The delegate of the Government in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, announced on Tuesday the declaration of the Carnival of Santoña as a Festival of National Tourist Interest, a recognition granted by the Secretary of State for Tourism for its “uniqueness, roots and cultural value”. This morning he was transferred to the mayor of the municipality, Jesús Gullart, and the councilor for Tourism, Sara Lagarma, during a meeting held at the headquarters of the Delegation.
“It is a great satisfaction to be able to give this news,” said Gómez de Diego, who stressed that it is a “party with so much roots” that “the Santoñeses and Santoñesas have kept alive since its inception.” The delegate stressed the importance of the Judgment at the Bottom of the Sea, the “quality of the walls” and “the beauty of the disguises” as differential elements of the San Toñes carnival.
According to Gómez de Diego, this statement “is another boost for Santoña and for tourism in Cantabria”.
For his part, the mayor has celebrated the declaration as “a milestone” that “rewards the history and culture of a town overturned with its carnival”, an event that, he recalled, constitutes “one of our hallmarks”. Gullart has thanked the coordinated work between the City Council, the peñas, associations the Government of Cantabria and the central Government, and has defined the distinction as “the reflection of the feeling of an entire people”.
Sixth Recognized Celebration
As detailed by the Ministry of Tourism, the Carnival of Santoña becomes the sixth Cantabrian celebration recognized with this distinction at the national level and is thus added to La Vijanera (Silió), the Sacramental Auto and Cavalcade of Kings (Santillana del Mar), La Pasion Viviente (Castro Urdiales), the Battle of Flores (Laredo) and the Fiesta del Orujo (Potes). In addition, the Cantabrian Wars that are celebrated in Los Corrales de Buelna are declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez Grau, has pointed out that “the history of the Carnival of Santoña shows that it is a vibrant celebration, which has overcome historical challenges thanks to its neighbors, to become an event of great cultural importance”, also highlighting its tourist dimension by attracting thousands of visitors every year for the originality of its celebrations, the quality of its walls, the beauty of its costumes and the festive atmosphere that floods the municipality.
The recognition of the Santoña carnival highlights the resilience of the community, which kept the tradition alive even during the periods of prohibition during the Franco dictatorship. The party was officially recovered in 1981 by the local neighborhood movement.
History of the Carnival of Santoña
The Carnival of Santoña was celebrated for the first time in 1864. Despite facing periods of prohibition during the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship, the tradition remained alive thanks to the perseverance of its neighbors, who found ways to continue celebrating. The recovery of the Carnival in 1981 was a milestone in the history of Santoña, driven by the associative movement of the local rocks.
The originality of the Carnival of Santoña is manifested in the Judgment at the Bottom of the Sea, a unique theatrical representation that merges the seafaring tradition with creativity and humor. The walls, with their satire and social criticism, are another key element that encourages citizen participation and artistic expression. The Carnival extends for more than a month, offering a wide range of activities for all audiences.
With the declaration of the Carnival of Santoña, the number of Festivals of National Tourist Interest in Spain has risen to 160.