Carnival is one of the most unique dates in the calendar of celebrations in A Pobra do Brollón. It has two main focuses, the capital of A Pobra itself and the parish of Salcedo, with the Bear as the main protagonist.
After the Thursdays of Compadres and Comadres, the celebrations begin on the afternoon of Saturday, February 22nd in the center of A Pobra with a parade of costumes, troupes and floats, and livened up by a brass band. The parade leaves from the Saa road junction at 5:00 p.m. At the end there will be an awards ceremony for the best designs at the ‘Olga Novo’ Culture House. Check out this PDF for the prizes and information to participate.
From Saturday night, Salcedo becomes the main stage of the Carnival until the end of the festivities. It begins with the traditional theater roles in which amateur theater groups of children and adults participate. Their plays will be performed from 10:00 p.m. in the Salcedo multipurpose venue. There will be dancing with the Sabor Latino duo afterwards.
The next day, at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday the 23rd, the traditional figures of Ladies and Dancers to walk through Salcedo with a pedestrian. At the end, at 5:30 p.m., there will be the proclamation in the multi-purpose venue. Later, from 8:00 p.m., the party continues at the venue with a duet and then a second theater session that will end in more dancing with the La Ocaband orchestra.
The Bear and the Little Bear come out of hibernation
The afternoon of Monday the 24th from 5:00 PM is the most anticipated moment for many, when The Bear comes out of hibernation to roam the streets of Salcedo and, with the help of his servants, to protect with his feluxe anyone he meets along the way. Previously, the Little Bear leaves to go to the younger ones. The Monday party ends again in the multi-purpose venue with a popular dinner and the Compostela and Principal orchestras, all from 9:00 p.m.
On Tuesday 25th the party continues in Salcedo with entertainment for children from 6:00 pm and then, from 7:00 pm, a performance by the Los Satélites orchestra and a popular paellada. Anyone attending can participate in the costume contest, in which cash prizes will be offered for groups of more than 5 people (€100), couples (€50) and individuals (€25).
Comadres and compadres to warm up engines
Although many residents are already rehearsing for the Salcedo theater or making their costumes, for some children the preparations for the party will begin on Friday, February 7, when the first workshop of compadres, comadres, masks and costumes. The workshop, aimed at children, is at the Casa da Cultura from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. There will be another workshop at the same place and time on Friday the 14th.
The figures produced in these two workshops will be presented to the comadres and compadres competition which will be held on Thursdays 13 and 20 February with two modalities: individual and collective. To participate you must register before Wednesday 12 (compadres) and Wednesday 19 (comadres). See all the contest rules in this PDF.
The collective figures will be placed in the morning in the place chosen by the participants: in commercial premises, associations, at school... The individual figures will gather in front of the City Hall from 6:30 pm for their evaluation and subsequent burning. At the end of each day there will be a chocolate party at the Casa da Cultura.
