The Freestyle Languages Culture Series has turned its focus to the vibrant Carnaval celebrations in Uruguay. Known for being the longest carnival celebration globally, this event lasts 40 consecutive days and is held in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay.
Carnaval is often associated with grand parades and dance troupes adorned in colorful costumes. In Uruguay, these festivities are marked by unique cultural elements such as candombe and murgas. Candombe, a music and dance style that originated in the 1800s among the African diaspora in Uruguay and Argentina, features heavy percussive beats played on tambores (drums). Each neighborhood has its own candombe group that performs throughout the carnival period. This musical tradition is so integral to Uruguayan culture that UNESCO recognizes it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Murgas are another highlight of the Uruguayan Carnival. These performances consist of musical theater acts typically performed by men in Montevideo. Actors don elaborate costumes and perform comical songs on stages known as tablados across the city. Murgas often satirize current events and have historically served as a form of popular resistance against social injustices.
Shayna Stewart, who authored this installment of the Culture Series, emphasizes that “El Carnaval Uruguayo is a truly unique and captivating experience.” She encourages visitors to join the lively crowds during this festive period from mid-January to late February to experience Uruguay’s rich cultural heritage firsthand.
Stewart began her journey abroad in the Caribbean where she learned Spanish to communicate with local communities. Her travels through Central and South America eventually led her to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she obtained her CELTA certification after earning a B.A. in Anthropology from Oregon State University.
