Blue lights, music from the film “The Fifth Element,” shouts of joy. Nice inaugurated the start of its grand 2011 carnival festivities on Friday, February 18. This year, the people of Nice will rediscover the beauties of the deep blue with the King of the Mediterranean until March 8, 2011.
A crowd of young and old gathered in Place Masséna to welcome the king and queen of the carnival. Everyone dived into the depths with jellyfish, a crawfish, a woman, and fish that floated in the air as if they were delicately swimming in the sea. Accompanying them was an impressive sea serpent. Aggressive, it descended upon the crowd with long sharp teeth, even engaging in battle with the crawfish and the fish. A powerful moment, appreciated by the audience.
You could also see in the performance some mythological references that generally accompany the history of the Mediterranean, such as an oyster that released a pearl, a real symbol of fertility that gave birth to Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
The highlight of the evening was, of course, the presentation of the sovereigns’ float amid the spectators’ joyful exclamations. Immense and radiant, the king lit up hearts with his carnival brilliance. Towering at 18 meters, he was accompanied by two majestic seahorses and held a scepter bearing the effigy of Nice.
The queen is named “Nice, pearl of the Mediterranean.” This very tall woman in a traditional Niçoise dress spins around herself, surrounded by six other ladies representing the Ratapignata, the Marianne, and the four elements—fire, earth, water, and air.
Italy and Tunisia in the Spotlight
For its 2011 edition, the carnival has an honored guest: Italy. Indeed, this year our neighbors celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of the Kingdom of Italy. But that’s not all; that evening also celebrated the twinning of Nice with Sousse, a Tunisian city. Both countries will be faithfully represented throughout the carnival, so keep an eye out.
