ENTERRO DA SARDIÑA (MARÍN)
"O Enterro da Sardiña" (Burial of the Sardine) is a tradition that is celebrated in different places in Spain and South America. It marks the end of "Entroido" (Galician) or "Carnaval" (Spanish). I'll write about the one wich takes place in Marín, Pontevedra, one of the most traditional ones in Galicia and Spain. It takes place the Ash Wednesday (same day as Mardi Gras); this day the village is decorated like a funeral and funeral marches sound are played. During the afternoon a vigil over the dead Sardine starts for the people to cry the tragedy.
When night falls a procession starts. This funeral procession has some characters who mimic and parody both religious and secular entities, like a Bishop or a soldier; This characters are always present and are usually portrayed by the same people year after year.
This doesn't mean that the celebration is limited to this characters. They are accompanied by musicians (playing funeral marches), different guilds (named: da Grenlla, do Polvo, do Choco, da Gaivota, da Tixola,do Golfiño, e do Mexiló) and of course all the people in Marín who dress in mourning.
The Sardine is carried by volunteers in its coffin and makes a route around the village which ends in the coast. In this place the Sardine find its eternal rest. A little ceremony mimmicking a real funeral takes place and the Sardine is thrown into the sea.
This celebration was banned during Franco's dictatorship and nowadays is preserved and organized by Ateneo Santa Cecilia.
I took these photos during 2020 edition. There won't be a 2021 edition due to Covid-19 pandemic.
