The Carnivals of Iztapalapa are various

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

celebrations in the

Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...

borough of

Iztapalapa Iztapalapa () is a borough (''demarcación territorial'') in Mexico City, located on the east side of the entity. The borough is named after and centered on the formerly independent municipality of Iztapalapa, which is officially called Iztapalapa ...

. They are what remain of Carnival celebrations brought to Mexico City by the Spanish but subsequently suppressed by Inquisition authorities. There are individual celebrations in various communities, but for the close of Carnival, these communities come together for an event that can draw up to 200,000 people.

History

The tradition of Carnival was brought to

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

by the Spanish, including to Mexico City. However the

Mexican Inquisition The Mexican Inquisition was an extension of the Spanish Inquisition into New Spain. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was not only a political event for the Spanish, but a religious event as well. In the early 16th century, the Reformati ...

, banned most of the traditions associated with it in Mexico City, forcing celebrations outside the historic center into what was the rural areas of the

Valley of Mexico The Valley of Mexico ( es, Valle de México) is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly coterminous with present-day Mexico City and the eastern half of the State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico wa ...

, including what is now the borough of Iztapalapa. However, these too were repressed around 1780. It went underground until after the

Independence of Mexico The Mexican War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia de México, links=no, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. It was not a single, co ...

and has since reappeared in various communities in Iztapalapa.

Celebrations

Carnival is celebrated in various communities in the borough, especially the oldest ones. These include

Pueblo Culhuacán Pueblo Culhuacán () is an officially designated neighborhood of the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City, which used to be a major pre-Hispanic city. Ancient Culhuacán was founded around 600 CE and the site has been continuously occupied since. The ...

, Santa Cruz Meyehualco, Santa María Aztahuacán, Santa Martha Acatitla, San Lorenzo Tezonco, San Sebastián Tecoloxtitlán, Santiago Acahualtepec, Santa María Tomatlán the historic center of Iztapalapa. The basic structure of Carnival celebrations are groups of dancers, most organized under the name of “comparsa” or

krewe A krewe (pronounced "crew") is a social organization that puts on a parade or ball for the Carnival season. The term is best known for its association with Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, but is also used in other Carnival celebrations ar ...

. As they dance in costume (either traditional costume such as

charro Charro has several meanings, but it generally refers to Mexican horse riders, who maintain traditional dress, such as some form of sombrero, which in Mexican Spanish are called ''sombrero de charro'' (a charro's hat). The charros could also ...

s or modern cartoon characters) they are accompanied by live bands that wander with them along the streets. Various queens are crowned by the groups and parade on floats. These are followed by various street parties with stages for bands set up on various streets. One tradition related to carnival is “lunes de ahorcado” or Monday of the hanged. This is a play where a man playing a villain called a palegande is “hanged” for various supposed crimes, which includes someone who plays his “wife” accusing him of beating and abandoning her. Just before sentence, he is given a last wish, which is to dance a danzón. The communities come together for the close of event, which can draw up to 200,000 people.

References

{{Iztapalapa Carnivals in Mexico Iztapalapa Festivals in Mexico City