Countdown to Carnival Begins in Antigua Guatemala

If case you missed it, yesterday, February 2, was Día de la Candelaria. As I have explained before, around Antigua Guatemala, many people keep their Nacimientos [Nativity scenes] and Christmas decorations until the 2nd of February, Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas), which incidentally is Groundhog Day in the United States. Now, we begin the countdown to Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Carnaval or Carnival. Do you know the exact date?

These colorful Guatemalan cascarones [eggshells] filled with confetti are known as cascarones de carnaval [carnival] and they mark the arrival of carnaval and then Ash Wednesday (Miércoles de ceniza), which is the first day of Lent (Cuaresma).

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