photo by Etienne Le Cocq (via Creative Commons)
If your Colombian adventure is set for January be sure not to miss one of the country's hottest carnivals. Both culturally rich and visually stunning, the Black and White Carnival is definitely a must-see! So if you’re ready for some real partying and fun, make sure to book your Colombian adventure tour now so that you’ll have a prime spot during what UNESCO calls one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
photo by Jorgelrm (via Creative Commons)
Black and White Carnival
Both culturally rich as well as fun, the Black and White Carnival in Pasto, Colombia offers something for everyone. Masks, elaborate costumes, paint and powder all reign supreme during this festival which runs from January 4-6 making it an interactive, youthful and a one-of-a-kind experience. Broken down into three main phases – the arrival of the Castaneda Family, the day of the blacks, and the day of the whites – this three-day celebration continues for the full 72 hours.
Before reaching Pasto, the Carnival originated in 1607 in Remedios, a town north of Pasto, where the slaves demanded to have a day off where they could be free to express themselves, dance and enjoy. After an intense rebellion in Remedios, on January 5th African American slaves danced to tribal music in the streets and used coal to paint the white walls in the city black.
photo by Etienne Le Cocq (via Creative Commons)
Fast forward to 1857 where the Ayerbe family migrated to Pasto and brought this celebration along with them. Over the years, as more people got involved, it kept growing and growing with other fun activities getting added to it like the addition of fancy dress costumes and masks. It is also surmised that the Castaneda Family, celebrated on January 4, is a characterisation of the Ayerbe family who took these customs from Remedios and “founded” the festival in Pasto. As homage, every year in the parade, a caricature version of this family is represented and poked fun at in a loving way.
The next day, on January 5, partiers paint their faces black with makeup and coal and dance in the streets with floats and entertainment and the following day on January 6, they do the same except instead of coal, they opt for white power and make-up to paint themselves and the city white. An extra fun bit about the last day of this carnival is that people will throw white sacks of power and talc at passerby and friends.
Book now or miss out
Since the Black and White Carnival is known as the “it” party of the year, January is one of the most popular times to visit Colombia. So make sure to contact Uncharted Colombia early to plan your custom adventure tour.