Sitges in the winter. You could be mistaken for thinking the town takes time out to relax ..... nope. Behind warehouse doors giant creations are being carved out of huge blocks of polystyrene. People are sewing a thousand sequins to skimpy little outfits. Rehearsals are taking place in a multitude of locations. Skipping out dance routines or learning this years tune. All in preparation for Carnival.
Carnival is for the whole town. Seeing someone who might normally be serving you in the bank dressed in a one piece with nothing left to the imagination makes me smile. I once had the pleasure of being allowed behind the making of the Carnival and was amazed at the work going on. Picture a chain of workers standing at a long table with a mountain of high heeled Dorothy style shoes at one end. Each person had a job to do that turned these white shoes into red glittery wonders. It was wonderful to see the town working together towards a festival that was all their making.
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The festivities begin on Dijous Gras, or Fat Thursday, with the spectacular arrival of the Carnival King, King Carnestoltes. From the moment this character appears until the burial of the sardine — late afternoon on Ash Wednesday — you could well say that life in Sitges moves to a new beat.
Sitges has a maze of tiny narrow streets. Tractors pull floats around town with navigational brilliance. Carnival is flamboyant and exciting. Straight, gay, young and old everyone is out to dance in the streets to put colour into winter. Sitges Carnival motto ..... anything goes.
