Live the legend at the Biarnès Carnival
Before you begin your period of abstinence for Lent, why not let your hair down one last time at a carnival combining music, costumes and indulgence, where you can forget the daily grind and throw yourself into a parade to bring a little warmth to the winter season.
The most famous of Aquitaine’s carnivals is undoubtedly the Biarnés Carnival (Bearnais) held in Pau, which takes place in several stages over the course of 10 days, and centres on the king of the carnival, Sent Pançard. This grotesque, pot-bellied caricatural persona represents human imperfections and evil in the world. For this reason, he is arrested, judged and paraded before the crowd before being burnt at the stake.
Before these events take place, he returns from Aragon via Somport mountain pass where the villages he passes through extol him with praise. Gradually joined by his entourage and his wife, Carronha, he triumphantly enters Pau and is handed the keys to the city (Pantalonada, Saturday 11th February). Additional processions will also take place: a bear hunt (15th February) followed by the procession of Sent Porquin (18th February), a patron of the Carnival alongside Sent Pançard who is celebrated once again on this day with a major parade... but this time he is being led before the court. A completely biased, light-hearted trial leads to him being condemned to be burnt at the stake the following Tuesday during Mardi Gras (21st February).
At Mardi Gras, the Carnaval des écoles draws to a close with a parade held in the afternoon, where Sent Pançard (who has managed to escape) is found stuffing himself in the food market. He is subsequently led to the stake where he goes up in smoke along with the problems and stresses he represents... The closing ball is held at this point with participants enjoying traditional oliat (onion soup).
(Photo credit: Associacion Carnaval Pantalonada)
>> Biarnés Carnival in Pau, 14th January to 21st February, www.carnavalbiarnes.com
View the video of the 2010 event: www.youtube.com
Visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com
>> Find out about other celebrations taking place in Aquitaine by downloading this pdf document.
