Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Fat Tuesday

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Molfetta Carnival Festival. A parade was held on Sunday and a repeat show will take place this afternoon at 3p.m. There are four of these large floats made of papier-mache by Molfettan craftsmen, collaborating for the first time this year with the float-makers of Putignano (an Apulian town where Italy's oldest Carnival festival is held). Denny Mendez (Miss Italy 1996) will be presenting the parade today. After the parade a Fat Tuesday party will be held in the basketball arena with music, dancing and an appearance by the Cuban singer Miguel Enriquez.

Every town that holds a Carnival festival has its own carnival character. In Molfetta we have "U Toeme." I'm sorry I don't have a photo of him for you, but basically he looks like a scarecrow stuffed with newspaper and straw. He lies dead on a cart pulled by hand, surrounded by mourners, because his is a funeral procession. He represents the Carnival itself and is the very last float in the parade, symbolising the end of the festivities. At the end of the parade he is burned.

13 comments:

magiceye said...

happy carnival!!! have a great time!

Anonymous said...

It’s so nice site. We love to see more on this site. Keep on updating… MonkAreYou Bali *uhc4vk

Hilda said...

Is your family going to the party? It sounds like so much fun!

Molfetta's character sounds quite morbid. I wonder whose idea that was so long ago? At least he makes sure the festivities end with a bonfire! :D

VP said...

Beautiful photo and the weather seems to be fine!

abc said...

Great picture, but what a terrible way to end the carnival, although nice symbolic humour at the same time.

penny said...

Wonderful and colorful carnival photo, Saretta. It must take a lot of time to make such large and beautiful floats.

Unknown said...

Really cool shot!

Juergen Kuehn said...

Brilliant colors and
Helau again from Germany!

Tanya Breese said...

Fun and colorful photo! Happy Fat Tuesday!

Saretta said...

Thanks to all for your comments!

Hilda - we will not be going to the party, my family are real homebodies!

Poet - yes, the weather is great. Hard to believe it snowed just the other day!

Pam - it takes months!

marley said...

Very colourful! I like the Spiderman one best :)

Marie Reed said...

I'm going to show this to my son when he gets home from school! He'll swoon for round headed spidey!

Cris said...

I love fat tuesday but I find this one a bit scary.