In spite of the persistent rain last Thursday, La Tarasca was at Saint Francis of Assisi Square since the morning hours, waiting for the people to write on its body everything evil they wished to burn.
“Good-by to unhappiness”, “Down with bitterness and envy”, “Down with mental dictatorships”, “End racism, hunger and war”, “No to poverty and illness” were some of the thousands of requests that could be read on the puppet’s body in several languages.
For the last three years, the group Gigantería revives this tradition that existed in Cuba two centuries ago. The puppet symbolizes a European mythological monster, and although it did not originate in our country, many persons in Havana believed in La Tarasca as evidenced in the foundational documents kept in the City’s Museum.
This is a great night carnival that is very close to a rite. As distinctive character, Gigantería has turned La Tarasca into a great graffiti, since it has united the old tradition with that of the scapegoat, which was exhibited throughout the city and was also sacrificed as a symbol that it is possible to burn evil.
The event is part of the Fourth Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival. That is why, next to the people, around 50 great artists made a pilgrimage from St. Francis of Assisi along the Avenida del Puerto up to La Punta to burn La Tarasca close to midnight.
