It was the culmination of a great festival that was filled with music, dance, joy, TONS of energy and of course COLOR! But the traditional burning of Don Juan Carnaval at the end San Pedro’s Carnaval 2013 was done with much less fanfare as it mourns the death of Don Juan and observed on Ash Wednesday, a big Catholic event on the island of Ambergris Caye.
Paying respect to the religious aspect of Carnaval and Lenten Season, the San Pedro Town Council did not have loud music or a celebration at Central Park on Wednesday, February 13, but prepared a short skit depicting the marriage of Don Juan Carnaval’s son and then his funeral. It was a comedic skit with humor surrounding current events in town and making fun of popular figures within the community.
After Mayor of San Pedro Town officially closed the Carnaval celebrations, Don Juan Carnaval was taken to the beach at Central Park and was burned. The folkloric significance of the burning of Don Juan Carnaval stems back to the 1930’s and it is believed if the ceremony does not take place bad luck will descend upon the island and even bring death to some island residents.
Click here to learn more about the folkloric history of Don Juan Carnaval.
