Carnaval de Santa Cruz de La Palma

Carnaval de Santa Cruz de La Palma is a holiday that falls on a Monday.  The procession, which starts from the Avenue of the Indians and goes to the Plaza de la Alameda, moves to the rhythm of Cuban songs, in the midst of a pitched battle of talcum powder.  The only requirement is to go “unpolluted”, being dressed in white from head to toe.
This tradition began in the nineteenth century from the festivities that are celebrated with the arrival of ships at the port from Cuba and Latin America.  They were called “Indians” by the islanders, and were those who had emigrated and returned to the island, presumably with stories of prosperity and wealth.  The term “Indians” comes from “those who emigrated to the Indies,” the American lands.

According to popular belief, the battle of the talcum powder has its origins in the nineteenth century, when a vessel left port with a cargo of flour in poor condition, making it the element of fun, and carnival was held on those dates.  This belief was discarded because documents from the seventeenth century have been found that speak of “powder” on Carnival Monday.  It is now believed to be a habit inherited from the rituals of Nanigo Cubans with bleached skin.
Since the early twentieth century the authorities suppressed this tradition because, according to regulations of the time, it “too disturbed public order.”  From the second half of the century this tradition began to recover strongly, replacing the original flour with talc.
Due to the controversy brought by the celebration, the City of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria issued an act called “The Indianos de Triana” (or Pasacalle Carnival Traditional Calle Mayor de Triana).  On Monday February 23, 2009 the full City Council of Santa Cruz de La Palma met in an extraordinary assembly, in which all councilors, wearing the characteristic white dress that defines the day of the Indians, proceeded to read a statement on the institution.

The statement championed the “indissoluble link between the party of Indians in Santa Cruz de La Palma… to protect the landing of the Indians in the future, the City Council agrees to promote this party as Regional Tourist Interest, International Tourist Festival and National Festival of International Tourist Interest.”

The “festive gathering that cites many historical and ethnographic identity of Palmeros character was also agreed to request the declaration of Indianos of Cultural Interest, thereby strengthening your institution in the field of heritage and culture “.
The declaration also notes that the landing of Indians symbolizes one of the most important sites of cultural history of Santa Cruz de La Palma, and that this event stems from the strong emotional and cultural ties that unite the island of La Palma to Cuba.  This is primarily due to migrations that have taken place in both directions over the centuries.

Traditional dress for this holiday is guayabera dress, or pants and white linen, in addition to a Panama hat.  Women can dress in period costumes and with a white lace parasol, of course without jewelry.  Supplements to have are bags, (preferably of leather) such as those brought by the Indians that were supposed to be full of money and wealth.
The party starts from the first hours of the day, when we can already see people on the street dressed as Indians.  It officially starts at 12:00 in the morning in the atrium of City Hall, in an act known as the hope, which is a welcome to all Indians with Cuban music and tasting of sugar cane, molasses and mojito.  As you can see, the festival has a strong Cuban flair.  This is because Cubans were one of the main sources of migration of many Palmeros, so the two islands were strongly linked.
At mid-afternoon the parade of Indians starts from the aforementioned Avenue of the Indians, near the harbor, and progresses to the Plaza de La Alameda, where the party will extend until the early hours.  The Indians carry with them suitcases, trunks, crates and some tropical animals along with a group of black servants.  A key element is purity.  All this, of course, is taken from the point of view represented by the travesty of the rich Indian who returns to his homeland.
The festival is located just between these two points, around the historic center, where there is literally crowds of Indians leaving the streets covered in white talcum powder.  To get an idea of the magnitude of the festival on the capital of the island, the city’s population increases that day from approximately 20,000 to 50,000 people.

The character of this feast par excellence, La Negra Tomasa, is always punctual to attend the event in the atrium of City Hall.  His arrival gives the kick to the celebration of the Feast of Indianos.  Victor Diaz Molina Lorenzo, better known as Soso, created this character.