The spotlights of the Santa Cruz Carnival shone on the host of the night, the sardine, and the cameras were ready to capture every moment of the event. But even before the festivities began, the air was filled with anticipation for a night of revelry and enjoyment: feathers, rhinestones, costumes, incense, and handkerchiefs in hand, the widows prepared for their grand evening, dancing to the music and exchanging jokes with the spectators, displaying satire, freedom, fantasy, and the joy that makes the Carnival Wednesday night a truly special moment.
High up in Plaza Weyler, the spectacular drumming performance by Anva Percusión set the stage, while the protagonist, adorned in a traditional design by Elena González, daughter of the founder of Fufa, was prepared with utmost care by Patricia Vara and her team from the Dos Manos company. The float carrying her was adorned with a variety of satellite dishes and televisions, giving it a striking appearance.
At 10:00 p.m., during prime time, the Burial of the Sardine commenced from Juan Pablo II Street, and much like a televised funeral, the procession accompanying the deceased was truly grand. Thousands of people, widows alongside priests, nuns with devils, fallen angels, witches, and even living dead, all participated in the procession, a sight that has become a common occurrence over the years, ever since the City Council decided to give it a boost. As the procession made its way through Méndez Núñez Street, the festive and traditional carnival spirit filled the air.
The festive atmosphere and laughter were juxtaposed with mournful cries, scenes, fake sexual positions, and a myriad of fainting widows, who also took the opportunity to dance with Pepe Benavente and el Morocho on their float, a now customary image that has become one of the highlights of the midway point of the carnival week for the chicharreros.
Santa Cruz continued to mourn the sardine in solemn fashion as the entourage grew larger by the second. Well-known personalities from the festivities, members of different murgas, comparsas, rondallas, and musical and choreographic groups were seen among the attendees. The evening turned magical as Los Diablos Locos, dressed as gravediggers, entertained the crowd. As the procession passed through Villalba Hervás Street, the cries and clamor blended with the music from the Dorada Band and the Acapulco Orchestra, allowing carnival fans to revel in the well-known tunes from the Plaza del Príncipe stage. The chaos characteristic of the parade became evident as the crowd swelled at this point.
The celebration, known for its spontaneity and disorder, wound its way through Plaza de Weyler and the streets of Méndez Núñez, El Pilar, Villalba Hervás, and La Marina, culminating at dawn in Plaza de España, near Marítima Avenue, where the sardine was set ablaze once again, marking the beginning of the Piñata weekend, which will bid farewell to the Carnival until 2025.
