February and March see carnivals all over the Pyrénées-Orientales – fancy dress, street parades and fireworks, singing, dancing.....along with the symbolic burning of evil spirits.
In fact, Mardi Gras used to represent a ‘last fling’ before the thin times of lent when winter stores of food were running down, in a society before fridges and freezers allowed us to store provisions indefinitely. It was necessary to use up all remaining meat and animal products such as eggs and butter so why not make a party of it? Hidden behind masks, it was also a chance to be just a little bit wicked!....READ MORE at ANGLOPHONE-DIRECT.com. Tweet this!