Carnaval, La Mancha Style!

Yes, it has been quite a while since my last post.  If you know me, then you know I have been very busy lately.  More on that in another post... (oh, the suspense!)

The garden right now is just like a Spanish winter - dull, grey, and without a speck of snow to make it photo-worthy.  I've just started pruning roses this week, and I still have quite a way to go.  It's always a daunting task.

When February rolls around, there is always Carnaval to look forward to.  I am not a big fan of Carnaval or Mardi Gras myself, but the kids always seem to have fun.  Certain parts of Spain are quite famous for their Carnaval costume competitions, like in the Canary Islands, or the satirical chirigota song groups in Cádiz.  Here in rural LaMancha, schools have little parades around town, and the children dress in homemade costumes.  Our local school always chooses a theme, and this year it was Don Quixote de LaMancha!

The fifth and sixth-graders were windmills, and the teacher dressed as Dulcinea.

Third and fourth-graders dressed as Don Quixote.

First and second-graders were Sancho Panza.

But it was the preschool group that stole the show!

The sweetest little Miguel de Cervantes ever, complete with quill! 

 Not bad for a four-room schoolhouse in rural Spain!  

 How do you celebrate carnaval?