of widows, dressed in black and purple, who take turns wailing in grief and dancing frantically.
But before the sardine arrives, most of the comparsas and batucadas (dancing and drumming groups) will pass by. Although vivid and noisy, it’s a smaller parade than Monday’s huge affair, without the big party floats, but it takes a prettier route and is preferred by many.
The parade starts at 6pm at the roundabout outside the Gran Hotel and proceeds to the Rocar headland near Arrecife’s Marina. As a result, the seafront will be closed to traffic for the duration, although the island’s bus service will be largely unaffected.
