We reach the halfway point of the Miguelturra Carnival with the Burial of the Sardine, the oldest and most traditional in Castilla-La Mancha.

Major Masks, King of the Carnival, Councilor for Celebrations, widows and widowers, the clergy, nuns and altar boys, street masks, boys and girls, with the accompaniment of two brass bands, paid honors and gave a well-deserved farewell to Mrs. Sardine.

At five in the afternoon, the funeral procession began the traditional funeral parade through the streets of Miguelturra, opening the way for the Security Forces and Corps of the Peña La Cabra led by Pepe ‘ The Wolf, as has been traditional for many years. The streets of Miguelturra packed with people who wanted to say goodbye to the unfortunate Sardine between sobs, cries, stamping their feet, smiles and dancing, said goodbye to Mrs. Sardine as she deserves.

On numerous occasions, the security of the Peña La Cabra had to intervene to prevent a small group of ‘Kittens’ from stealing the inert body of Mini Sardine, which lost some scales in the rifi-rafe. 

The funeral procession as it passed by the monument to the Street Mask located in the Spain Square, with both sardines and carnival authorities at the head, paid him honors and showed their respect. 

At the end of the journey of this peculiar burial, the purifying fire blessed the inert bodies of the unfortunate sardines and like ‘To die is to live again’, they will return to the streets of Miguelturra again next year.

And just as the proverb says ‘Drinking and eating are things that have to be done’, the delegation headed to the Peña la Cabra tent to taste about 100 kg of grilled sardines and a good lemon, which, without a doubt, appeased partly the disconsolation of those present.

‘Requiescat in pace’