The Barranquilla Carnival cannot be understood without Joselito Carnaval, an emblematic character of this celebration. This fictional figure, rich in symbolism and popular tradition, represents the most intense spirit of the festival: nonstop partying, collective joy, and the inevitable ending of four days of celebration. His “death,” staged every Carnival Tuesday, officially marks the close of one of Colombia’s most important cultural festivities and signals the return to everyday life.
Over the years, Joselito has become a carnival icon, appearing in neighborhood parades, comparsas, theatrical performances, and songs that tell his story with a mix of humor and nostalgia.
The origin of Joselito Carnaval: between legend and the history of the Barranquilla Carnival
Oral tradition holds that the origin of Joselito Carnaval dates back to the early 20th century, when a Barranquilla native, after enjoying Carnival from start to finish, was found on the last day of the festivities lying in the street, covered in flour, with traces of rum and unresponsive. Believing him to be dead, neighbors improvised a symbolic funeral: They placed him in a coffin and paraded through the streets amid exaggerated mourning, music, and laughter.
According to legend, the story took an unexpected turn when the supposed deceased woke up in the middle of the funeral procession, shouting the phrase that would become famous: “I wasn’t dead, I was just partying.” This episode, repeated and adapted over time, gave rise to the character who today symbolizes the closing of carnival.
Although Joselito is a fictional figure, some historians trace his inspiration to a real character from early 20th-century Barranquilla, known for living popular festivities to the fullest, whose bohemian lifestyle helped shape the collective imagination around the character.
The burial of Joselito: a ritual that bids farewell to carnival
Every Carnival Tuesday, hours before religious Ash Wednesday, the traditional Burial of Joselito Carnaval takes place. In different neighborhoods of Barranquilla, comparsas and community groups reenact his symbolic death through satirical funeral parades. Men dressed as widows mourn his passing, humorous “last wills” are read, and the streets fill with music, dancing, and exaggerated farewells.
This ritual not only marks the end of the festivities but also symbolizes the closing of excess, the rest after celebration, and the beginning of a new cycle. Joselito “dies” exhausted by dancing, rum, and joy, but his resurrection is guaranteed: He is reborn each year with the start of the next carnival.
@carnavalbaq ¡Ay #Joselito!😭 Compadécete de estas pobre Reinas Populares que no hace más que llorarte sin parar. ¿Por qué te fuiste Joseeee? ¿¿Por qué??😩😩 #Carnaval2025 #ReinadoPopular2025 @Reinado Popular BAQ ♬ sonido original – Carnaval De Barranquilla
A cultural icon of the Barranquilla spirit
Joselito Carnaval embodies the essence of the people of Barranquilla: joyful, festive, resilient, and deeply connected to their culture. His figure has inspired iconic songs, such as the one composed by Lucho Bermudez in 1939, whose chorus declares: “Joselito, Joselito, Joselito Carnaval, you are gone forever,” a line that, ironically, is repeated every year, knowing he will return.
More than a character, Joselito is a living metaphor of the Barranquilla Carnival: A celebration that dies only to be reborn with greater strength, keeping alive a tradition that unites generations and reaffirms the cultural identity of the Colombian Caribbean.