Carnival in Ibiza: A parade for peace in Ukraine in Santa Eulària

Still with the catchy chorus of the song ‘Lollipop’, by The Chordettes, in their heads, more than one person’s blood ran cold when they suddenly heard the sound of anti-aircraft sirens warning of an imminent bombing. This was the soundtrack that accompanied the Ukrainian community during the parade, which recreated with it the terrible reality that their country is currently experiencing.

The public, who showed their solidarity with applause, watched on with serious and compassionate faces, in which a group of Ukrainian women and children threw themselves to the ground when they heard the roar of the bombs. Two young girls dressed as angels then appeared to protect them.

This was not the only tribute to Ukraine in the Santa Eulària parade. The 45 cheerful clowns of ‘El circo Piruleto’ also joined in on ‘no to war’ with a large banner with this slogan and with yellow and blue balloons, the colors of the flag of the Eastern European country.

Piruleto’s troupe was one of the eight adult groups that took part in the Santa Eulària parade, one of the “largest in terms of publica attendance” in recent years, according to a press release from the Santa Eulària City Council. And the fact is that, after a 2021 without carnival, and despite the fact that not many costumes were seen among the public, the desire to party was noticeable among the participants.

The number of participants in the rúa was very similar to previous years. In total, more than 650 people were signed up in 20 groups, twelve of them “comparsas” (troupes).

From sea to space at carnival

At 5pm on the dot, the parade began, which for the first time departed from the Palacio de Congresos. The group ‘Raíz negra’, which won the special prize for the most musical float, was in charge of opening the parade with a troupe dedicated to the four elements, fire, water, earth and air, all of them represented with original and striking costumes. The African dance and percussion school Wontanara, which already participated last Sunday in the Rúa de Vila, this time paraded with a float and new companions, the capoeira group ‘Sul da Bahia’.

Another of the groups that joined the Santa Eulària parade and that already triumphed in Vila was ‘Planeta S’Olivera’, which won first prize in the school groups category with its original costumes and its message in favor of an inclusive world.

‘Planeta S’Olivera’, passing through Sant Jaume street. J.A. Riera

In second place, in this same section, was ‘Sant Cirial pel món‘, which also won the special prize for originality for their snowball costumes, the typical souvenir that one buys as a souvenir when traveling around the world. The idea came from the Apima of this school in Santa Eulària, which recycled cardboard, tetrabriks and newspapers to make both the costumes and the float, which was also decorated with some details made by the students.

‘Mare Nostrum, Arabí’ also opted for recycling, which received a special prize for it, in addition to winning the award for the best float, which was only finished a few hours before the parade started. The Apima of the Vénda d’Arabí school chose to recreate the theme that the center has chosen this year, the Mediterranean Sea, and used bottles, bottle caps and cardboard containers to decorate the float and make the costumes. About 140 students, parents and teachers participated in this parade dressed as divers, the sea, posidonia and jellyfish.

A space theme was chosen by ‘Universo Nanuts’, which came third in the school group category. A whole month was invested by the families who attend the Nanuts kindergarten, which participated for the first time in the carnival of Santa Eulària, in making the rocket that presided over their float and making the costumes of stars, planets and astronauts.

‘French divas’ J.A. Riera

‘Corazón contento’, from Adrián Pineda’s dance academy, won in the adult troupe category. Capricorn Studio, with ‘Lollipop‘, came second and won the special prize for best choreography. The message of protest of the Asociación de Vecinos de es Pratet, ‘La unión hace la fuerza’, was awarded third prize.

In the individual or small group category, the winners were ‘Les algues d’Eivissa’ and ‘Princesa reciclada’.