The first steps towards democracy (1976-1978). 50 years of the recovery of Carnival in the streets

THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY (1976-1978). 50 YEARS OF THE RECOVERY OF CARNIVAL IN THE STREET

Presentation

Sitges joins for the first time the Memory in Network project, of the Network of Local Museums of the Barcelona Provincial Council, an annual exhibition on democratic memory distributed in several municipalities. The 2026 edition has as its theme The first steps towards democracy (1976-1978). The Sitges Museums present a small traveling exhibition for the 50th anniversary of the recovery of Carnival in the street, visible since March in El Retiro and the Casino Prado.

Explanatory panel

During the Franco dictatorship, Carnival was banned throughout Spain. In Sitges, however, the festival survived in the theater halls of the Sociedad Recreativa El Retiro and the Casino Prado Suburense, where it was celebrated under the name of “Bailes de temporada”. Those themed dances kept the flame of Carnival alive, in a way, although without the satire and freedom that had made it unique. From the 1950s, with the so-called “Fiestas de Invierno” and the Rally of Vintage Cars, costumes began to return to the streets in a timid manner.

With the death of dictator Franco, Sitges fully recovered the celebration of Carnival in the streets. In February 1976, for Carnival Sunday, El Retiro organized a procession through the streets with a float and several groups of people in costumes, which marked the first steps in the beginning of the Carnival of democracy. From then on, the two town entities began to lead the Sunday and Tuesday parades, the figure of the carnival reappeared and, later, the Queen was created, and thus the Carnival festive cycle was configured, with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday as the official days of the beginning and end of the celebration.

Since that return to the streets and until now, the Sitges Carnival has gone through many moments, some sweet and others more bitter. Events have disappeared and new ones have been created, the schedules and routes of the parades have been modified, importance has been given to other aspects of the festival and the entire Carnival week has been enhanced.

Having reviewed this history, it is clear that the celebration has evolved and that over the years it will continue to transform while maintaining the essence of tradition, with the freedom and diversity that have always characterized Sitges.

Sergi Molina Jaime

ORGANIZED BY: Barcelona Provincial Council Local Museum Network

COLLABORATORS: Sitges Museums, El Retiro Recreational Society and Casino Prado Suburense