Burial of the Sardine

 February half term found us in Barcelona and coincided with the start of Lent for which is celebrated at local events around the city, when we arrived there was a street party in the adjoining street with around 150 families and children sitting down to a feast of meats and fish cooked over open fires.

The18th Feb marked the end of celebrations and the beginning of Lent, hich is marked by the "Burial of the Sardine" ("l'enterrament de la sardina), apparently after days of feasting which often included a large catch of sardines, it was thought to bury the remaining sardines as 40 days of fasting for Lent began rather than let them rot and to honour the noble fish.

 

Our fist sight was at the local market where this lady had turned up in suitable mourning attire, she had also set up a little coffin and a cross on her fish counter

 Later outside the Parroquia de Sant Miquel del Port in Barceloneta as suitably decorated for the event

and an area where the fish was laid to rest in an open coffin and places were set up for mourners to pay their respects during the service.

Apparently such events take place all over Spain in local communities rather. than big orgainsed events.