Colombian City Celebrates Black and White Carnival

The southwestern Colombian City of Pasto wrapped up its 400-year-old Black and White Carnival on Friday.

At the beginning of every year, Colombians in Pasto hold the three-day-long festival.

Much of the celebration is based on the history of the area's black community. According to legend, during an uprising against the Spanish king in 1607, hundreds of slaves were granted a day of freedom to express their African traditions, play, and rest.

The occasion is marked by a parade, elaborate floats, and the telling of myths and legends through art, music, and dance.

[Sandra Guerrero, Local Woman]:
"Like always I came out to see the parade, our people, our culture, the powder and the foam, which is traditional here in this area."

The celebration includes a tradition of participants throwing talcum powder and foam at each other, and painting each other either white or black.

[Ricardo Alarcon, Festival Participant]:
"We play because it's a tradition. The day of the whites we celebrate with white talcum powder and the day of the blacks we celebrate with black cosmetic paint."

On the final day of the three-day carnival, people paint their faces red, white, green and blue. The carnival closes with a parade including floats created by local artisans, many of whom have worked on their creations since last year's carnival.