The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, along with the Delegate for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Marta Rivera de la Cruz; the Councilor of Centro, Carlos Segura, and the spokespersons of the municipal groups, received today at the Casa de la Villa the members of the Joyful Brotherhood of the Burial of the Sardine and the Peña del Boquerón, in charge of bidding farewell to the carnival festivities organized by the City Council, which began on March 1st and have extended over the last week. The traditional act of returning the costumes to the trunk and burying the humble fish has marked the end of this celebration and the starting point to welcome Doña Lent.
The Joyful Brotherhood of the Burial of the Sardine has toured this morning the Madrid of the Austrias accompanied by the Association Comparsa of giants and big-headed figures of the city of Madrid. As tradition dictates, at the Casa de la Villa, they paid their respects to the Mayor of Madrid, who has claimed that «modern Madrid, with its large avenues and constant bustle, would be nothing without the traditional Madrid, with its popular festivities and brotherhoods.» Therefore, the burial of the sardine is «one of the most beloved traditions of this city» and «a mirror of the soul and heart of this town of Madrid,» as well as a reflection of «a people always ready for celebration and humor, who even turn mourning into festivity.»
In the afternoon, the funeral procession will gather at 6:00 p.m. to bid farewell to the carnival in front of the hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida. After paying tribute to the honorary brother, Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, author of a canvas about this tradition, it will depart for the Fuente del Pajarito in the Casa de Campo, where, with the traditional burning of the sardine in the bonfire, it will say goodbye to the carnival until next year. /
