For other uses see Carnival (disambiguation). Carnival float in the Rosenmontag parade in Cologne Germany.

Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations which mark an overturning of daily life.

Carnival is a festival traditionally held in Roman Catholic and to a lesser extent Eastern Orthodox societies. Protestant areas usually do not have carnival celebrations or have modified traditions such as the Danish Carnival or other Shrove Tuesday events. The Brazilian Carnaval is one of the best-known celebrations today but many cities and regions worldwide celebrate with large popular and days-long events. The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is the biggest carnival in the world and the biggest popular party on the planet according to The Guinness Book of World Records 2010. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is also considered the world's most famous. Contents 1 History 2 Etymology 2.1 From carne levare 2.2 From carne vale 2.3 From carrus navalis 3 Carnival in specific countries 3.1 Asia 3.1.1 India 3.2 Europe 3.2.1 Belgium 3.2.2 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.2.3 Croatia 3.2.4 Cyprus 3.2.5 Czech Republic 3.2.6 Denmark 3.2.7 England 3.2.8 France 3.2.9 Germany Switzerland and Austria 3.2.10 Greece 3.2.11 Hungary 3.2.12 Italy 3.2.13 Macedonia 3.2.14 Malta 3.2.15 Netherlands 3.2.16 Poland 3.2.17 Portugal 3.2.17.1 Azores 3.2.17.2 Madeira 3.2.18 Russia 3.2.19 Slovakia 3.2.20 Slovenia 3.2.21 Spain 3.2.21.1 Andalusia 3.2.21.2 Canary Islands 3.2.21.3 Catalonia 3.3 North America 3.3.1 Caribbean 3.3.1.1 Aruba 3.3.1.2 Antigua 3.3.1.3 Barbados 3.3.1.4 Dominican Republic 3.3.1.5 Haiti 3.3.1.6 Trinidad and Tobago 3.3.2 Guatemala 3.3.3 Honduras 3.3.4 Nicaragua 3.3.5 Mexico 3.3.6 Panama 3.3.7 Canada 3.3.8 United States 3.3.8.1 Louisiana 3.4 South America 3.4.1 Argentina 3.4.2 Bolivia 3.4.3 Brazil 3.4.4 Colombia 3.4.5 Ecuador 3.4.6 French Guiana 3.4.7 Peru 3.4.7.1 Cajamarca 3.4.7.2 Violence 3.4.8 Uruguay 3.4.9 Venezuela 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links History

The Lenten period of the Liturgical year Church calendar being the six weeks directly before Easter was marked by fasting and other pious or penitential practices. Traditionally during Lent no parties or other celebrations were held and people refrained from eating rich foods such as meat dairy fats and sugar. The forty days of Lent recalling the Gospel accounts of the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness serve to mark an annual time of turning. In the days before Lent all rich food and drink had to be disposed of. The consumption of this in a giant party that involved the whole community is thought to be the origin of Carnival.

While it forms an integral part of the Christian calendar particularly in Catholic regions some carnival traditions may date back to pre-Christian times. The ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Bacchanalia may possibly have been absorbed into the Italian Carnival. The Saturnalia in turn may be based on the Greek Dionysia and Oriental festivals. While medieval pageants and festivals such as Corpus Christi were church-sanctioned celebrations carnival was also a manifestation of medieval folk culture. Many local carnival customs are based on local pre-Christian rituals for example the elaborate rites involving masked figures in the Swabian-Alemannic carnival.

Some of the best-known traditions including carnival parades and masquerade ball masquerading were first recorded in medieval Italy. The carnival of Venice was for a long time the most famous carnival. From Italy carnival traditions spread to the Catholic nations of Spain Portugal and France. From France they spread to the Rhineland of Germany and to New France in North America. From Spain and Portugal they spread with Catholic colonization to the Caribbean and Latin America.

Other areas have developed their own traditions. In the United Kingdom West Indian immigrants brought with them the traditions of Caribbean Carnival however the Carnivals now celebrated at Notting Hill London; Leeds Yorkshire and other places have become divorced from their cycle in the religious year becoming purely secular events that take place in the summer months. Etymology

The origin of the name "carnival" is disputed between those that have argue a link with the Italian word "carne" (meat) and those that argue a link with the word "carrus" (car). The link with carne would suggest an origin within Christianity while the link with carro with earlier religions. From carne levare

Those that argue for the origin from "carne" point to variants in Italian dialects that would suggest that the name comes from the Italian carne levare or similar meaning "to remove meat" since meat is prohibited during Lent.1 From carne vale

Folk etymologies1 exist which state that the word comes from the Late Latin expression carne vale which means "farewell to meat" signifying that those were the last days when one could eat meat before the fasting of Lent. The word carne may also be translated as flesh so suggesting carne vale as "a farewell to the flesh" a phrase actually embraced by certain carnival celebrants who encourage letting go of your former (or everyday) self and embracing the carefree nature of the festival. However explanations proceeding from carne vale seem to be folk etymologies and are not supported by philological evidence.1 From carrus navalis Other scholars argue for the origin from "Carrus Navalis" (ship cart or naval car) the Roman name for the festival of the Navigium Isidis (ship of Isis) where the image of Isis was carried to the sea-shore to bless the start of the sailing season.2 The festival consisted in a parade of masks following an adorned wooden boat that would reflect the floats of modern carnivals.3 Modern carnival shares resemblances with the Navigium Isidis.4 Carnival in specific countries Asia India Goan Christians participating at the Goan Carnival late 20th century Revellers at the modern Goan Carnival In India Carnival is celebrated in the states of Goa Gujarat Odisha and Kerala. In Goa Carnival is known as 'Intruz' (from the portuguese word Entrudo an alternative name for Carnival) and the largest celebration takes place in the city of Loutolim. The three-day-long festival of music and dancing in the streets culminates in a parade on Fat Tuesday. Crowds follow their partying with a buffet dinner of Goan cuisine. This takes place on Fat Tuesday. Organized by Catholic churches the Raasa involves a public Mass and a parade of religious artifacts including large copper vessels a golden cross and a silver cross and the Papal and Catholicate flag. For the "Chembeduppu" ceremony people eat raw or half-boiled rice out of the copper vessels. Although many Christians participate only in the parade Hindus and Muslims join in the other festivities which often include fireworks. In Odisha the carnival is celebrated in Sambalpur it is famous by the name of Sitalsasthi. It attracts tourists from adjoining states as well as outside India. The marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated as Sitalsasthi for several years from now. No one for sure knows when actually it started. However from the records it is known that for the last 300 years it has been celebrated. This can be the oldest carnival celebrated in India. The Kutch district in northern Gujarat celebrates the Kutch Carnival also known as Rann Utshav. Europe "Karneval" redirects here. For the manga see Karneval(manga). Belgium Many parts of Belgium celebrate Carnival typically with costume parades partying and fireworks. These areas include heist Binche Aalst and Malmedy. The Carnival of Binche has a history dating back at least to the 16th century. Parades are held over the three days before Lent; the most important participants are the Gilles who go out in traditional costumes on Shrove Tuesday and throw blood oranges to the crowd.5 In 2003 the Carnival of Binche was recognised as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.6 The Carnival at Aalst which is celebrated for the full week preceding Ash Wednesday is expected to receive the same recognition in 2010.7 Some Belgian cities hold carnivals later during Lent. One of the best-known is Stavelot where the Carnaval de la Laetare takes place on Laetare Sunday the fourth Sunday of Lent. The participants include the Blancs-Moussis who dress in white with long red noses and parade through town attacking bystanders with confetti and dried pig bladders. The town of Halle also celebrates on Laetare Sunday. Bosnia and Herzegovina In Bosnia and Herzegovina the city of Ljubuki holds a traditional carnival (Bosnian: Karneval). Ljubuki is a member of the Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC). Croatia Carla del Ponte as witch at the Rijeka Carnival The most famous Croatian carnival (Croatian: "karneval" also called "makare") is the Rijeka Carnival during which the mayor of Rijeka hands over the keys to the city to the Carnival master ("metar od karnevala") and the spirit of the Carnival takes over completely. The festival includes several different events culminating on the final Sunday in a masked procession including participants from many different countries. (A similar procession for children takes place on the previous day.) "Carnival of Meimurje" northern Croatia (2011) Many other towns in Croatia's Kvarner region (and in other parts of the country) observe the Carnival period often incorporating local traditions and celebrating local culture. Just before the end of Carnival every Kvarner town burns a man-like doll called a "mesopust" who is blamed for all the strife of the previous year. Another famous tradition of "Karneval" are the Zvonari or bell-ringers who wear bells and large head regalia representing their areas of origin (for example those from Halubje wear regalia in the shape of animal heads). The traditional Carnival food is fritule a pastry. This festival can also be called Poklade. Masks are central to the Carnival celebration and worn to many of the festivities including concerts and parties. Children and teachers are commonly allowed to wear masks to school for a day and also wear masks at school dances or while trick-or-treating. There are also summer carnivals. One of the most famous is the Senj Summer Carnival - the first was 1968. and the tradition stayed. Many other towns in the surroundings also organise Summer Carnivals (Mali Loinj Pag Novi Vinodolski Fuine etc.). Cyprus Carnival has been celebrated on the island of Cyprus for centuries and the tradition is believed to have been established under Venetian rule around the 16th century. It may also have been influenced by Greek traditions such as festivities for deities such as Dionysus. The celebration originally involved dressing in fancy costumes and holding masked balls or visiting friends. For approximately the past century it has taken the form of an organized festival held during the 10 days preceding Lent (according to the Greek Orthodox calendar). The festival is celebrated almost exclusively in the city of Limassol. Three main parades take place during Carnival. The first is held on the first day during which the "Carnival King" (either a person in costume or an effigy) rides through the city on his carriage. The second is held on the first Sunday of the festival and the participants are mainly children. The third and largest takes place on the last day of Carnival and involves hundreds of people walking in costume along the town's longest avenue. The latter two parades are open to anyone who wishes to participate. Czech Republic In the Czech Republic the Masopust festival takes place from Epiphany (Den t krl) through Ash Wednesday (Popelen steda). The word masopust translates literally from old Czech to mean "meat fast" and the festival often includes a pork feast in preparation for Lent. The tradition is most common in Moravia but does occur in Bohemia as well. While practices vary from region to region masks and costumes are present everywhere. Denmark Main article: Carnival in Denmark Carnival in Denmark is called Fastelavn and is held on the Sunday or Monday before Ash Wednesday. The holiday is sometimes described as a Nordic Halloween with children dressing in costume and gathering treats for the Fastelavn feast. One popular custom is the fastelavnsris a switch that children use to flog their parents to wake them up on Fastelavns Sunday. England Main article: Shrove Tuesday In England the season immediately before Lent was called Shrovetide. It was a time for confessing sins (shriving) with fewer festivities than the Continental Carnivals. Today Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as Pancake Day but little else of the Lent-related Shrovetide survived the 16th-century English Reformation. Possibly the only Shrovetide carnival in the United Kingdom is celebrated in Cowes and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight; it is the first carnival on the island's long and busy calendar. France The two major carnivals of France are the Nice Carnival and the Paris Carnival. The Nice Carnival was held as far back as 1294 and is still held annually attracting over a million visitors yearly during the two weeks preceding Lent. The Paris Carnival occurs after the Feast of Fools and dates back to the 16th century or earlier although it was not held between 1952 and 1957. Germany Switzerland and Austria Main article: Carnival in Germany Switzerland and Austria Although the festival and party season in Germany starts on 11 November at 11:11 am the actual Carnival week begins on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. German Carnival parades are held on the weekend before and especially on Rose Monday and occasionally on Shrove Tuesday as well in the suburbs of larger cities. The carnival session begins each year on 11 November at 11:11 am and finishes on Ash Wednesday with the main festivities occurring around Rosenmontag; this time is also called the "Fifth Season." In German-speaking countries two distinct varieties of Carnivals are held. The Rheinish Carnival is held in the west of Germany mainly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia Baden-Wrttemberg Rhineland Palatinate and is famous for celebrations such as parades and costume balls. Cologne Carnival is the largest and most famous. On Carnival Thursday (called "Old Women Day" or "The Women's Day") in commemoration of an 1824 revolt by washer-women women storm city halls cut men's ties and are allowed to kiss any man who passes their way. The "Swabian-Alemannic" carnival known as Fastnacht takes place in Baden and Swabia (Southwestern Germany) Switzerland Alsace and Vorarlberg (Western Austria). It traditionally represents the time of year when the reign of the cold grim winter spirits is over and these spirits are being hunted down and expelled. Greece Patras Carnival: the float of King Carnival The carnival season in Greece is also known as the Apokris (Greek: "saying goodbye to meat") or the season of the "Opening of the Triodion" so named after the liturgical book used by the church from then until the Holy Week. One of the season's high points is Tsiknopmpt ("Smoke Thursday") when celebrants enjoy roast beef dinners at taverns or friends' homes; the ritual is repeated the following Sunday. The following week the last before Lent is called Tyrin (Greek: "cheese week") because eating meat is not allowed but dairy products are. The Great Lent begins on "Clean Monday" the day after "Cheese Sunday". Throughout the carnival season people disguise themselves as maskardes ("masqueraders") and engage in pranks and general revelry. Patras holds the largest annual carnival in Greece; the famous Patras Carnival is a 3-day spectacle replete with concerts balles masqus parading troupes floats a treasure hunt and many events for children. The grand parade of masked troupes and floats is held at noon on Tyrine Sunday and culminates in the ceremonial burning of the effigy of King Carnival at the Patras harbour. In many other regions festivities of smaller extent are organized focused on the reenactment of traditional carnevalic customs; for example those held in Tyrnavos (Thessaly) Kozani (West Macedonia) Rethymno (Crete) and in Xanthi (East Macedonia and Thrace). Specifically Tyrnavos holds an annual Phallus festival a traditional "phallkloric" event8 in which giant gaudily painted effigies of phalluses made of papier mach are paraded and which all women present are asked to touch or kiss their reward for doing so being a shot of the famous local tsipouro alcohol spirit. Also every year to the very beginning (from 1st to 8th of January) mostly in regions of the Western Macedonia there are carnaval fiestas and festivals. The most known of them is the Kastorian Carnaval or "Ragoutsaria" (Gr. "")9 tags: Kastoria KAstorian Carnaval Ragoutsaria . It is taking place from 6 to 8 of January with a mass participation of the local population and thousands of visitors under the sounds of big brass bands pipises macedonian and grand casa drums. It is an ancient celebration of natures' rebirth (fiestas for Dionysus (Dionysia) and Kronos (Saturnalia)) which ends the third day in a huge dance in the medieval square Ntoltso where all the bands are playing the same time and all the people are dancing too. Hungary The Busjrs in Hungary In Mohcs Hungary the Busjrs is a celebration held at the end of the Carnival season and involves locals dressing up in woolly costumes with scary masks and noise-makers. They perform a burial ritual to symbolise the end of winter and spike doughnuts on weapons to symbolise the defeat of Ottomans. Italy Main article: Carnival in Italy Decorated floats at the Carnival of Viareggio The Battle of the Oranges at carnival of Ivrea The most famous carnivals of Italy are those held in Venice Viareggio Ivrea and Acireale. The carnival in Venice was first recorded in 1268. The subversive nature of the festival is reflected in Italy's many laws over the past several centuries attempting to restrict celebrations and the wearing of masks a central feature of the carnival. Carnival celebrations in Venice were halted for many years after the city fell under Austrian control in 1798 but were revived in the late 20th century. The month-long carnival of Viareggio is one of the most renowned in Europe and is characterized mainly by its parade of floats and marks caricaturizing popular figures. In 2001 the town built a new "Carnival citadel" dedicated to carnival preparations and entertainment. The carnival of Ivrea is famous for its Battle of the Oranges fought with citruses between the people by foot and the troops of the tyrant on the carts to remember the wars that really happened during the Middle Ages. In the most part of the Archdiocese of Milan the Carnival lasts four more days ending on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday because of the Ambrosian rite. Macedonia The most popular carnivals in the Republic of Macedonia are held in Vevani and Strumica. The Vevani Carnival (Macedonian: K translated Vevchanski Karneval) has been held for over 1400 years and takes place on 13 and 14 January (New Year's Eve and New Year's Day by the old calendar). During the carnival the village becomes a live theatre where costumed actors improvise on the streets in roles such as the traditional "August the Stupid."10 The Strumica Carnival (Macedonian: translated Strumichki Karneval) has been held since at least 1670 when the Turkish author Evlija Chelebija wrote while staying there "I came into a town located in the foothills of a high hillock and what I saw that night was masked people running housetohouse with laughter scream and song." The carnival has taken place in an organized form since 1991; in 1994 Strumica became a member of FECC and in 1998 hosted the XVIII International Congress of Carnival Cities. The Strumica carnival opens on a Saturday night at a masked ball where the Prince and Princess are chosen; the main carnival night is on Tuesday when masked participants (including groups from abroad) compete in various subjects. As of 2000 the Festival of Caricatures and Aphorisms has been held as part of Strumica's carnival celebrations. Malta Main article: Maltese Carnival Carnival in Malta (Maltese: il-Karnival ta' Malta) has had an important place on the Maltese cultural calendar for just under five centuries having been introduced to the Islands by Grand Master Piero de Ponte in 1535. It is held during the week leading up to Ash Wednesday and typically includes masked balls fancy dress and grotesque mask competitions lavish late-night parties a colourful ticker-tape parade of allegorical floats presided over by King Carnival (Maltese: ir-Re tal-Karnival) marching bands and costumed revellers. Today the largest of the carnival celebrations takes place in and around the capital city of Valletta and Floriana; however several more "spontaneous" carnivals take place in more remote areas. The Nadur Carnival is notable for its darker themes. In 2005 the Nadur Carnival hosted the largest-ever gathering of international Carnival organizers for the FECC's global summit. Traditional dances include the parata which is a lighthearted re-enactment of the 1565 victory of the Knights over the Turks and an 18th century court dance known as il-Maltija. Food eaten at the carnival includes perlini (multi-coloured sugar-coated almonds) and the prinjolata which is a towering assembly of sponge cake biscuits almonds and citrus fruits topped with cream and pine nuts. Netherlands Carnival in the Netherlands is also called "Vastenavond" or "Vastelaovend" and is most celebrated in Catholic regions mainly the southern provinces North Brabant and Limburg. Dutch Carnival is officially celebrated on the Sunday through Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. Although traditions vary from town to town some common characteristics of Dutch Carnival include a parade a "prince" plus cortge ("Council of 11") a farmer's wedding (boerenbruiloft) and eating herring (haring happen) on Ash Wednesday. One variant of Dutch Carnival is known as the Rijnlandsche Carnival which can be seen in the province of Limburg. The province's capital of Maastricht holds a street carnival featuring elaborate costumes that resemble some South American and Venetian influences. Intentionally amateurish marching bands ('Zaate Hermeniekes' or 'Drunken Marching Bands') traditionally perform on the streets. In recent years samba bands have become more popular. The oldest-known Dutch carnival festivities date from 1385 in 's-Hertogenbosch. They are depicted in several paintings by 15th-century painter Jheronimus Bosch. During the three days of the carnival 's-Hertogenbosch changes its name to "Oeteldonk" which means "Frog Hill." This name changing tradition is common in and around North Brabant. Poland The Polish Carnival Season includes Fat Thursday (Polish: Tusty Czwartek) when pczki (doughnuts) are eaten and ledzik (Shrove Tuesday) or Herring Day. The Tuesday before the start of Lent is also often called Ostatki (literally "lasts") meaning the last day to party before the Lenten season. The traditional way to celebrate Carnival is the kulig a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered countryside. In modern times Carnival is increasingly seen as an excuse for intensive partying and night-clubbing and has become more commercialized with stores offering Carnival-season sales. Portugal Sesimbra Carnival Portugal Carnival in Portugal is celebrated throughout the country most famously in Ovar Madeira Loul Nazar and Torres Vedras. The carnivals in Podence and Lazarim incorporate pagan traditions such as the careto while the Torres Vedras celebration is probably the most typical Portuguese carnival. Ironically although Portugal introduced Christianity and the customs related to Catholic practice to Brazil the country has begun to adopt some aspects of Brazilian-style Carnival celebrations in particular those of Rio de Janeiro with sumptuous parades samba and other Brazilian musical elements. Carnaval is celebrated throughout Portugal but each region puts its own unique take on the festival. In Lazarim a municipality of Lamego celebrations follow the pagan tradition of the Roman Saturnalias. This rustic town celebrates Carnaval by burning colorful effigies and dressing in carefully crafted home-made costumes. The region is celebrated for its wood craftsmanship and is most for the locals heavy hand-made wooden masks worn during Carnaval. The masks of Lazarim are effigies of both men and women but both roles are performed by men. They are distinguished by their clothes which ridiculously characterize different attributes of both men and women. The Lazarim Carnaval cycle encompasses two periods the first starting on the fifth Sunday before Fat Sunday. Masked figures and people wearing large sculpted heads walk through the town. The locals also feast on a wide variety of meats above all pork. The second cycle held on Sundays preceding Ash Wednesday incorporates the tradition of the Compadres and Comadres with men and women displaying light-hearted authority over the other. Over the course of the five weeks men prepare large masked heads and women raise funds to pay for the mannequins that will be sacrificed in a public bonfire. This is one of the key events and is a Carnaval tradition unique to Portugal. During the bonfire a girl reads the Compadre's will and a boy reads the Comadres will. The executors of the will are named a donkey is symbolically distributed to both female and male heirs and then the final reckoning in which the Entrudo or Carnaval doll is burned. In Estarreja in the Central region of Portugal the towns first references to Carnaval are noted in the 14th Century with Flower Battles or richly decorated floats which paraded through Estarrejas streets. In the beginning of the twentieth century these festivities ended with the death of its main promoters only to reappear again in the sixties to become one of the many important Carnaval festivals in Portugal. In the Northern region of Podence children appear from Sunday to Tuesday with tin masks and colorful multilayered costumes made from red green and yellow wool. And in the Central Portugal towns of Nelas and Canas de Senhorim Carnaval is one of the most important tourist events in the region attracting thousands of visitors yearly. Nelas and Canas de Senhorim are host to the four festive parades that promise visitors colorful and creative costumes: The Bairro da Igreja and the Cimo do Povo in Nelas and the do Pao and the do Rossio in Canas de Senhorim. One of the most famous Carnaval events in Portugal is in the town Ovar near Porto. Organized in 1952 it is the largest festivity of the region drawing thousands of visitors. It is well known for its creative designs which they display in the Carnaval Parade. Participants and their families work year-round to prepare their elaborate and humorous costumes masks decorations and floats. Its Carnaval parade features troupes with themed costumes and music ranging from the traditional to modern pop culture. In Lisbon Portugals largest city Carnaval is a more cosmopolitan affair. Parades dances and festivities throughout the week feature famous stars from Portugal and Brazil. The Loures Carnaval is a highlight of Lisbons festivities which celebrates the countrys folk traditions including the enterro do bacalhau or burial of the cod which symbolizes the end of Carnaval and the festivities. North of Lisbon is the famous Torres Vedras Carnaval described as the most Portuguese in Portugal. Those looking for a less touristy Carnaval experience should visit this town where the locals are the stars. The celebration highlight is a parade of creatively decorated streetcars satirizing society and politics. Other Central Portugal towns such as Fatima and Leiria offer colorful family-friendly takes on Carnaval. In these towns everyone dresses up as if it were Halloween. Children and adults wear masks and enjoy the towns enthusiastic parades. In the Algarve region along the southern coast of Portugal several of the posh resorts towns offer their own traditional takes on the Carnaval parades. Besides the themed floats and cars the Carnaval festivities include samba groups bands dances and plenty of music and liveliness. In the city of Loul the Carnaval parade annually attracts thousands of national and foreign tourists to the region. Azores Main article: Carnival of Azores The Islands of the Azores have their own take on the Carnaval festivities but like on the mainland many local clubs and Carnaval groups create colorful and creative costumes that take a jab at the political or cultural characters of the times. On So Miguel Island Carnaval has a sweet taste with street vendors selling fried dough called a Malassada. The festival on the Azores biggest island starts off with a black tie grand ball then and heats up with Latin music at the recently restored Coliseu Micaelense. There is a childrens parade in the streets of Ponta Delgada with children from each school district coming in costume. Then a massive Carnaval parade fills the streets into the wee hours ending in fireworks. Some of the islands more unique aspects to Carnaval are the theatre performances and dances. In the "Danas de Entrudo" hundreds of people follow the dancers around the island. Throughout the show the dancers who are guided by a master act out dramas from everyday life. The Dances de Carnaval are allegorical and comedic tales acted out in the streets throughout the festival. The largest is in Angra do Herosmo with more than 30 Carnaval groups performing. During this festival it is said there are more Portuguese-language theatrical performances occurring here than anywhere else in the world. The Carnaval festivities end on Ash Wednesday when locals sit down for the "Batatada" or potato feast in which the main dish is salted cod with potatoes eggs mint bread and wine. After residents head into the streets for the burning of the Carnaval clown signaling the end of the Carnaval. Madeira Main article: Carnival of Madeira On the Island of Madeira Carnaval maintains its distinctive local roots as well. Funchal the islands capital wakes up on the Friday morning before Ash Wednesday to the sound of brass bands and Carnaval parades throughout the downtown area. That night festivities continue with concerts and shows in the Praa do Municpio for five consecutive days. The Main Carnaval street parade takes place on Saturday evening with thousands of Samba dancers flooding the streets of Funchal. The traditional public street Carnaval takes place on Tuesday where the island's population displays its ingenuity and imagination by creating daring caricatures for the parade. Russia Main article: Maslenitsa Carnival in Saint Petersburg Russia Maslenitsa (Russian: also called Pancake Week or "Cheese Week") is a Russian folk holiday that incorporates some traditions that date back to pagan times. It is celebrated during the last week before Lent. The essential element of Maslenitsa celebration is bliny Russian pancakes popularly taken to symbolize the sun. Round and golden they are made from the rich foods still allowed during that week by the Orthodox traditions: butter eggs and milk (in the tradition of Orthodox lent the consumption of meat ceases one week before the consumption of milk and eggs). Maslenitsa also includes masquerades snowball fights sledding swinging on swings and sleigh rides. The mascot of the celebration is usually a brightly dressed straw effigy of Lady Maslenitsa formerly known as Kostroma. As the culmination of the celebration on Sunday evening Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her finery and put to the flames of a bonfire. In Saint Petersburg the modern celebration of the festival is organized by the city to fall on a fixed date annually (at Sunday closest to 27 May). Slovakia In Slovakia the Faiangy (faiang faangy) takes place from Three Kings Day (Traja krli) until the midnight before Ash Wednesday (kared streda or Popolcov streda). At the midnight marking the end of faiangy a symbolic burial ceremony for the contrabass is performed because music has to cease for the Lent. Slovenia Slovenia has a rich and diverse annual cycle of holidays. Much ethnic heritage has been preserved through widely attended tourist events. The Slovenian countryside displays a variety of disguised groups and individual characters among which the most popular and characteristic is the Kurent (plural: Kurenti) a monstrous and demon-like but fluffy figure. The most significant ethonological Carnival festival is traditionally held in annually in the town of Ptuj (see: Kurentovanje). The special feature of the event of Ptuj itself and its surrounding area are the Kurents themselves magical creatures from the other world who visit all major events throughout the country members of parliament the president and mayors trying to banish the winter and announce the arrival of the spring fertility and new life with loud noise and dancing. The origin of the Kurent is a mystery and not much is known of the times beliefs or purposes connected with its first appearance. The origin of the name itself is obscure. Another town equal in importance to Ptuj where the carnival tradition is alive is Cerknica. The carnival is heralded by a figure called "Poganji" carrying a whip. In the carnival procession organised by the "Pust society" a monstrous witch named Urula is driven from Mt. Slivnica to be burned at the stake on Ash Wednesday. Unique to this region is a group of dormice driven by the Devil and a huge fire-breathing dragon. Cerkno and its surrounding area is known for the Laufarji carnival figures with artistically carved wooden masks. The Makare from Dobrepolje used to represent a triple character: the beautiful the ugly (among which the most important represented by an old man an old woman a hunchback and a Korant) and the noble (imitating the urban elite). The major part of the population especially the young and children dress up in ordinary non-ethnic costumes going to school work and organized events where prizes are given for the best and most original costumes. Costumed children sometimes go from house to house asking for treats in an imitation of American Halloween. Spain Arguably the most famous locales in Spain are Santa Cruz de Tenerife Sitges Vilanova i la Geltr Tarragona Solsona Cdiz Badajoz Bielsa (an ancestral carnival celebration) Plan San Juan de Plan Laza Vern Viana and Xinzo de Limia. Andalusia Main article: Carnival of Cdiz A choir singing in the Carnival of Cdiz In Cdiz the costumes worn are often related to recent news such as the bird flu epidemic in 2006 during which many people were disguised as chickens. The feeling of this carnival is the sharp criticism the funny play on words and the imagination in the costumes more than the glamorous dressings. It is traditional to paint the face with lipstick as a humble substitute of a mask. The most famous groups are the chirigotas choirs and comparsas. The chirigotas are well known witty satiric popular groups who sing about politics new times and household topics wearing the same costume which they train for the whole year. The Choirs (coros) are wider groups that go on open carts through the streets singing with a little orchestra of guitars and lutes. Their characteristic composition is the "Carnival Tango" and they alternate comical and serious repertory. The comparsas are the serious counterpart of the chirigota in Cdiz and the poetical lyrics and the criticism are their main ingredients. They have a more elaborated polyphony being easily recognizable by the typical countertenor voice. Canary Islands Main article: Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen of Santa Cruz de Tenerife The Santa Cruz de Tenerifeand Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is together with the Carnival of Cadiz the most important festival for Spanish tourism and Spain's largest carnival.11121314 In 1980 it was declared a Festival Tourist International Interest by the Secretariat of State for the Tourism. Every February Santa Cruz de Tenerife the capital of the largest of the Canary Islands hosts the event attracting around a million people. The celebrations could be declared by UNESCO as Heritage of Mankind in 2011. Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife now aspires to become a World Heritage Site.15 In 1980 it was declared a Festival Tourist International Interest by the Secretariat of State for the Tourism and it is one of the most important carnivals of the World. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife now aspires to become a World Heritage Site.15 This declaration by UNESCO will occur further promoting international had Santa Cruz de Tenerife being the first Carnival of Spain to obtain this recognition for its permanent in time and it would reach the five continents through UNESCO. In 1987 went to the "Carnival Chicharrero" Cuban singer Celia Cruz with orchestra Billo's Caracas Boys attended by 250000 people was registered in the Guinness of Records as the largest gathering of people in an outdoor plaza to attend a concert a record she holds today. Main article: Carnival of Las Palmas The Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Gran Canaria) has a Drag Queen's gala where a jury chooses a winner. Catalonia In Catalonia people dress up and organise parties for a week but particularly on the weekend. Despite it being winter parties are open air beginning with a cercavila to call everybody to come. Rues of people dance along the streets. On Thursday Dijous Gras is celebrated also called 'the omelette day' (el dia de la truita) coques (de llardons butifarra d'ou butifarra) and omelettes are eaten. Parties end by burning Mr. Carnestoltes and with enterrament de la sardina (sardine's funeral). Carnaval de Solsona takes place in Solsona Lleida in central Catalonia. It is one of the longest carnivals in Catalonia; free events in the streets and concerts every night run for more than a week. The carnival is known for a legend that explains some people hung a donkey at the tower bell because the animal wanted to eat some grass which grew on the top of the tower. To remember this legend every year people in Solsona hang a stuffed donkey at the tower that "pisses" above the excited people using a water pump. This event is the most important of Solsona's Carnival and takes place on Saturday night. For this reason the inhabitants of Solsona are called "matarrucs" ("donkey killers"). Photo:16 Another characteristic of the carnival is its giants. Crazy Giants will pursue and try to hit revellers with their articulated arms and legs. The Crazy Giants were created in 1978 by the giant-making master Manel Casserras i Boix. Photo:17 "Comparses" groups organize free activities in the streets. They are groups of friends who create and personalize a uniformed suit which is worn every year during the festivities. Website: http://www.carnavalsolsona.com/ Sitges: This carnival is one of the most famous carnivals in Catalonia. Special food includes xatonades (a xat is a traditional local salad of Sitges) served with omelettes. Two important moments are the Rua de la Disbauxa (Debauchery Parade) on Sunday night and the Rua de l'Extermini (Extermination Parade) on Tuesday night. Around 40 floats with more than 2500 participants parade in Sitges. The carnival of Vilanova i la Geltr is notable for Les Comparses (on Sunday) in which good-humoured rival groups throw boiled sweets (candies) at each other. Vinanova's and Sitge's carnival are rivals. Tarragona has one of the most complete ritual sequences of the Catalan carnivals. The events start with the building of a huge barrel and end with its burning together with the effigies of the carnival King and Queen. On Saturday the main parade takes place. There are masked groups zoomorphic figures music and percussion bands and groups with fireworks (the devils the dragon the ox the female dragon). Carnival groups stand out for their clothes full of elegance showing brilliant examples of fabric crafts at the Saturday and Sunday parades. About 5000 people are members of the parade groups. North America Caribbean Main article: Caribbean Carnival Most of the islands in the Caribbean celebrate Carnival. The largest and most well-known celebration is held in Trinidad and Tobago. The Dominican Republic Antigua Aruba Cayman Islands Curaao Barbados Haiti Dominica Grenada Jamaica Saint Maarten Saint Lucia Saint Kitts Saint Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are also known for lengthy carnival seasons and large celebrations. Carnival is an important cultural event on the Dutch Antilles islands of Aruba Curaao Sint Maarten Saba Saint Eustatius (Statia) and Bonaire. Festivities include "jump-up" parades with beautifully colored costumes floats and live bands as well as beauty contests and other competitions. Carnival on these islands also includes a middle-of-the-night j'ouvert (juv) parade that ends at sunrise with the burning of a straw King Momo cleansing the island of sins and bad luck. On Statia he is called Prince Stupid. Carnival has also been celebrated in Cuba since the 18th century. The costumes dances and pageantry grew with each passing year with the participants donning costumes from the cultural and ethnic variety on the island. After Fidel Castro's Communist Revolution carnival's religious overture was suppressed. The events remained albeit frowned upon by the state. Carnival celebrations have been in decline throughout Cuba since 1960. Aruba Main article: Aruba Carnival Carnival means weeks of events that bring you colourfully decorated floats contagiously throbbing music luxuriously costumed groups of celebrants of all ages King & Queen elections electrifying jump ups and torch light parades that wind their way through the streets at night the Jouvert morning: the Children's Parades and finally the Grand Parade. Arubas biggest celebration of the year is a month-long celebration consisting of festive jump-ups (street parades) spectacular parades and creative contests. Music and flamboyant costumes play a central role from the Queen elections to the Grand Parade which winds it ways down city avenues to the delight of thousands of spectators. Street parades are held in various districts throughout the month allowing everyone an opportunity to participate and dance to the seasons most popular brass band steel band and roadmarch tunes. On the evening before the start of Lent Carnival officially comes to end with the symbolic burning of King Momo. Antigua Main article: Antigua Carnival The Antiguan Carnival is a celebration of music and dance held annually from the end of July to the first Tuesday in August. The most important day is that of the j'ouvert (or juv) in which brass and steel bands perform for much of the island's population. Barbuda's Carnival held in June is known as Caribana. The Antiguan and Barbudan Carnivals replaced the Old Time Christmas Festival in 1957 with hopes of inspiring tourism in Antigua and Barbuda. Some elements of the Christmas Festival remain in the modern Carnival celebrations which are otherwise largely based on the Trinidadian Carnival. The carnival consists of mass playing steel pan music and various shows such as calypso shows and pageants. Barbados Main article: Crop over Carnival in Barbados is known as Crop Over. Crop Over is Barbados' biggest festival having had its early beginnings on the sugar cane plantations during the colonial period. The crop over tradition began in 1688 and featured singing dancing and accompaniment by bottles filled with water shak-shak banjo triangle fiddle guitar and bones. Other traditions included climbing a greased pole feasting and drinking competitions. Originally a celebration signaling the end of the yearly sugar cane harvest it has since evolved into a national festival rivaling New Orleans Mardi Gras and Trinidad Carnival in Trinidad. In the late 20th Century the general schematic of Crop Over began to closely mirror the Trinidad Carnival. Beginning in June Crop Over it runs until the first Monday in August when it culminates in the finale The Grand Kadooment. For the entire two months life for many islanders is one big party with a major feature of crop over being the calypso competition. Calypso music originating in Trinidad uses syncopated rhythm and topical lyrics and gives its exponents a medium in which to satirise local politics and comment on the issues of the day while taking nothing away from the general bacchanal. Calypso tents also originating in Trinidad feature their cadre of calypsonians who perform biting social commentaries on the happenings of the past year political exposs or rousing exhortations to wuk dah waistline and roll dat bumper. There are craft markets food tents and stalls street parties and cavalcades every week supplemented by daily events at Tims on the Highway the new home of the Barbados Cropover Festival. Competition "tents" ring with the fierce battle of calypsonians for the coveted Calypso Monarch Award and the air is redolent with the exotic smells of Bajan cooking during the Bridgetown Market Street Fair. Rich with the spirit of local culture the Cohobblopot Festival blends dance and drama and music with the crowning of the King and Queen of costume bands. Every evening the "Pic-o-de-Crop" Show is performed when finally the King of Calypso is crowned. The climax of the festival is Kadooment Day celebrated with a national holiday when costume bands fill the streets with pulsating Barbadian rhythms and fireworks that ignite the sky. Dominican Republic Main Article: Dominican Carnival Dominican Carnival is celebrated in most cities and towns in the Dominican Republic. This is one of the many variations of the "Diablo Cojuelo". This variation is from Santiago. It is celebrated in the main streets of each town during the month of February. One of the main characteristics of this carnival are its flashy costumes and the loud music played during the celebration. Some of the most known parades of this country are the one held in La Vega which is one of the biggest in the country and the National Parade held in Santo Domingo. It was here where the first carnival of the Americas was held and it is also one of the biggest in the region. One of the main attractions are its masks which are very elaborate and colorful. The elaborate costumes used on the parades are satires of the Devil and are called "Diablos Cojuelos" all around the country they dance and run to the rhythm of Merengue mixed with techno hip-hop and reggeaton during the celebration. Adding to this characters the celebration also show some allegorical characters representing Dominican traditions such as "Roba la Gallina"and "Calif". One of the most international parades in the Dominican Republic is the one in San Pedro de Macoris that exhibits the "Guloyas" which are considered cultural heritage of the world. This parade consists of groups of people dressed in costumes dancing around the street of San Pedro de Macoris. The main attraction apart from the colorful costumes is the people running away from the "Diablos Cojuelos" which try to hit people with "Vejigas". Haiti Haiti Kanaval has up to 1000000 people jamming the streets of downtown Port-au-Prince's Champs de Marse rock to Meringues (Haitian carnival melodies) on the Beton (the street course where the floats pass through). The many different genres of Haitian Music are fully represented with the different bands that blaze through the beton New styles with foreign influence emerge continuously mixing Haitian sounds with techno hip-hop reggae zouk Fand soukous to name a few. The 20 bands in the seven-hour parade play as the chars creep through the wild crowds until 4 am. The dancers before and after the floats dance the ga gun an aggressive dance that can be as competitive as it is celebrative. Everybody knows the songs; every line every chant has the audience ecstatic with the floats themselves bouncing in time to the music. Condoms thrown from floats and from the stands were blown up like balloons. And long lines of people dance elaborate dances turning the sensuality of the music into movement. Haiti Carnival Royalty at the height of celebrations at the National Palace Combined the depth of the music and dance suggests Haiti's enormous cultural power as a reservoir of African and Creole culture underscoring its importance as one of the major producers of art in the Caribbean. And in its intensity its Carnival is clearly one of the more important events in the African diaspora in the Americas. Trinidad and Tobago Masqueraders chipping on Carnival Tuesday in Port of Spain during Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Main article: Trinidad and Tobago Carnival In Trinidad & Tobago Carnival is a holiday season that lasts over a month and culminates in large celebrations in Port of Spain which is the capital of Trinidad on the Sunday Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday with Dimanche Gras J'ouvert and Mas (masquerade). Tobago's celebrations also culminates on Monday and Tuesday but on a much smaller scale in its capital Scarborough. Carnival is a festive time of costumes dance music competitions rum and partying (also referred to as fete-ing). Music styles associated with Carnival include soca calypso The annual Carnival steel pan competition known as the National Panorama competition is held in the weeks preceding Carnival with the finals held on the Saturday before the main event. Pan players compete in various categories such as "Conventional Steel band" or "Single Pan" by performing renditions of the current year's calypsos. Preliminary judging of this event for "Conventional Steel Bands" has been recently moved to the individual pan yards where steel bands practice their selections for the competition. "Dimanche Gras" takes place on the Sunday night before Ash Wednesday. Here the Calypso Monarch is chosen (after competition) and prize money and a vehicle bestowed. Also the King and Queen of the bands are crowned where each band to parade costumes for the next two days submits a king and queen from which an overall winner is chosen. These usually involve huge complex beautiful costumes. J'ouvert or "Dirty Mas" takes place before dawn on the Monday (known as Carnival Monday) before Ash Wednesday. It means ""opening of the day" . Here revelers dress in old clothes and cover themselves in mud oil paint and body paint. A common character to be seen at this time is "Jab-jabs" (devils blue black or red) complete with pitch fork pointed horns and tails. Here also a king and queen of the J'ouvert are chosen based on their representation of current political/social events/issues. The Carnival King costume for a particular band Carnival Monday involves the parade of the mas bands but on a casual or relaxed scale. Usually revelers wear only parts of their costumes and the purpose of the day is more one of fun than display or competition. Also on Carnival Monday Monday Night Mas is popular in most towns and especially the capital where smaller bands participate in competition. Carnival Tuesday is when the main events of the carnival take place. On this day full costume is worn complete with make up and body paints/adornments. Each band has their costume presentation based on a particular theme and contain various sections (some consisting of thousands of revelers) which reflect these themes. Here the street parade and eventual crowning of the best bands take place. After following a route where various judging points are located the mas bands eventually converge on the Queen's Park Savannah to pass "on the stage" to be judged once and for all. Also taking place on this day is the crowning of the Road March king or queen where the singer of the most played song over the two days of the carnival is crowned winner complete with prize money and usually a vehicle. This parading and revelry goes on into the night of the Tuesday. Ash Wednesday itself whilst not an official holiday is marked by most by visiting the beaches that abound both Trinidad and Tobago. The most populated being Maracas beach and Manzanilla beach where huge beach parties take place every Ash Wednesday. These provide a cool down from the previous five days of hectic partying parades and competitions and are usually attended by the whole family. Guatemala The largest Carnival celebration in Guatemala is in Mazatenango. During the month of February Mazatenango is famous for its eight day Carnival Feast. Locals and visitors alike look forward to the days of food music parades games etc. that bring the streets of the capital city of the department of Suchitepquez to life. As one Guatemalan website states To mention the carnival of Mazatenango is to bring to mind moments of a happy and cordial party. In the eight days of this celebration's duration the local residents have kept alive the traditions of the Department. Honduras In La Ceiba in Honduras Carnival is held on the fourth Saturday of every May to commemorate San Isidro. It is the largest Carnival celebration in Central America. Nicaragua In the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua in the city of Bluefields the carnival better known as Palo de Mayo (or Mayo Ya!) is celebrated every day of May. In the Nicaragua's capital city Managua it is only celebrated for 2 days. The carnival in Managua is named "Alegria por la vida" translated to "Joy for Life" and features a different theme each year. There's also a Festival In Managua which is called " Santo Domingo de Guzman" which lasts ten days. Mexico In Mexico Carnaval is celebrated in many cities and towns most notably in Mazatln Sinaloa Mrida Yucatn and in the city of Veracruz where Carnaval is celebrated with traditional music folklore arts and dances. People dress in bright feathered costumes resembling the indigenous traditions and create a series of performances on the streets as well as on stages. In most cases there is a large set-up of fair games and roller coasters. Both Mazatln's and Veracruz's celebrations are often compared to the carnival of Rio de Janeiro or New Orleans. In Copndaro de Galeana Michoacn c Carnaval is celebrated with lively parades often surrounding bull riding cockfights and dancing. In some of the central to northern regions the popular Nortea and Mexican rodeo influences are very present whereas in the coastal or southern regions carnivals represent a more indigenous rendition. Each one will include many region-specific food dishes and drinks. Panama The Panamanian Carnival is the second biggest festival in the world. Traditionally beginning on Friday and ending on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday "los carnavales" as Panamanians refer to the days of carnival are celebrated in almost the whole country. Carnival Week in Panama is specially popular because of the luxury and magnitude of the Las Tablas Carnival as well as the carnival celebrations in Panama City and almost all of the Azuero Peninsula. The Panamanian Carnival is also popular because of the great number of concerts by national and international artists held on different stages in the most visited areas of the country. Canada Caribana held in Toronto on the first weekend of August has its origins in the carnival traditions of the Caribbean. Due to climatic imperatives Caribana is held in the summer when Caribbean costumes may be paraded comfortably rather than adhering to the traditional winter dates of the other carnivals in which the festival is strongly rooted.18 Attendance at the Caribana parade typically exceeds one million people. The Quebec Winter Carnival is the biggest winter-themed carnival in the world.citation needed It depends on good snowfalls and very cold weather to keep snowy ski trails in good condition and the many ice sculptures intact. For this reason it does not coincide with the pre-Lent celebration but is fixed instead to the last days of January and first days of February. In the Ottawa-Gatineau region Winterlude takes place during the first 4 weeks of February. United States Main articles: Mardi Gras in the United States and Mardi Gras Carnival celebrations usually referred to as Mardi Gras were first celebrated in the Gulf Coast area of the United States but now occur in many other states. Customs originated in the onetime French colonial capitals of Mobile (now in Alabama) New Orleans (Louisiana) and Biloxi (Mississippi) all of which have been celebrated for many years with street parades and masked balls. Other major U.S. cities with celebrations include Tampa Florida St. Louis Missouri Pensacola Florida San Diego California Galveston Texas and Orlando Florida. Carnival is celebrated in New York City in the Borough of Brooklyn. As in the UK the timing of carnival has been separated from the Christian calendar and is celebrated on Labor Day Monday in September. It is called the West Indian Day Parade or West Indian Day Carnival and was founded by immigrants from Trinidad one of the West Indian islands that has one of the largest Carnivals of the Caribbean region. In the mid twentieth century West Indians moved the timing of the New York area Carnival from the beginning of Lent to the Labor Day weekend. The West Indian Day Carnival is one of the largest parades and street festivals in New York with usually over one million people participating or attending. The parade which consists of steel bands floats elaborate carnival costumes and sound trucks proceeds down Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood. Louisiana Main article: New Orleans Mardi Gras The best-known most elaborate and most popular events are in New Orleans while other South Louisiana cities such as Lafayette Mamou Houmaand Thibodaux all of which were under French control at one time or another are the sites of famous Carnival celebrations of their own. Major Mardi Gras celebrations are spreading to other parts of the United States such as the Mississippi Valley region of St. Louis Missouri Orlando Florida in Universal Studios and in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego California. South America Argentina In Argentina the most representative carnival performed is the so called Murga although other famous carnival more Brazilian stylized are held in the Argentine Mesopotamia and the North-East. Gualeguaych in the east of Entre Ros province is the most important carnival city and has one of the largest parades with a similar afro-American musical background to Brazilian or Uruguayan Carnival. Corrientes is another city with a lively carnival tradition. Chamame a kind of polka is played during the carnivals. In all major cities and many towns throughout the country Carnival is also celebrated but less famous than in the above mentioned places. As carnival coincides with summer in many parts of Argentina children play with water. The 19th century tradition of filling empty egg shells with water has evolved into water games that include the throwing of water balloons. Bolivia Main article: Carnaval de Oruro The Diablada dance primeval typical and main of Carnival of Oruro a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2001 in Bolivia (Image: Fraternidad Artstica y Cultural "La Diablada". La Diablada carnival takes place in the city of Oruro in central Bolivia. It is celebrated in honor of the patron saint of the miners Vrgen de Socavon (the Virgin of the Tunnels). Over 50 parade groups dance sing and play music over a five kilometre-long course. Participants dress up as demons devils angels Incas and Spanish conquerors. There are various kinds of dances such as caporales and tinkus. The parade runs from morning until late at night 18 hours a day 3 days before Ash Wednesday. Meanwhile throughout the country celebrations are held involving traditional rhythms and water parties. In Santa Cruz de la Sierra at the east side of the country the tropical weather allows a Brazilian-type carnival with agropuations of people called "Comparsas" dancing traditional songs in matching uniforms. Declared the 2001 "Masterpieces of Oral Heritage and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" for UNESCO Brazil Main article: Brazilian Carnival Carnival parade in So Paulo Gavies da Fiel Torcida Samba School. Actress Grazielli Massafera wearing a carnival costume. The Carnival in Brazil is a big part of the Brazilian Culture and it is sometimes referred to by the Brazilians as the "Greatest Show on Earth". Salvador has large Carnival celebrations including the Ax typical Bahia music. A truck with giant speakers and a platform where musicians play songs of local genres such as Ax music Samba-reggae and Arrocha is driven with the following crowd both dancing and singing. It was originally staged by two Salvador musicians Dodo & Osmar in the 1950s. Several cities in the state of Bahia still celebrate Carnaval this way with as most popular the carnival of Porto Seguro. Another important part of the Brazilian Carnival takes place in the Rio Carnival with samba schools parading in the Sambadrome ("sambdromo" in Portuguese). It's the largest carnival event in this country considered to be the largest of the kind in the world. Called "One of the biggest shows of the Earth" the festival attracts millions of tourists both Brazilians and foreigners who come from everywhere to participate and enjoy the great show. Samba Schools are large social entities with thousands of members and a theme for their song and parade each year. Tourists are allowed to participate paying ($500750) to buy a Samba costume and dance in the parade through the Sambadrome with one of the schools. The price paid is used to buy the tourist's own costume and also the costumes of the people who do not have the money to afford it. Blocos are generally small informal groups also with a definite theme in their samba usually satirical of the current political situation. But there are also a lot about 30 of them in Rio de Janeiro that are very big in number of participants gathering hundreds of thousands of people. There are more than 400 blocos in Rio de Janeiro. Bandas are samba musical bands usually formed by enthusiasts in the same neighborhood. In 2011 the carnival of Brazil which is held 46 days before Easter started on Friday with feasts and fanfare and samba parades on the streets of So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The most famous holiday event in Brazil which occurs around Brazil and most of South America known as Carnaval is happening from March 4 to 8 this year. In Picture: Revellers parade for Rosas de Ouro samba school during Carnival in So Paulo March 5 2011.19 Colombia Carnival float in the Blacks and Whites Carnival in Pasto Colombia Main article: Carnival in Colombia Although Carnival was introduced by the Spaniards and has incorporated elements from the European cultures it has managed to re-interpret traditions that belonged to the African and Amerindian cultures of Colombia. There is documentary evidence that Carnival existed in Colombia in the 18th century and had already been a cause for concern for the colonial authorities who censored the celebrations especially in the main political centres such as Cartagena Bogot and Popayn. The Carnival therefore continued its evolution and re-interpretation in the small and at that time unimportant towns where celebrations did not offend the ruling elites. The result was the uninterrupted celebration of Carnival festivals in Barranquilla (see Barranquilla's Carnival) in other villages along the lower Magdalena River in northern Colombia and in Pasto Nario (see Blacks and Whites Carnival) in the south of the country. In modern times there have been attempts to introduce Carnival in the capital Bogot in the early 20th century but it has always failed to gain the approval of authorities. The Bogot Carnival has had to wait until the 21st century to be resurrected this time by the authorities of the city. Ecuador In Ecuador the celebrations have a history that begins before the arrival of Catholicism. It is known that the Huarangas Indians (from the Chimbos nation) used to celebrate the second moon of the year with a festival at which they threw flour flowers and perfumed water. This once pagan tradition has since merged with the Catholic celebration of Carnaval. A common feature of Ecuadorian Carnival is the diablitos (little devils) who play with water. As with snowball fights the practice of throwing or dumping water on unsuspecting victims is especially revered by children and teenagers and feared by some adults. Throwing water balloons sometimes even eggs and flour both to friends and strangers passing by the street can be a lot of fun but can also raise the ire of unfamiliarised foreigners and even locals. Although the government as well as school authorities forbid such games it is still widely practiced throughout the country. Historians tell of a Bishop in 1867 who threatened the punishment of excommunication for the sin of playing Carnival games. Different festivities are held in various regions of the country where the locals wear disguises with colorful masks and dance to the rhythm of lively music. Usually the celebrations begin with the election of the Taita Carnaval (Father Carnaval) who will head the festivities and lead the parades in each city. The most famed carnival festivities are those in Guaranda (Bolivar province) and Ambato (Tungurahua province). In Ambato the festivities are called Fiesta de las Flores y las Frutas (Festival of the Flowers and Fruits). Other cities have also revived the carnival traditions with colorful parades such as in Azogues (Caar Province). In Azogues and the Southern Andes in general the Taita Carnaval is always an indigenous Caari dressed for the celebrations. Recently also a celebration has gained prominence in the northern part of the Sierra in the Chota Valley in Imbabura which is a zone of a strong afro-Ecuadorian population and so the Carnival is celebrated with bomba del chota music. French Guiana The Carnival of French Guiana is a major aspect of the culture of that country. Although its roots are in the Creole culture everyone participates mainland French Brazilians (Guiana has a frontier with Brazil) and Chinese as well as creoles. Its duration is variable determined by movable religious festivals: Carnival begins at Epiphany and ends on Ash Wednesday and so typically lasts through most of January and February. During this period from Friday evening until Monday morning the entire country throbs to the rhythm of the masked balls and street parades. Normal life slows almost to a stop. Friday afternoons are the time for eating galette des rois (the cake of kings) and drinking champagne. The cake may be flavoured with frangipani guava or coconut. On Sunday afternoons major parades are staged in the streets of Cayenne Kourou and Saint-Laurent du Maroni. Competing groups prepare for months. Dressed according to the agreed theme of the year they strut along with carnival floats drums and brass bands. Brazilian groups are also appreciated for their elaborate feathered and sequined costumes. However they are not eligible for competition since the costumes do not change from one year to the next. Certain mythical characters appear regularly in the parades: Karolin: A small person dressed in a magpie tail and top hat riding on a shrew. Les Ng'marrons: Groups of men dressed in red loincloths bearing ripe tomatoes in their mouths and their bodies smeared with grease or molasses. These men deliberately try to come in contact with spectators soiling their clothes. Les makoums: Men in drag (out of the carnival context makoum is a pejorative term for a homosexual). Soussouris (the bat): a character dressed in a winged leotard from head to foot usually black in colour. Traditionally malevolent this character is liable to chase spectators and "sting" them. Four touloulous A uniquely Creole tradition of this version of carnival is the so-called touloulous. These are women wearing highly decorative gowns gloves masks and headdresses which cover them completely so that they are not only unrecognisable but the colour of their skin cannot even be determined. On Friday and Saturday nights of carnival touloulou balls are held in so-called universities; in reality large dance halls that only open in carnival time. Touloulous get in free and are even given condoms in the interest of the sexual health of the community. Men also attend the balls but they have to pay admittance and they are not disguised. The touloulous pick their dance partners who may not refuse the dance. Thus the setup is designed to make it easy for a woman to create a temporary liaison with a man she fancies in total anonymity. Undisguised women are not welcome at the balls. By tradition if one gets up to dance the orchestra stops playing. Alcohol is served at bars the disguised women also pick up men by whispering to them "touloulou thirsty" at which a round of drinks is expected to be drunk through a straw so as not to unmask in the slightest. In more modern times Guyanais men have attempted to turn the tables by staging soires tololo in which it's the men who in disguise seek partners from undisguised women bystanders. The final four days of carnival have a rigid tradition of celebration and no work is done at all. Sunday: The Grand Parade in which the competing groups show off their very best. Monday: Marriage burlesque with men dressed as brides and women as grooms. Tuesday: Red Devil Day with everyone wearing red or black. (Ash) Wednesday: Dress is black and white only for the grand ceremony of burning the effigy of Vaval the King of the Carnival. This text is based principally on text in The French wikipedia Peru Morenada dance in the carnival of the Juliaca city - Per. Cajamarca The town of Cajamarca is considered the capital of Peruvian carnival. Local residents of all ages as well as tourists dance around the unhsa or yunsa a tree adorned with ribbons balloons toys fruits bottles of liquor and other prizes. At a certain point the Mayordomo (governor of the feast) walks into the circle. The governor chooses a partner to go to the unsha where they attempt to cut down the unsha by striking the tree three times with a machete. The machete is passed from couple to couple as each strikes the tree three times. When the unsha finally falls the crowd rushes to grab the prizes. The person who successfully brings down the unsha becomes next years governor of the feast. Violence The Peruvian carnival consists mostly of violent games that last all the month of February extending to early March if Ash Wednesday falls on March but rarely ending when it falls on February.20 Quoting the Lima police chief "The carnival is associated with criminal actions"21 (2007). It has even gone to major consequences.22 The Peruvian carnival incorporates elements of violence and reflects the lately trends of urban violence in the Peruvian society after the internal conflict in Peru. Traditionally Peruvian Andean festivities were held on this period every year because it's the rainy season. It was already violent during the 19th century23 but the government managed to regulate it and during the early 20th century it followed the normal trends of partying and parading while in the second half of the 20th century it has acquired the violent characteristics that it has today to the point of being banned first from the streets in 1958 and altogether in 1959 by the Prado government.20 It consisted basically on water battles in a traditional way while in later years it includes playing with dirty water mud oil and colorants -and also including fighting and sometimes even looting private property and sexual assaults on women; all this to unconsenting passers-by and in a very violent way. It has also become an excuse for criminal gangs to rob people while pretending to play the game. As of 2010 it has become so violent that the government has imposed heavy penalties of up to 8 years in prison24 for violence during the games (the games themselves are not forbidden but using violence during the games or coercing others to participate is).252627282930 At the end of the carnival season in the inner Peruvian towns (and lately in the major cities too) it's customary to cut a tree called "yunsa" in the mountains and "humisha" in the jungle. Uruguay Afro-Uruguayans gathering for a Candombe celebration ca. 1870 The Carnival in Uruguay is the longest of the world with more than 40 days of celebration generally beginning towards the end of January and through mid March with celebrations in Montevideo the capital being the largest and brightest. The festival is performed in the European parade style with elements from Bantu and Angolan Benguela cultures imported with slaves in colonial times. The main attractions of Uruguayan Carnival include two colorful parades called Desfile de Carnaval (Carnival Parade) and Desfile de Llamadas (Calls Parade a candombe-summoning parade).31 During the forty days of celebration popular theaters called tablados are built in many places throughout the cities especially in Montevideo. Traditionally formed by men and now starting to be open to women the different Carnival groups called mainly Murgas Lubolos or Parodistas perform a kind of popular opera at the tablados singing and dancing songs that generally relate to social reality and political situation in the country. The 'Calls' groups basically formed by drummers playing the tamboril perform candombe rhythmic figures. Revelers also wear their festival clothing. Each group has its own theme. Women wearing elegant bright dressed are called vedettes and provide the sensual touch to parades. European archetypes (Pierrot Harlequin and Columbina) merge with African ancestral elements (the Old Mother or Mama Vieja the Medicine Man or Gramillero and the Magician or Escobero) in the local version of the festival. As a manifestation of Uruguayan culture and a growing tourist attraction Uruguayan Carnival is currently receiving important governmental support. Venezuela Carnival in Venezuela (2 days of festivals 40 days before Easter) is a time when youth in many rural towns have water fights. Anybody and everybody that is out in the streets during the week of Carnival is subject to being soaked. Coastal town and provinces celebrate carnival much more fervently these days than any place in the country. Venezuela regard carnival about the same way they regard Christmas and Semana Santa (Holy Week; the week before Easter Sunday) when they take the opportunity to visit their families and enjoy this festive time with them.32 See also Basler Fasnacht Carny Cologne carnival Careto Fair Federation of European Carnival Cities Mardi Gras Mardi Gras in Mobile Sitalsasthi Carnival Notes a b c "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. http://www.etymonline.com/index.phptermcarnival. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  "Isis Rising". Carnaval.com. http://www.carnaval.com/isis/rising/. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  Di Cocco (2007) Chapter II pages.23-40 Valantasis (2000) p.378 Anne Shapiro Devreux (22 January 1989). "Masked Revels of a Belgian Mardi Gras". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.htmlres950DE1D9173BF931A15752C0A96F948260&sectravel&spon&pagewanted2. Retrieved 29 January 2009.  "UNESCO Culture Sector - Intangible Heritage - 2003 Convention : Belgium". http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.phpcpBE. Retrieved 29 January 2009.  "Erfgoed Vlaamse gemeenschap". http://www.kunstenenerfgoed.be/ake/view/nl/2626684-Aalst+Carnaval+in+2010+voorgedragen+als+immaterieel+cultureel+erfgoed+van+de+mensheid+(UNESCO).html. Retrieved 12 February 2010. dead link The Annual Phallus Festival in Greece Der Spiegel English edition 3 June 2008 Retrieved on 15 December 2008 "TA NEA On-line - ". Tanea.gr. 2010-04-29. http://www.tanea.gr/default.asppid28&ct18&artid4548248&enthDate27112009. Retrieved 2011-03-09.  "Vevcani Carnival". Macedonia.co.uk. http://www.macedonia.co.uk/client/index1.aspxpage403. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  Jorge. "Fiestas de Espaa. El Carnaval de Tenerife". Fiestas.edreams.es. http://fiestas.edreams.es/carnaval/el-carnaval-de-tenerife/. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  A. A.. "El Carnaval de Tenerife". Tenerife-abc.com. http://www.tenerife-abc.com/Carnaval/. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  Ciudades hermanadas con Santa Cruz de Tenerife Wikipedia "Ciudades hermanadas con Santa Cruz de Tenerife". Santacruzmas.com. http://www.santacruzmas.com/SantaCruzMas.aspIdMenu4&IdSeccion39&IdSubseccion129. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  a b 1dead link http://www.onsortir.cat/contents/1027/so/612.jpg http://www.bergueda.com/contents/214/imatge/2095.jpg "The Online Guide to Toronto's Summer Carnival". Caribana.Com. 2010-08-15. http://www.caribana.com/index.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09.  IBTimes Staff ReporterMarch 5 2011. "Brazil Carnival begins (PHOTOS)". International Business Times. http://hken.ibtimes.com/articlesslideshows/119153/20110305/.htm. Retrieved March 5 2011.  a b 18.02.10 (22 February 1999). "De cuando el carnaval duraba tres das - Huellas digitales Blogs El Comercio Per". Blogs.elcomercio.pe. http://blogs.elcomercio.pe/huellasdigitales/2010/02/de-cuando-el-carnaval-era-en-t.html. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  "Panamericana - Mercedes Aroz: Captura de Jos E. Crousillat no es cortina de humo - Noticias Peru". 24horas.com.pe. http://www.24horas.com.pe/nacionales/1171893096.php. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  "El domingo de carnaval deja un muerto y casi 3.000 detenidos en Per". soitu.es. http://www.soitu.es/soitu/2009/02/10/info/1234221265184715.html. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  2dead link "No a violencia por carnavales: penarn hasta con 8 aos de crcel a quienes causen lesiones graves El Comercio Per". Elcomercio.pe. http://elcomercio.pe/noticia/408740/no-violencia-carnavales-penaran-hasta-anos-carcel-quienes-causen-lesiones-graves. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  10:23. "Carnavales en Lima: unos cinco mil policas reforzarn la seguridad Per21". Peru21.pe. http://peru21.pe/noticia/407870/carnavales-cinco-mil-policias-reforzaran-seguridad-lima. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  "En proximos carnavales policias vestidos de civiles evitaran violencia". LaRepublica.pe. 26 January 2009. http://www.larepublica.pe/sociedad/26/01/2009/en-proximos-carnavales-policias-vestidos-de-civiles-evitaran-violencia. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  "Panamericana - Mercedes Aroz: Captura de Jos E. Crousillat no es cortina de humo - Noticias Peru". 24horas.com.pe. http://www.24horas.com.pe/nacionales/1170518585.php. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  "Panamericana - Mercedes Aroz: Captura de Jos E. Crousillat no es cortina de humo - Noticias Peru". 24horas.com.pe. http://www.24horas.com.pe/nacionales/1201652766.php. Retrieved 12 February 2011.  3dead link 4dead link Carnival is Coming (UruguayNow) "Carnival in Venezuela". CaribbeanChoice. 2008-02-05. http://www.caribbeanchoice.com/venezuela/carnival.asp. Retrieved 2011-03-09.  References Giampaolo di Cocco (2007) Alle origini del Carnevale: Mysteria isiaci e miti cattolici (Florence: Pontecorboli) Valantasis Richard (2000) Religions of late antiquity in practice External links Top ten Carnivals of 2011 Brazils Carnival McGowan Chris and Pessanha Ricardo. "The Brazilian Sound: Samba Bossa Nova and the Popular Music of Brazil." 1998. 2nd edition. Temple University Press. ISBN 1-56639-545-3 Catholic Encyclopedia Shrovetide North American Carnivals v d eCarnival around the world Asia Carnival of India Carnival of Japan Europe Carnival of Germany Carnival of Belgium Carnival of Spain Carnival of Finland Carnival of France Carnival of the Netherlands Carnival of England Carnival of Italy Carnival of Portugal Carnival of Russian Federation Carnival of Sweden Carnival of Switzerland North America Carnival of Barbados Carnival of Canada Mardi Gras in the United States Carnival of Granada Carnaval of Mxico Carnival of Trinidad and Tobago Oceania Carnival of Australia South America Carnaval of Argentina Brazilian carnival Carnaval of Colombia Carnaval of Chile Carnaval of Uruguay