Venezuelan Carnival “El Callao” Comes to a Close in Caracas

Thousands of Venezuelan families turned out for the closing procession of Carnaval “El Callao,” held across the country this Tuesday in Venezuela. 

The carnival’s roots can be traced to the country’s Afro-descendant population, and specifically the communities of enslaved Afro-Venezuelans and working class immigrants from Trinidad who laboured in the gold mining region of El Callao, Bolivar state. 

Characterised by Trinidadian Calypso music and bright costumes, the carnival is now an event which is celebrated across the country and was officially recognised as a national holiday in 1853.

Here Venezuelanalysis brings readers a selection of photos from the celebrations in Los Proceres, Caracas.