Entierro de la Sardina

The Entierro de la Sardina - Burial of the Sardine is symbolic for the fasting and abstinence that follows in the period of lent.

Every February, in Madrid and several other cities in Spain, the ceremony, El Entierro de la Sardina takes place.

People come together for this centuries old annual Spanish tradition of burying of dead Sardines.

There are many different stories about the origin of this event, no one seems to know for sure which is true. One story from the XVII century, when the King of Spain, Charles III, ordered sardines and wine to be served at the countryside picnic, as an offering to the commoners in order to celebrate the end of a religious festival. The hot weather began to turn the sardines which began to smell. To rid themselves of the plight the people buried the sardines. The king understood and cut off the food offerings. The people were sad at the lose of free food just before the observance of a period of abstinence.

Another story is that in past years the Cuaresma was faithfully observed by all, involving a breed of pig called “sardine” was buried on the first day of this religious period, as a forfeit of eating during the observation period. The name of the breed of the buried pig was given to this ceremony.

The follow on to this story is the cities that are not near water do not bury the sardine, they burn it in a symbolic cremation, similar to Valencia’s cremá de las Fallas. In cities nearer water, the sardine is buried or it may also be burned. The “ashes” are scattered into the open ocean on a boat symbolizing the sardine’s return “home” and the close of the carnival festivities.

This tradition was first captured by the Spanish painter Francisco de Goya in an oil, “El Entierro de la Sardina,” (1812-1819).

The procession is headed by an actor playing the public prosecutor, and who clears the streets to allow the passing of the carnival carriage. A priest, and his young assistant are in charge of driving the funeral carriage.

The wooden carriage is covered in palm leaves, bright flowers and other offerings. A giant effigy of a sardine sitting right in the middle of the carriage.

Several grieving widows follow the carriage, confessing their “sins” delivered with screams and weeping. The Devil is not far behind attempting abduct the sardine.

, Mock Policemen chase the devil off... while maintaining order among the procession. When the sardine carriage reaches its the right location, the crowd's euphoria intensifies.

The crowd follows the sardine to the place where it is burned, with fireworks in the background a huge people's fiesta begins that lasts into the early hours.

In the days preceding the big event the city is filled with street entertainment and displays by the Sardinero Association brass bands. The next day is the "cabecera", with "giants and big-heads", carnival groups and brass bands; and the floats, dedicated to the gods of Olympus, where thousands of toys are thrown out into the crowd.

This celebration is carried out in many cities through out Spain, each with it's own local flavor. One thing for sure, to attend the Entierro de la Sardina is an experience well worth having at least once in your life!