tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977358315744247865.post4239375206261951065..comments2023-10-20T05:10:29.232-07:00Comments on Retired in Uruguay: Mardi Gras and Carnival!Wallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01182374666645369163noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977358315744247865.post-42114735966585953222014-02-27T18:22:51.936-08:002014-02-27T18:22:51.936-08:00Thank you! It was hard for me to find out any real...Thank you! It was hard for me to find out any real information on them and why some were in black face while others were not, I appreciate your explanation very much!!!Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06114770905895045770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977358315744247865.post-82947555609073380882014-02-26T14:05:27.482-08:002014-02-26T14:05:27.482-08:00The old man and the old woman are part of the &quo...The old man and the old woman are part of the "comparsa de negros y lubolos". Comparsa is the whole group, negros are negros, and lubolos are white people with the face painted in black. And all parade together in the same comparsa or group.The drummers of the comparsa play a rythm called candombe. The rythm and the drums themselves were brought by the african slaves. The old man is called "gramillero", grama or gramilla means grass, and the old man carries a suitcase full of grass, it is medicinal grass. So the old man represents the old healer or tribal doctor from the old times in Africa. The old woman is like the big respected grandmother, the old wise woman. Is called "mama vieja", old mom.And somehow, like old drum telegraph in Africa, drummers are calling their own ancestors from the night of the times. They lost their the freedom, the religion, the names, their families. But they remembered,adn were allowed to gather outside the walls of Montevideo to play their drums. This is the origin of candombe and comparsas, the incorporation to carnival came much later in time. Sorry for the long comment...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com