It’s already carnival, we are already celebrating.

Gloria Santoro kicks off Miguelturra’s most popular and traditional festival, the carnival, a festival declared of National Tourist Interest.

As usual, the Carnival Palace was packed to the rafters to witness the opening speech by Gloria Santoro, the presenter from Castilla-La Mancha Media.

A proclamation, which was attended by the Mayor of the town Luis Ramón Mohíno, the Councilor for Culture and Festivities, Carmen María Mohíno, members of the Municipal Corporation, President of the Association of Peñas, Raúl Domínguez, King of the Carnival, Serafín Delgado, Major Masks of 2024, Rafael Gómez and M.ª Luisa Ocaña, those who will be in 2025, Berna Martínez and Esther Martínez, as well as members of the peñas of the town.

He procession began the traditional journey to the Carnival Palace from Square of España, visiting our Carnival Museum, one of the few museums dedicated entirely to this festival.

A CARNIVAL PALACE TO BE PACKED WELCOMES GLORIA SANTORO

The event was hosted by local journalist Tere Rodado, a regular at these events who perfectly masters her craft. When Gloria Santoro’s turn came, the Carnival Palace awaited her performance with rapt attention.

And Gloria Santoro didn’t leave us indifferent. Dressed as an astronaut, her astral journey reached our Carnival on a night where the planets aligned to enjoy our tradition, our essence, and our roots.

This is what our town crier reflected, with a speech that has already gone down in the history of our carnival.

There was time to remember our elders, those who have kept the festival alive for decades and whose efforts, in the words of the announcer, “make it possible for us to be here today.”

Gloria Santoro also remembered her grandfather, whom she saw wearing a mask throughout her life and whom she now remembers through what she experienced on the streets of Miguelturra.

He promised us that carnival is in his blood, and that “if he didn’t dress up, if he didn’t laugh, and if he couldn’t take the joke, he couldn’t set foot in Miguelturra.”

In the final part of his speech, he had words for our Carnival King, Serafín Delgado, and his partner as the main mask in 2006, Santa Muñoz. He had once promised Serafín that he would visit our carnival, and now his time had come.

After promising that he was thinking of registering in Miguelturra, he let us know that Ramón García had asked him for a good sample of our pan-fried fruit.

Finally, two details that will remain in the hearts of carnival-goers: admitting that being our town crier has been one of the most beautiful things that has ever happened to her and bringing to the stage the words of our beloved Octavio Martín: the street mask is the one with the future, because you don’t need a penny to dress up.

She said goodbye with a “Be happy, I’m already a Churriega,” closing a speech that has a glorious aftertaste.