Burial of the Sardine. Parade

One of the most magical days in the city of Murcia; in the morning sardinero groups and bands march the streets of Murcia waiting for the night parade.

 

The parade includes two clearly differentiated parts: in the first one there are giant and bigheaded characters, as well as majorettes coming from towns in Murcia, Spain and abroad. There are also Brazilian dancers, people in all sort of costumes and exhibiting all kinds of all devices, a fire-spitting dragon and well, many more things that are pure eye candy.

 

The second part includes many handcrafted floats named after Greek Mythology characters:  Apollo, Achilles, Bacchus, Centaur, Ceres, Diana, Eros, Hercules, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Momus, Morpheus, Neptune, Odin, Pallas Athena, Pluto, Polyphemus, Saturn, Selene, Ulises and Vulcano. The sardineros, on top of floats and protected by hachoneros with torches, throw thousands of toys (balls, plastic swords, etc.) that people of all ages try to catch.

 

Burning of the Sardine.
Saturday night, after the Entierro de la Sardina parade, Miss Sardine gets burned in plaza Martínez Tornel (Hotel Victoria), an act representing the end of Lent, which means meat can be eaten again. After burning the sardine, amazing fireworks light up the sky...there, the festivities are officially over....although in that very moment the Sardinerosstart to prepare the festivities of the following year!