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U Sciaratu! Monaco goes to Town
2011-07-20 09:27
What:
Monaco Ville 'Sciaratu' Festival
Where:
Place de la Mairie and various other places
When: 5pm to midnight
Admission: free
Contact: Tel: +377 93 15 06 02/www.mairie.mc
Other towns have their carnivals, but Monaco has something unique - its Sciaratu!
In the olden days, in the period leading up to Lent, a traditional festival saw the world turned upside down. People would walk the streets in disguise, with men dressing as women (and vice versa!); singing children called 'mufi' would repeatedly toss an effigy of straw and rags - 'u payassu' - into the air and catch it in a blanket before setting it on fire, and a peasant would be elevated to the status of King, presiding over a day of tomfoolery and fun. The 'Lord of Misrule' was the central element in a tradition that stretched across Europe.
Under the direction of the King of Fools, mock battles took place in which rotten eggs, chickpeas, oranges and lemons were hurled by opposing teams before, at sunset, the exhausted but happy townsfolk would join in a communal dance in the fields.
In Monaco the tradition was revived, in the post-war years, as a winter celebration, still with the straw man, and comically exaggerated masks, although the projectiles of the rumbustious mediaeval scrap were replaced by the somewhat safer paper confetti.
Now
'U Sciaratu' - ('All Fools Day') - has moved to midsummer. Floats, parades, street processions, activities and music will entertain residents and tourists alike throughout the afternoon and well into the evening. The centrepiece of the day is the parading of the Sciaratu, the Lord of Misrule or Carnival King. All activities are free, and great fun for the whole family. Don't miss ot on this colourful festival day!
Programme:
- Parades of floats on the theme of the sea: departs from the Place du Palais, and proceeds past Monaco Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum, Place de la Visitation, and Rue des Remparts, before returning to the Place du Palais.
- Music: Capoeira and Brazilian dance with Exoticadanse, Jazz with Charly Vaudano, and humorous music with La Grosse Couture.
- Activities: Balloon twisting, cartoonist, ventriloquist, the Bigbrozeurs and their telescopic heads, Bébé Charli and his pram, buissons taquins, and funny birds.
- Place de la Mairie: Demonstrations of country dancing, puppet shows, make-up
- Rue de l’église: Performances and circus workshops
- Grand Ball with DJ from 9pm.