Historically, people could dress as someone else. People wear masks to disguise their identities as they celebrate. This tradition or "mocking" culminates with a funny Asturian tradition: The burial of the Sardine. This is a fake funeral for a fish where people dress in extravagant black clothing and act in a dramatic way. To celebrate Carnival across Asturias, there will be many parades, live music and community parties all involving costumes and centered around my favorite thing- food!
Since the winters in Asturias can be cold and rainy, carnival celebrates the end of the rainy season as we move towards Spring! The traditional food eaten during Carnival is highly connected to the natural environment here in Asturias. Foods like frizuelos (Austurian crepes), picadillo (a ground beef dish), and chorizo (Spanish sausage) all come from the local livestock here. These agricultural roots run deep in the Asturian identity. The local environment also impacts the way people celebrate Carnival here. Since there are many spread-out rural towns in Asturias, celebrations and parades take place locally in each town rather than in a central location. This means that each town might have its own unique "spin" on the celebration based on where it is!
