This festival is four days longer , is happy and amusing of the region. It takes place for four days preceding Ash Wednesday. During the carnival the city of Barranquilla's normal activities are paralysed because the city gets busy with street dances, musical and masquerade parades. They have such cultural wealth that today to its to have counts on a double designation, Patrimony of the Nation statement offered by the National Congress of Colombia November 26, 2001 and Oral and Intangible Patrimony of the Humanity, regular granted by the UNESCO in Paris November 7, 2003. 

The festivals of carnival, of European origin, they were introduced to America by the Spaniards and Portuguese.  Those of Barranquilla have next antecedents in the celebration that was performed in Cartagena of Indies, in epoch of the Cologne, like festival of slaves; by those dates appeared along the streets the black with typical instruments and special attires, dancing and singing. 

The festivals of carnival, of European origin, they were introduced to America by the Spaniards and Portuguese.  Those of Barranquilla have next antecedents in the celebration that was performed in Cartagena of Indies, in epoch of the Cologne, like festival of slaves; by those dates appeared along the streets the black with typical instruments and special attires, dancing and singing. 

The traditional novena of The Candelaria, in Cartagena of Indies, served of framework to sumptuous dances that in the 18th Century they granted a holiday to the black muzzles brought of Africa.  Those festivals constitute source of the main dances of the CARNIVAL OF BARRANQUILLA "The advantage to be in the estuary of the main river artery of Colombia, the river Mary magdalene, enables it to be a maritime and river port, and its situation in the northern part of Colombia and in the area circuncaribe, permits the economic displacement of Cartagena, Mompox, Holy Marta and The Bank, being many of its inhabitants the They come to participate of the prosperity barranquillera", explains Roberto Scaffolding in its work Carnival in the north of Colombia.  Historically itself do not they have precise data about the initial date of the first Carnival celebrated in Barranquilla; its tradition is as remote as the first human settlements on the north coast of Colombia.  I have here some data:

1888 a figure called King Arose Momo (symbol of the mask) 1899 was created the charge of President of the Carnival and an organizing Meeting 1903 was organized the first Battle of Flowers by a proposal of the mister Heriberto Vengoechea to recover a carnival tradition of
previous years.  1918 a queen was chosen for the first time to preside the festivities of the Carnival.  He was chosen Alicia Lafaurie Roncallo.  1923 he is institutionalized from this year he was it of the reigns, suspended for five years.  He is named the young lady Toña Vengoechea you Live. 

1967 an event is introduced al carnival, the one that Great stop" that the second day of carnival is carries out (Sunday) 1974 By initiative of Esther Forero is carried out the first one Guacherna, event that rescued a tradition loss: cumbiambas and drums that in the night were happy the neighborhoods of the city. 
1995 The Foundation Carnival of Barranquilla created the parade of the King Momo along the street 17, reviving thus the figure of King Momo, so that to preside this out-on-the-street spectacle.  Since that year and even the date the Foundation names as the King Momo to a representative figure or a noticeable personage in the music or the folklore.  The parade, that parallel to the Battle of Flowers is carried out has been consolidated like a homage to the sectors that have been historic nucleus of the festivals and where they arise with greater vigor and cultural wealth the popular demonstrations of the carnival.  2000 it Continued with the innovations of the carnival the Foundation Carnival of Barranquilla creates the parade of Great Stop of Fantasy, especially for the action of the groups that present a proposal on a thematic one selected with a choreography free and original. 

Monday of carnival is carries out and the same one is done traveled through of the Battle of Flowers and the Great Stop.  2002 The Carnival of Barranquilla is declared for the Senate of the Republic Cultural Patrimony of the Nation.  The Law that declares the festival barranquillera as patrimony of the Country this supported under the concept of Cultural Patrimony like an immense environment in which customary diverse stories flow, saberes, habits, etc, what continuously POPULAR TRADITION is called.  As such, the Cultural Patrimony is that that is demanded like representative or boss of a community and the carnival of Barranquilla is the most complete, brilliant and spectacular folk expression of the country. 

 

Cumbia Is an arrogant dance, of courtship, own of the Colombian Caribbean.  The dancers do a wheel of couples that rotate in contrary sense to the pointers of the clock.  In an interior circular the men they displace themselves and in the exterior circle they dance the women.  During all the dance the attitude of the woman is of coquettishness.  The couples that dance in the wheel of cumbia establish an exchange.  Inside them the man and woman they exchange a loving conversation through gestures and smiles with looks of coquettishness.  In spite of the courtship, at no time the woman should permit that her partner the sound.  Be adapted to the parades of the Carnival, the cumbia had to imitate the march of the dances.  Hook The dance has elements of popular theater of Carnival.  They represent the fight of the man with the death.  It is it put in scene of the two opponents: life and death.  Congo The dancers go al rhythm of the music with movements of bearing accentuated: four times toward the right and toward the left alternative, being balanced in rhythmic form. 

 

The arms can be carried raised or representing a warrior, brandishing the machete or the goad.  The women dance being displaced toward the right and toward the left, moving the shoulders and with the skirt holds with the hands to move it.  From time to time so much the woman as the man give returns on itself.  The fauna retoza and the bearers of the disguise do the mimicry of the corresponding animals. 

Festivals of the Immaculate Conception: 8 from December The day of the Immaculate conception is celebrated in almost all the corners of the Atlantic Coast but has returned more popular as Festival in Barranquilla.  It is custom to be awoke in the early morning to light velitas, lanterns and other lights al step of the virgin.  During these festivities masses are carry out, plaza spectacles processions, fireworks among others. 

The Festival of the Candy connected with the tradition of the Holy week, the candies are called for these days “you scratch you” and they exchange as gifts of peace and good contact between the neighbors and friends.  In the Park Surí Salcedo of Barranquilla finds one all types of these delicatessen, of numerous forms, great quality and excellent and various flavor.