The Carnaval huaracino (Huaraz´s carnival) is one of the most famous carnival celebrations in Perú, just after the festival of Cajamarca. Peruvian towns and cities celebrate many things throughout the year, such as Independence Day (July 28), the week of Easter, various Saints´ days, and other public holidays. These usually involve parades, shared food, lots of dancing, and fireworks. As we will see, Huaraz´s carnival is no exception.
Carnival consists of the days of celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Just as Lent is characterized by giving up a habit or behavior, Carnival is marked by partying, lots of food, costumes, and religious festivity. In Huaraz, the celebration of Carnival is concentrated in just a few days, there are related events for weeks before it actually starts.
Barrios (neighborhoods) are the main components of a city's Carnival celebration. Each barrio elects a Carnival queen, prepares a float, decorates a cross, and practices their dancing and music to prepare for the festivities. This usually involves some neighborhood focused partying, where food and drinks are sold to raise money for Carnival expenses.
