A Month of Celebration - The Real Anna Miller

Carnaval in Cozumel is a really, really big deal. Parades are what immediately come to mind for most people, but there is so much more. It’s an entire season of fun!

A bright blue angelfish rests on a purple and orange coral base. This is one of the large sculptures that decorate the seawall and malecon of Cozumel during the Carnaval season. A calm ocean and cloudy sky are in the background. The fish sculture is wearing a pink and purple costume hat.

Six foot tall whimsical colorful sea horse sculpture for Carnaval season on Cozumel. The seahorse is shown on a pedestal of coral and wearing a Carnaval costume with a jester style hat. The colors are purple, green and gold with a bit of bright pink. The sculpture rests on a white cement seawall and the ocean with a ferry is visible in the background.

A brightly colored whimsical sea snail sculpture rests on a white cement pedestal along the seawall on the east side of Cozumel. The decoration is green, purple and gold and is maintained through the Carnaval season. They are about 6 feet tall after the base.

A year-round bronze sculpture of a king and queen of an early Carnaval on Cozumel. The woman is wearing a fancy long gown and has her hair in an up-do. The man has an embellished hat and his shirt has wide full ruffled sleeves. A white railing along the malecon is seen in the background and then the ocean beyond. The sculpture appears weathered with age.

A whimsical cartoon octopus sculpture is resting on the white cement seawall. This decoration for Carnaval season in Cozumel Mexico is purple and orange with a gold base. The ocean and cloudy sky are visible in the background.

A swordfish sculpture that is part of the Cozumel Mexico Carnaval season along the malecon. The ocean is visible behind. The decoration is whimsical with a crown on the swordfish's head and purple maracas held in his fins. He is posed on a pedestal that looks like ocean waves with light blue, medium blue and white foam.

A brightly colored whimsical sea turtle sculpture is part of the Cozumel Mexico decoration for Carnaval season. The turtle is mostly blue and green with a purple festival headpiece and tail feathers, as if in costume. There is a cloudy sky above.

A view of the main street along the ocean in Cozumel Mexico at Carnaval season. There are shops and businesses along the left side,, with a tall palm lined median and the malecon with a white seawalll along the right. There are bright whimsical sea creature sculptures on white cement pedestals as part of the sea wall. The closest one is a purple, gold and orange sea snail. There is a ferry waiting at the ferry terminal in the distance.

Mermaid decoration along the malecon in Cozumel, Mexico for Carnaval. This larger than life-size sculpture is whimsical with gold glittery arm bands and purple glitter bustier, caucasian skintone, dark long hair and fuschia glitter sunglasses and aqua backpiece. The lower portion is dark and medium blues. A clear blue sky is seen behind the mermaid.

Mermaid decoration along the malecon in Cozumel, Mexico for Carnaval. This larger than life-size sculpture is whimsical with red glittery arm bands and bustier, caucasian skintone, dark long hair and fuschia glitter crown and backpiece. The lower portion is dark and medium blues with a gold and red glitter star in the center. A clear blue sky is seen behind the subject. The mermaid has her hands outstretched in a welcoming gesture.

Merman decoration along the malecon in Cozumel, Mexico for Carnaval. This larger than life-size sculpture is whimsical with red and gold glittery yoke, green glittery tendrils and a carnaval style mask with aqua, purple, gold and green glitter. A clear blue sky is seen behind the subject.

The full length of a merman decorative sculpture for Carnaval is seen mounted on a pedestal base that is part of the wall along the malecon in Cozumel Mexico. His costume reveals his bare muscular and trim torso with red and gold glitter tendrilled base, yoke and mask. His arms are outstretched in a welcoming gesture. There is a ferry at the dock in the distance` and clear blue skies.

Mermaid decoration along the malecon in Cozumel, Mexico for Carnaval. This larger than life-size sculpture is whimsical with fuschia glittery arm bands and bustier, caucasian skintone, dark long hair and fuschia with gold glitter crown and backpiece. The lower portion is dark and medium blues with a purple octopus in the center. A clear blue sky is seen behind the subject. The mermaid has her hands outstretched in a welcoming gesture. She is wearing aqua glitter sunglasses.

A full length view of a merman sculpture decoration that is mounted on a pedestral that is part of the wall along the malecon in Cozumel Mexico. The wall and pedestal are white cement. The lower portion of the merman is aqua, blue and purple and evokes images of waves with a gold seashell motif in the center. The merman's torso is trim and muscular with caucasian skintone. His arms are outstretched in a showmanship manner. He has a fuschia and purple glitter yoke and headpiece. The background is a clear blue sky.

Merman decoration along the malecon in Cozumel, Mexico for Carnaval. This larger than life-size sculpture is whimsical with a fuschia and purple glitter headpiece and yoke,, over a sculpted muscular yet trim,, cuacasian torso. The sky behind the merman is crystal clear.

There are parades. Three of them in fact. There are also king and queen competitions in many categories, a performance and concert series, expanded Parque Andres Quintana Roo vendors, and a Paint ‘N Run event. Community dance groups perform in parks and on the streets, and dance in competitions. Carnaval decorations are everywhere and it all wraps up with the ceremonial burning of Juan Carnaval. Mr. Spectacular Fernando Ferraez serves as host and emcee at many events. He has a flamboyant style all his own. It is all so, so much.

Carnaval is a 150-year-old tradition in Cozumel. It is the oldest Carnaval on the Yucatan peninsula, and possibly even the oldest in Mexico. What we love is how much this is a family-oriented event. In the 1970s the celebrations fell into degenerate debauchery and became monotonous. The popularity dwindled until the local government began overseeing the events by 1975 and revived the celebration for the families on the island. It is now a healthy celebration for all ages and is filled with festivities, both glamorous and fun.

I hear about tourists visiting for just one night of parades, and I am sure that when they leave they feel they have experienced what Carnaval season is like in Cozumel. I’ll be sharing a series of posts this month to give you an overview of the season and explain why staying on the island for even a whole month will leave you struggling to see it all.

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