I found this some time ago and pasted it in my personal documents. I don't have the original author. This is not me for sure. But this give a general overview of "Carnaval".
Carnival Week is considered the annual national festival of the nation. While the Carnaval extends to all the country with important events in several cities of the interior, the main activities are made in the capital of Montevideo.
Although this ‘fiesta’ is officially only given two days of public holiday for the Carnaval Monday and Shrove Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday, most shops and businesses close for the entire week. Homes and streets are grandly decorated, humorous shows are staged at open-air theaters, "tablados" or popular scenes (fixed and movable) are erected in the commercial districts. There are many competitions for murgas, black societies and lubolos, humorists, parodistas and magazines
The preparation of the Carnival begins months earlier with the election of the zonal queens; often in December of the previous year. The Carnival of the Promises or the children's parade occurs at the beginning of the month of January
The official launching of the Montevideo Carnival done with significant pomp and ceremony calling upon representatives of the national government, carnaval groups, and various local officials including members of the commissions responsible for the preparation of the celebration in each Zone of Montevideo. The Department of Culture is the main organizer of this annual national festival.
A great highlight of the Montevideo Carnaval is the Parade of the Calls in the old districts Sur and Palermo. The Calls evoke the encounter of the "enslaved black" of the colonial days and in the freedom of the Candombe, which has made a fundamental contribution to Uruguayan culture. A featured event of Montevideo Carnaval, the attracts the most visitors "Desfile de las Llamadas" is a big united parade on Montevideo's Avenida 18 de Julio.The 'black' carnaval is called "Las Llamadas" ("The Calls", because in former times the different carnaval groups "called" each other with their tambors). Many seats are sold in advance for this parade.
There is also usually a major parade on January 6th, as the observed holiday of the epiphany marks the beginning of the Carnaval season in many cultures
The local commissions are very important in making the Carnaval great each year. Besides establishing a citizen partnership for the administration of the Carnaval with local government, they hold the Queen contest and raise funds for prizes and other expenses of the Carnaval. The decentralized quality to the Carnaval is part of the long heritage of these citizens committees dedicated to improving the quality of life of the neighbors and, fundamentally, deepening the democracy.
Candombe is the afro-black influence that is the star of Montevideo Carnaval as it salutes the African origins, the trials of the enslaved black during the colonial time and the great capacity for renewal through the Carnaval arts. Candombé is a drum-based musical form of Uruguay. Candombé originated among the Afro-Uruguayan population of Montevideo and is based on Bantu African drumming with some European influence and touches of Tango.
The barrel-shaped drums, or tambores, have specific names according to their size and function: chico (small, high timbre, marks the tempo), repique (medium, improvisation) and piano (large, low timbre, melody). An even larger drum, called bajo or bombo (very large, very low timbre, accent on the fourth beat), was once common but is now declining in use. Tambores are made of wood with animal skins that are rope-tuned or fire-tuned minutes before the performance. They are worn at the waist with the aid of a shoulder strap called tali and played with one stick and one hand.
You would think we are in the winter. But don't tell Zeidi this, she would have a dog fit if she knew winter was just around the corner. Oh ye, Teresa has decreed that "Winter" is a bad word and not to be spoken in her presence. I was almost put in the dog house over joking about how cold it was going to be.
He shared about his fears and how God has given him the words to share. How God has given him opportunities to share the Gospel and meet more in that community. The church has decided to reach out to this community as well. We will do some evangelistic impacts and as a church and try start get all the converts together in a neutral area. Now realize our church has little to no money. The trip is a hard 3 hour bus ride there and back. But (I love that word when used correctly) they still want to go. We will keep you posted on how God is going to bless our small church with their obedience.
