Los Indianos
Los Indianos (short form of Los que emigraron a Las Indias , see section historical background ) is the name of the central major event in the carnival on the Canary island of La Palma . It takes place on Carnival Monday , which is called Día de Los Indianos on La Palma , in the island's capital Santa Cruz de La Palma . The number of visitors can only be roughly estimated. For 2012 at least 65,000 participants were given. For comparison: the city of Santa Cruz de La Palma has about 13,000, the entire island of La Palma about 85,000 inhabitants. Characteristic are Cuban music and the extensive scattering of baby powder ( empolvarse ).
Historical background
As Indianos one describes emigrants to America on La Palma (historically: Las Indias , especially Venezuela and Cuba ) who returned to their homeland after having gained wealth and prosperity. Several waves of emigration took place between the 16th and early 20th centuries. On their return, they were greeted with festivities by the family members who had stayed at home.
According to historical documents, the tradition of throwing powder on Carnival Monday has existed since the 17th century. It is believed that this goes back to powdering to give the skin a pale appearance. This was particularly popular with members of a Cuban lodge ( ñáñigo ). According to other sources, the goods of the ships that landed in the port were sprinkled with powder to prevent the spread of introduced diseases.
History of the event
In the 1920s, a group of carnivalists decided to have a small parade through the city center. They dressed in white to mock the emigrants returning to La Palma. The idea was well received and the move was included in the official carnival program of the city administration of Santa Cruz de La Palma in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the traditions of mocking returnees and throwing powder went together.
Nowadays, stages have been set up in many places where live Cuban music is presented. Bars, cafés and restaurants contribute “canned” music. The visitors move through the city center singing, dancing and throwing powder.
Disguise or clothing
Men wear white shirts wrinkle-occupied ( guayabera ) or white or off-white linen suits and Panama hats . Popular accessories are cigars, pipes, pocket watches on chains, silk scarves. imitation dollar bills , old leather suitcases and cages with exotic birds.
Women wear white or cream-colored dresses, often with lace applications , with little or no colored accents, as well as straw hats and silk scarves adorned with flowers . They often carry a lace parasol with them.
La Negra Tomasa
The figure La Negra Tomasa was created in 1992 by Victor Lorenzo Díaz Molina (* 1940 in Santa Cruz de La Palma), known as Sosó, and is now an integral part of the Día de Los Indianos . He still embodies them today (as of 2014). The figure represents the blending of black and white in Cuban culture. She will be met at the port around 11:30 a.m. and escorted to Plaza de España , which is called Plaza de Habana on this day , in the city center. The Día de Los Indianos will officially open there with a ceremony at around 1 p.m. Then La Negra Tomasa goes under the celebrating palm trees. The official song of the Día de Los Indianos deals with the character.
Web links
Website of the municipality of Santa Cruz de La Palma Official website of the event