Carnival Monday in Uruguay is part of the country's long-standing Carnival tradition, which traces its roots back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

When is Carnival Monday?

Carnival Monday occurs on the Monday before Ash Wednesday, typically in late February.

The following is the list of Carnival Monday from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Carnival Monday?

Carnival celebrations were brought to Uruguay by Spanish and other European settlers, following pre-Lenten festivals celebrated in Catholic Europe.

The most distinctive element of Uruguayan Carnival, Candombe, emerged from the Afro-Uruguayan communities, especially in Montevideo's Barrio Sur and Palermo neighborhoods, during the 19th century.

Enslaved Africans used drums and dance as a form of cultural expression, which became part of Carnival traditions.

By the early 20th century, Carnival in Uruguay had grown into a major national celebration. Carnival Monday and Tuesday became official public holidays, giving people time off to participate in or enjoy Carnival activities. These two days became the most popular and widely attended days of the Carnival season.

In the mid-20th century, Carnival Monday was marked by major parades, Murga performances, and public celebrations, especially in Montevideo.

During Uruguay's military dictatorship (1973–1985), Carnival became a subtle platform for social and political protest.

Today, Carnival Monday continues as a public holiday, celebrated with neighborhood tablados, street drumming, family gatherings and political and social satire through Murga shows. It remains one of the most culturally important days in Uruguay's Carnival calendar.