Hi Shannon and all...
Taragona a bit further south may perhaps be worth a look as well..
The Carnestoletes story is all about the God Bacchus, Carnestoles is in fact a living manifestation of the deity! Bacchus is head of the wine, women and song department up in heaven land. But poor old Carnestoltes and Concubina, being mere mortals, can't take the pace and between Dijous Gras (Fat Thursday - when they start by declaring the city a republic and begin the orgy) and the following Monday they are done for!
But it's all Carnaval - just a big joke. But there is a serious bit however; the tradition is that the people get to let off steam, but they also have carte blanche to make political satire at the expense of the usual suspects! So many Carnaval fancy dress outfits and floats, of which Tarragona is notorious, have a tendency towards rather 'robust' satire
By the last night of Carnaval El Rei Carnestoltes and his consort, La Reina Concubina, have died from their excesses. The actual flesh and blood "Reis" are swapped for the models, El Ninot and La Ninota, and go around the town before thier fiery creation in front of the City hall.
The Las Fallas at valencia have a similar background.
Clive
