The Department of Festivities and the Miguelturra Carnival Peñas Association have announced the names of the 2017 Carnival’s Major Masks. One of the most emblematic and representative figures of this festival, declared of Regional and Traditional Tourist Interest, this year’s carnival will be represented by José Cañizares and Antonia Nieto.

The Mayor of Miguelturra, Victoria Sobrino, accompanied by the Councilor for Festivities, Diego Rodríguez, the King of Carnival, Serafín Delgado, and the President of the Carnival Clubs Association, Raúl Domínguez, welcomed the 2017 Major Masks at a reception held in the Plenary Hall of Miguelturra Town Hall. The Major Masks of 2016, known as “outgoing”, José Muñoz Ramírez and Mercedes Rivas Tellería.

The mayor welcomes the next pair of senior masks

Sobrino has welcomed José and Antonia, highlighting that for the Miguelturra carnival the Major Masks are the emblem, “since throughout the carnival you will be in charge of representing, as carnival authorities, the entire town of Miguelturra and we will recognize it that way during these days“.

Sobrino explained that they’re a lifelong carnival couple. He also wanted to point out that “Pepe,” along with Octavio Martín, founded the Los Segadores carnival club in 1981. Therefore, they have a deep sense of carnival, just like so many churriegos and churriegas.

The mayoress “has also wanted to congratulate and thank the outgoing Major Masks for the good work done last year and that she hopes that this year the incoming ones will enjoy the affection of the people of Miguelturra because it is a unique opportunity to experience the carnival”.

Of course, he has also thanked Serafín, Raul Domínguez and the councilor for Festejos for their involvement and previous work so that these carnivals, one of the most important festivals in the municipality, go ahead in the best possible way.

The King of the Enchanted Carnival

After the mayor, the first to speak was the King of the Carnival. He expressed his delight that friends like “Pepe” and “Antonia” were this year’s Senior Masks and explained that it “took very little effort to convince them and they always said yes. “As every year, Serafín repeated that “this is one of the best experiences you can have at the Miguelturra carnival“.

For his part, the president of the Carnival Peñas Association, Raúl Domínguez, began by welcoming Pepe and Antonia from the Association as Senior Masks for 2017, and assured them that they will have all the support they need to live the magnificent experience of being Senior Masks. He also thanked José and Mercedes for their role as Senior Masks for 2016. “For me, as my first year as president of the Carnival Peñas, it will be a fond memory to share this carnival with you“.

The Máscaras Mayores 2016, José and Mercedes, have had a few words of welcome for those who are going to be their carnival companions, reiterating that for them it was an honor and a privilege “and you will enjoy it this year just the same”.

An honor and a privilege to be older masks

Both have wanted to thank everyone “for the support, both institutional and from the supporters clubs, for the affection that all the people showed them and of course, those who were Máscaras Mayores 2015 Diosco and Vero for their support throughout the carnival”.

The protagonists of this year have been delighted and hope to enjoy and be up to the task of defending the Miguelturra carnival as it deserves”.

Finally, it’s worth remembering that José Cañizares and Antonia Nieto will be proclaimed Senior Masks at the Carnival Palace on Saturday, February 25, once the outgoing Senior Masks pass the baton to them, although they will be their inseparable companions at all official events during the 2017 Carnival.