Oral History Script

Introduction:

The most appropriate person for this interview was my aunt Gladys, who is my dad’s older sister, but I think she is the person who has enjoyed the carnival the most. He is also a wise person with his words but sometimes he deviates from the topic a little to explain something else.

Maykel: Aunt Gladys, one of my questions is when does the carnival start?

Aunt Gladys: I have not celebrated carnival for many years because I am already around 67 years old so I am not going to be very precise with the dates, but what I am very clear about is that in my time the carnival was celebrated the week before the carnival begins. Lent. For example, this year the carnival ended on February 13 and February 14 was Ash Wednesday. It is generally always celebrated between February and early March.

Maykel: So the carnival has to do with religion?

Aunt Gladys: Our family has not been that religious, I tell you this so you have an idea that I could be wrong. At the time of my youth, adult people always instilled in me certain values or certain ideas that could never be questioned. So I never asked directly about something he doubted. Over time I understood that carnival is a way to enjoy the family and friends that surround us, it was also a way for adults to bring out that inner child, but if we talk within religion it is a way to leave all the bad things behind, to celebrate. new beginnings and start Lent.

 

Maykel: in your youth, how did you experience carnival days and how did you celebrate it?

Aunt Gladys: the truth was it was a very nice time since all the people left their house with buckets of water to wet others, there were people who played with eggs, bursting them on top of another person. There were people who mixed water with paint to stain anyone on the street. Also on those carnival days, it always rained a lot and generally it always rained on the same days and it was like that for many years, now it is very difficult for it to rain on carnival days. I don’t know if it is for some reason of climate change but it doesn’t rain like before.

Maykel: One of the most intriguing questions is, how much has the celebration changed from before to today?

Aunt Gladys: Over the years many things have changed, now people celebrate these dates in a more vain way, I think people do not celebrate it with its true meaning, I also feel that technology is creating a gap between maintaining traditions or As time goes by, little by little they disappear. A clear example is me, nowadays I no longer celebrate it and I no longer wet someone with water, the only thing I do maintain is not eating meat during Lent. Before, during Lent there were myths that if you touched the water too early you could turn into a fish. That way they kept us entertained, unlike today when teenagers and some children no longer believe in those myths and rules that are followed during Lent and Holy Week. I don’t think they go to mass every Sunday as part of fulfilling their religion. In that sense, we did try to go to mass during the weeks of reflection.

Maykel: Is there anything new they are doing at the carnival now?

Aunt Gladys: There are not many new things but what in recent years children play with is a kind of soapy foam that does not burn others, there have always been balloons filled with water. What has changed is the meaning of customs.

Maykel: Tia, I know that his time is valuable and he has already answered beyond my questions, but what advice do you have for today’s youth?

Aunt Gladys: As in general I would like to tell the generation like you, is to tell them to enjoy every second and every moment of their lives, not to be attached to the material because the material comes and goes, life is only one and it is the most valuable thing we have in our hands. From my point of view I feel that little by little with technology we are losing many customs and this causes more people to lose that touch of life and humanity that those customs give them. To a certain extent, I would like my youth to know where they come from and to feel proud of it.

Maykel: Thank you very much Aunt Gladys, her words are truly wise.

Aunt Gladys: Don’t worry, we all go through the same path.

Maykel: Thank you