The Department of Celebrations and the Miguelturra Carnival Peñas Association have already announced the name of those who will be the 2017 Carnival Major Masks, one of the most emblematic and representative figures of this festival declared of Regional Tourist Interest and Customs and that this year will be represented by José Cañizares y Antonia Nieto.

The mayoress of Miguelturra, Victoria Sobrino, accompanied by the councilor of Festejos, Diego Rodríguez, the King of Carnival, Serafín Delgado and the president of the Association of Peñas del Carnaval, Raúl Domínguez, has been in charge of welcoming the Máscaras Mayores 2017 at a reception that took place in the Plenary Hall of the Miguelturra Town Hall. The Major Masks of 2016, known as “outgoing”, José Muñoz Ramírez and Mercedes Rivas Tellería.

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 are a lifelong carnival couple since “Pepe” has been, together with Octavio Martín founder of the Los Segadores carnival club in 1981, “therefore, like many churriegos and churriegos, they carry the carnival from within”.

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.

After the mayoress, the first to speak was the King of Carnival, he was delighted that friends like “Pepe” and “Antonia” are this year the Major Masks and he explained that it has “taken him very little to convince them and that they have always said yes”, and like every year, Serafín repeats that “this is one of the best experiences you can have in the Miguelturra carnival”.

For his part, the president of the Association of Peñas del Carnaval, Raúl Domínguez, He has begun by welcoming Pepe and Antonia from the Peñas Association, as Máscaras Mayores 2017, to whom he has told them that they will have all the necessary support to live this magnificent experience of being a Máscara Mayor. He has also thanked José and Mercedes for their role as Máscaras Mayores 2016. “For me, as the first year of president of the Peñas del Carnaval, it will be a pleasant memory to share these carnivals 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”.

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 must be remembered that José Cañizares and Antonia Nieto will be proclaimed as Major Masks at the Carnival Palace on Saturday, February 25, once the outgoing Major Masks hand over the baton to them, despite the fact that they will be their inseparable companions in all official acts during the 2017 carnival.