Carnival of Blacks and Whites

The Carnival of Blacks and Whites ("Spanish: Carnaval de Negros y Blancos") of Pasto, Colombia was declared "National Cultural Heritage" by the congress of the Republic of Colombia in April 2002. The carnival is celebrated every year from January 4 to January 6 and it attracts a considerable number of tourists from around the world. The carnival consists of four well defined phases which include the pre-carnival, the arrival of the Castaneda Family, the day of the blacks and the day of the whites. It is the most ancient carnival in South America, its origins date back to the times of Spanish rule.

History

The Blacks and Whites Carnival is one of the most ancient carnivals in the Americas. It commemorates the day in which the African slaves had a free day when they unleashed all their happiness.

Some historians refer that in 1607, there was a slave rebellion in the town of Remedios, Antioquia that made the authorities panic. The event was remembered by the black population of Popayán, Cauca, who demanded a day off, in which they were really free. The king of Spain conceded January 5. It is said that when the news reached home the African population flock to the streets and danced at the rhythm of African music and started to blacken with coal all the white walls of the city.

The enthusiastic celebration was brought to Pasto by the Ayerbe family around 1854. By 1887, the celebration had reached to certain social spheres and acquired a high level of refinement, and people started using costumes and masks. The Castaneda family recreated by the January 4 krewes could be a characterization of the Ayerbe Family.

The pre-carnival

On December 28, the Day of Innocent Saints, Colombian equivalent to the American April Fool's Day, the people of Pasto live a carnival of water which consists of a game in which everyone takes water and tries to wet their neighbors and fellow citizens by surprise in what becomes a sort of cat and mouse game.

The Castañeda Family

The carnival parades start on January 4 with the commemoration of the “Arrival of the Castañeda Family”. According to the oral tradition, the Castañedas were a country family that arrived in Pasto from El Encano in 1928. Some historians suggest that the Castañeda family was in reality a large family that came from Antioquia and passed by Pasto in direction to the wild lands of the east (Amazonían department of Putumayo) for which they carried with them a paraphernalia that called the attention of the locals. Whatever the case, they are recreated in this day’s parade as a picturesque family that travels with plenty of luggage including their mattresses and kitchen utensils. The members of this family include an extravagant grandmother, a daughter with an advanced pregnancy dressed in white and ready to get married and many little naughty children, usually characterized by adults, who put their nannies into awkward situations.

The Day of the Blacks

On January 5 is the Day of the Blacks, followed by the Day of the Whites on January 6. During the day of the blacks, which is believed commemorates the day in which the African slaves had a free day in which they unleashed all their happiness, people play on the streets to paint each other in black with colors and cosmetics created for this special purpose.

The Day of the Whites

On January 6 is the Day of the Whites. During this day, the people of Pasto paint each other in white using white colors and cosmetics as well as throwing each other white powder and talcum powder. On the day of the whites, the final parade takes place with the presentation of floats, krewes, musical and dances groups, and people in costumes, all of them competing for the prizes. The carnival floats are works of high quality and originality elaborated by local artisans who spend the entire year preparing their carriages for this occasion.

See also

* Carnival in Colombia
* Festivals in Colombia
* Carnival