Spanish pre-Lent carnival celebrations come in many shapes and sizes. In Santa Cruz de La Palma, the festivities feature the Día de los Indios, a day of Native Americans and 5000 kilos of talcum powder.
Since the 1960s, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de La Palma has commemorated the enormous wave of emigrants who left the islands for the Americas with a Native American parade, which dances through the town to Cuban rhythms - a burlesque version of multiculturalism. The most memorable part is the Día de los Indios on Carnival Monday, with an enormous talcum powder battle which erupts as the parade begins.
Many carnivals around the world feature water fights, and there's even one in Belgium in which revellers pelt one another with onions. So far as we know, however, the talcum powder battles on the Día de los Indios are unique.
Tourists tend to be particular targets, so it might be wise to leave the designer labels at home on the Día de los Indios. A disposable camera might be a good idea, however...
Many carnivals around the world feature water fights, and there's even one in Belgium in which revellers pelt one another with onions. So far as we know, however, the talcum powder battles on the Día de los Indios are unique.
Tourists tend to be particular targets, so it might be wise to leave the designer labels at home on the Día de los Indios. A disposable camera might be a good idea, however...
AU
BE
DE
DK
ES
FR
IE
IT
SE
NO
NZ
UK
US