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The Burial of the Sardine, Mallorca
The finale of Carnival week sees the burning & burial of a symbolic sardine
On Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday), in some towns on Mallorca, there is a strange & solemn evening parade that features a humble sardine. It is supposed to signal the end of Carnival celebrations and the beginning of Lent.
The local townspeople are dressed in traditional costume, and the parade is accompnaied by a band playing appropriately grave music. The sardine is carried by pall-bearers to the town square where it is ritually burned. The whole thing is played satirically and everyone then enjoys platefuls of sardines and wine and a general party ensues.
Not all towns feature the burial of the sardine. Inca definitely is (head to plaça d’Antoni Fluxà for 7.30pm). Also see:
Llucmajor - starts 8.30pm at carrer del Bisbe Taixequet and finishes al Lloc Sagrat.
