Carnaval has been rooted in Uruguayan culture ever since the Spanish came over from Spain and colonized in the late 1600’s.  The Carnaval celebration in Montevideo is known as the longest running in the entire world.  Despite these facts, the Carnaval in Uruguay is overlooked compared to the celebration in Brazil and even some of the countries in the Caribbean get more publicity. (Solinkski 2)  Carnaval today lasts for over a month in Uruguay, making it the longest celebration of Carnaval in the world (Montero 1).  Obviously there is a religious facet of the celebration with its origins in Uruguay coming from Spanish Catholicism.  Today however, only about one fourth of the population actually is a devout Christian, so the Carnaval takes on a different meaning (Carvalho Neto 10).  Carnaval is a worldwide celebration, but every country mixes in their own unique aspect and Uruguay is no exception.

       Carnaval is a time where the entire Country of Uruguay meets together in Montevideo to celebrate their unique culture.  They celebrate their culture nonstop for about a month, there is always something going on 24/7.  Mardi Gras, which is celebrated in the United States, specifically New Orleans, is a form of Carnaval.  Mardi Gras lasts four or five days and is considered the wildest party in the United States.  Carnaval lasts four weeks longer and contains constant Mardi Gras-like atmosphere. 

      The Llamadas Parade is original to Uruguay.  This parade celebrates the slave culture formerly in Uruguay with remains today.  Bands of drummers play Candombe music, which was created by the slaves in Uruguay (Carvalho Neto 3).  Another aspect of Carnaval unique to Uruguay is the “murgas.”   Murgas are small neighborhood bands consisting of about 15 people who are not professional singers.  They write songs criticizing many things in society such as the government and social structure (Martin 8).  Contests are held yearly to declare the murga with the best lyrics.  Uruguay is unique because it allows this criticism and encourages it because it is part of the culture.  The action in Montevideo is nonstop with tens of thousands of performers and bands performing throughout all hours of the day.  Carnaval is a time where all of the people of Uruguay are seen as equal.  The social structure is challenged and for this month it does not matter what social class you are in.  The rigid structure of everyday life is also challenged.  Everyone just stops working for a majority of this month every year, and are out in the streets celebrating together.   The celebration is very patriotic, very similar to an Independence Day celebration.  On the floats in the parades, the colors of the Uruguayan flag can be seen as well as many symbols of the culture and animals indigenous to Uruguay.  The National Anthem can be heard constantly playing in the streets.  People dressed in extravagant costumes with headdresses can be seen in parades or simply roaming the streets.  These costumes represent the culture of the indigenous people of Uruguay, whose culture has become almost entirely extinct (Mooney 1).   The main Indian tribe of Uruguay was the Guarani Indian tribe and the Spanish conquered them (Mooney 2).  Carnaval resurrects their dying culture every year.

        Carnaval brings together a nation that has struggled to find peace in its hundreds of years of existence.  The Carnaval asks the tough, but necessary questions of the government and culture and provokes change.  Carnaval may seem like an unorganized mayhem of a party, but it has significance and great importance in this unique culture of Uruguay.