There has been an excitement in the air for the last few months. Beads have been hand crafted then threaded together, jesters crowns made from scratch and mothers and grandmothers must have been diligently and skillfully sewing bright costumes for the children at Carlos iii. As the Friday of carnival approached classes became a little wild with an undercurrent of expectation, I however had no idea what was about to happen… As I walked into classroom 5A on Friday the 24th of February, the room had already erupted with a golden yellow, purple and green. Children were sitting at their desks trying to concentrate on an english question while wearing face paint and masks, hats with glitter, necklaces full of brilliant beads and bells attached, and to make matters worse the auxiliar (me) had a camera pointed at them while they worked and I was videoing their every move as they set up the “mannequin challenge”.

When 12.00 arrived I pulled on my own costume and headed for the exit. Crowds of parents, grandparents and onlookers lined the street to watch the parade led by the 6th graders who were wearing predominantly purple, crazy glittered accessories and ear to ear smiles; the excitement was palpable and the ‘Mardi Gras’ banner flying high.