Carnival of Amélie-les-Bains

A carnival rooted in Catalan tradition

The Carnival of Amélie-les-Bains is one of the oldest and most popular carnivals in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The first mention of a parade in the spa town of Vallespir dates back to an article in Courrier de Céret on March 18, 1888. Municipal archives contain photographs of carnival celebrations from the 1900s. Since 1945, the carnival has been held without interruption, making Amélie-les-Bains one of the major centers of Catalan carnival tradition.

Festive parades and balls

The carnival unfolds over two weekends in February. The program opens with the Casament Tremblant, a parody ceremony in the town center and at the town hall, followed by a children's ball. On the following two Sundays, the parades liven up the streets of Amélie with decorated floats, costumed groups, brass bands, and confetti. Grand balls at the Salle Jean Trescases extend the festivities into the evening.

The Grégoire Amélien, a unique tradition

The highlight of the carnival is the Grégoire Amélien ceremony, a typical Vallespir tradition. His Majesty Carnival ("the Grégoire") is escorted by a Swiss guard, a procession character, and a cobla (Catalan musical ensemble), followed by a procession of villagers dressed entirely in white with pointed hats, in a parody of a funeral ceremony. The incineration of the Grégoire in the Place de la République marks the symbolic death of the Carnival.

The Tio-Tio, a lively Catalan dance

After the incineration, participants engage in the Tio-Tio, an old Catalan dance where everyone tries to light a piece of paper attached to the back of the person in front of them with a candle. This joyful and chaotic dance concludes the carnival in general merriment and laughter, perpetuating a centuries-old Catalan tradition.