The Burial of the Sardine event, known locally as Entierro de la sardina, marks the end of Madrid's carnival celebrations on February 22.

Footage shows a sardine in a casket being paraded through the capital's streets.

According to the filmer: "The origin of this curious tradition could go back to the reign of Carlos III. Popular tradition tells that a batch of rotten fish arrived in the city, and that due to the stench it generated, the monarch ordered it to be buried on the banks of the Manzanares River.

"Although the exact place is not known, the burial took place near the current Fuente de los Pajaritos in the Casa de Campo."

Once the sardine is buried a large bonfire is started to symbolise the burning of bad actions or negative thoughts.

El miércoles de Ceniza, marca el final del Carnaval con el tradicional entierro de la sardina por la tarde. La Alegre Cofradía del Entierro de la Sardina ha exhibido el popular pescado. El origen de esta curiosa tradición podría remontarse hasta el reinado de Carlos III. La tradición popular cuenta que llegó una partida de pescado podrido a la ciudad, y que debido al hedor que éste generaba, el monarca ordenó enterrarlo en la ribera del río Manzanares. Aunque no se tenga constancia del lugar exacto, el entierro se llevó a cabo cerca de la actual Fuente de los Pajaritos de la Casa de Campo.

El entierro como ha arrancado a las 18:00 horas en la plaza de San Antonio de la Florida atraviesa el puente del Manzanares y pasa por el paseo del Comandante Fortea, la calle Santa Comba, la calle del Doctor Casal y el paso subterráneo de la M-30.

La sardina se entierra siempre en la Fuente de los Pajaritos de la Plaza de las Moreras de la Casa de Campo. El acto termina con una gran fogata, que simboliza la quema de las malas acciones o de los pensamientos negativos. Por su parte, las cenizas personifican los brotes de alegría, paz y concordia que tanto caracterizan a la gente de Madrid.



The Burial of the Sardine and the giants and big heads say goodbye this Wednesday to the Madrid Carnival 2023

Ash Wednesday marks the end of Carnival with the traditional Burial of the Sardine in the afternoon. The Merry Brotherhood of the Burial of the Sardine has exhibited the popular fish. The origin of this curious tradition could go back to the reign of Carlos III. Popular tradition tells that a batch of rotten fish arrived in the city, and that due to the stench it generated, the monarch ordered it to be buried on the banks of the Manzanares River. Although the exact place is not known, the burial took place near the current Fuente de los Pajaritos in the Casa de Campo.

The burial as it started at 6:00 p.m. in the Plaza de San Antonio de la Florida crosses the Manzanares bridge and passes through the Paseo del Comandante Fortea, Santa Comba street, Doctor Casal street and the underground passage of the M-30.

The sardine is always buried in the Fuente de los Pajaritos in the Plaza de las Moreras in the Casa de Campo. The act ends with a big bonfire, which symbolizes the burning of bad actions or negative thoughts. For its part, the ashes personify the outbreaks of joy, peace and concord that so characterize the people of Madrid.