The carnival is celebrated in the Nice nurseries throughout the month of February. Anne-Laure Rubi, Deputy Mayor of Nice in charge of Family and Early Childhood, visited one of them to read the story “Aquilla at the Nice Carnival.” Various workshops were also set up. The goal: to introduce the youngest to the Nice traditions associated with this event.
Bees, Disney’s blue alien Stitch, a harlequin, a Tiny Mouse, Tigger, ladybugs, a raspberry, a knight, princesses, and so many others are the costumes worn by the little ones at the “Terra Amata” nursery. After being introduced in the schools, the Nice carnival is brought to other structures in the city.
Different workshops were set up in the nursery to allow the little ones to discover the world of the Nice carnival. In the first room, some children are painting on a plastic sheet that covers the colors, allowing them not to get dirty. In the adjoining room, other little ones are engaged in a floor crayon workshop with pastels.
In a third room, two-and-a-half-year-olds all dressed as harlequins, pirates, Tigger, Paw Patrol, Mini Mouse, and ladybugs, among others, watch Benoît Gsell and his violin. The musician, who regularly visits the nurseries, performs children’s songs under the watchful eyes of the aides, who are also in costumes and accompany him by singing.
Another carnival tradition takes place in the courtyard: the throwing of confetti. Cones filled with small pieces of colored paper are distributed to the children. They soon generously cover the ground as the little ones grab them by the handful and throw them in all directions. Assisted by their aides, they abundantly shower each other’s hair and clothes. It’s during the distribution of the carnival bugnes that some of the toddlers take hold of the container with the confetti.
Story and traditions
Next comes the reading of the tale. All sitting quietly, they attentively listen to the story of Aquilla, an eagle. This tale features all the Nice carnival traditions. Stéphane Casalta, the director of early childhood for the city of Nice, explains that it “allows the transmission of Nice culture.”
The reading is done by the deputy mayor Anne-Laure Rubi. Her narrative is punctuated with questions to the children. “Do you know what a babou is?” “A dragon!” replies a boy almost spontaneously. The same boy who intently looks at the tale’s booklet.
She then questions them about the rag puppet bounced on a sheet. “Do you see the paillassou?” A question to which the little boy responds with a firm “yes!” “The dragon that breathes fire!” he exclaims moments later at the arrival of the floats. Once the story ends, five of the toddlers take the stickers provided with the booklet and decorate the eagles from the tale created for them.
