Santoña Carnival

One of the most important and colourful carnivals in northern Spain is that of the coastal town of Santoña (Cantabria), known as the “Carnival of the North”. With a markedly seafaring character, with the sea and its inhabitants as a continuous reference, every year it fills its streets with fun, costumes and parades for children and adults alike. Music plays a key role in the activities, with a variety of concerts and the renowned “murga” contests, in which informal musical groups perform witty, satirical and humorous songs inspired by current events.

Its most distinctive feature is the so-called “Trial at the Bottom of the Sea”. It is a theatrical performance that serves as a festive epilogue in which, in the presence of all kinds of ocean creatures, a sea bream who has kidnapped a mermaid for love is put on trial. The spectacle culminates in the so-called “Burial of the Sea Bream”, in which the fish is burnt.The exact origin of these unique carnival festivities is not known, but there are references to their existence as early as the end of the 19th century. Lost as an event in 1934, its tradition was not completely extinguished in the memory of the locals and was reborn as a street event in 1981, promoted by local clubs.Make the most of your visit to taste the delicious local gastronomic specialities, especially the local fish and seafood!