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Carnival in Valletta

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Saturday, 1 March 2014

Carnival in Valletta

Even though I can't really remember when was the last time I dressed up in full costume and make-up for Carnival, I have a strange affinity with this time of the year.
It's a love-hate relationship really, much like the one I have with the Eurovision song contest. I hate the cheesy music, the hackneyed dance-routines, the overly-dressed kids and the adults who try to look like kids in their 'fun' outfits. Both Carnival and Eurovision have these things.  And yet, every time either of them approaches, I'm overtaken by a strange need to somehow be part of the scene.
Brazilian carnival representation on the streets of the Maltese Capital
National treasure George Curmi 'il-Puse' on the King Carnival float, protecting his violin from the rain

Once I finished my errands this morning, I headed to the streets of Valletta in search of some Carnival spirit.  Now that I'm living in the City, it came as a much easier task to accomplish. The children's dances were taking place on St George's Square (including a reprise of the "one pound fish" song which you can see here) and I couldn't but admire those kids bearing the cold and rain that had started drizzling by then while going through their choreography.  A couple of floats, including King Carnival drove past Republic Street as I was going round.  I would have loved to catch the satirical floats which I believe were also going round, but there's still a few days left of the festival so I might still be in with the chance of seeing them.  (Satire was only brought back this year after a very long absence - maybe finally this little island has reached the necessary maturity to know how to laugh at itself.)


Merry making marching band

I feel this strange urge to be part of Carnival - the traditional one, not the Nadur one - might be due to my Peter Pan complex.  I shudder to think I will ever grow old, at least mentally.  I don't want to ever become bitter and jaded.

The innocence and lust for life in childhood are too precious to let go of ...

Sweet temptations before the Lenten fast






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