Carnival — «The battle of Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma»

Carnival — «The battle of Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma» in San Gregorio Square, Telde, Gran Canaria.

The Telde City Council, through its Department of Culture, invites citizens to witness a unique historical recreation on Thursday, March 12 at 8:00 PM. The Salsipuedes Cultural Association will be responsible for staging the episode that gave rise to Carnival in the world, based on the 14th-century literary source: The Book of Good Love, by Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita. This representation emulates the famous work by the Flemish painter Pieter Brueghel the Elder created in 1559, reflecting the complex relationship between the sacred time of Lent and the festive period of revelry that precedes it.

The event recreates the verbal combat between Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma along with their respective entourages. Staging this battle is not only an act of erudition, but a meaningful gesture that connects the festive present with the deepest cultural roots of the Canary Islands. Historically, this contrast of opposites defined the identity of the islands, where Carnival resisted even censorship through wit and clandestine costumes, while Lent imposed strict silence in public life. The activity seeks to highlight local rites such as the Burial of the Sardine, symbolizing the victory of sobriety over revelry in an unparalleled historical setting.