Africa For the Canary Islands, see
its section under Europe.
Cape Verde Islands Carnival was introduced by Portuguese settlers. It is celebrated on each of the archipelago's nine inhabited islands. In
Mindelo,
São Vicente, groups challenge each other for a yearly prize. It has imported various Brazilian Carnival traditions. The celebration in
São Nicolau is more traditional, where established groups parade through the
Ribeira Brava, gathering in the
town square, although it has adopted drums, floats and costumes from Brazil. In São Nicolau, three groups, Copa Cabana, Estrela Azul, and Brilho Da Zona, construct a painted float using fire, newspaper for the mold, and iron and steel for structure. Carnival São Nicolau is celebrated over three days: dawn Saturday, Sunday afternoon, and Tuesday. The celebrations are captured in the award-winning feature documentary
Tchindas, nominated at the
12th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Namibia Carnival was introduced by German settlers. The celebration is based on the "Rheinische" Carnival tradition.
Seychelles The
Seychelles carnival began in 2011. It is held in the capital city of
Victoria and takes place over three days. On Day 1, the grand opening is held in the city center near the clock tower. The second day is parade day. On Day 3, the closing ceremony is held, and a lottery winner is announced.
Zimbabwe The
Harare Carnival is held late in May. Events include fashion and music shows. The climax is a street party featuring costumes and music.
Americas Antigua The
Antiguan Carnival is held from the end of July to the first Tuesday in August. The most important day is that of the ''j'ouvert
(or juvé''), in which brass and
steelpan bands perform.
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.
Argentina In
Argentina, the most representative Carnival performed is the so-called
Murga, although other famous Carnivals, more like Brazil's, are held in Argentine
Mesopotamia and the North-East.
Gualeguaychú in the east of
Entre Ríos Province is the most important Carnival city and has one of the largest parades. It adopts a musical background similar to Brazilian or Uruguayan Carnival.
Corrientes is another city with a Carnival tradition.
Chamamé is a popular musical style. In all major cities and many towns throughout the country, Carnival is celebrated. The Humahuaca Carnival is a popular celebration, which takes place at the beginning of Lent (40 days before Holy Week), in the Quebrada de Humahuaca area, Jujuy province, Argentina. As Carnival coincides with summer in the Southern Hemisphere, 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.
Bahamas Junkanoo is the principal street parade in the Bahamas, it has been practiced in the Bahamas before and after the 1834 emancipation of slavery in the British Empire. The
Bahamas announced the first Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival to commence in May 2015. Carnival in the Bahamas rivals various carnivals throughout the Caribbean in that it is a unique blend between the revered Junkanoo and traditional Carnival. This fairly new festival has been referred to as the ultimate celebration of everything Bahamian.
Barbados "Crop Over" (formerly called "Harvest Home") is a traditional harvest festival celebrated in
Barbados. Its early beginnings were on the
sugar cane plantations during the colonial period. Crop Over began in 1688, and featured singing, dancing, and accompaniment by
shak-shak,
banjo,
triangle,
fiddle, guitar, bottles filled with water, and bones. Other traditions included climbing a greased pole, feasting, and drinking competitions. Originally signaling the end of the yearly cane harvest, it evolved into a national festival. In the late 20th century, Crop Over began to closely mirror the Trinidad Carnival. Beginning in June, Crop Over runs until the first Monday in August when it culminates in the finale, the Grand Kadooment. Crop Over time for many islanders is one big party. Craft markets, food tents/stalls, street parties, and cavalcades fill every week. This festival "always includes music, dancing, costumes and parades".
Comparsas are held throughout the week, consisting of large groups "of dancers dancing and traveling on the streets, followed by a Carrosa (carriage) where the musicians play. The Comparsa is a development of African processions where groups of devotees follow a given saint or deity during a particular religious celebration." One of the most popular comparsas of Fiesta de Carnaval is the male group comparsa, usually composed of notable men from the community who dress up in outlandish costumes or cross-dress and dance to compete for money and prizes. Other popular activities include body painting and flour fighting. "On the last day of Carnival painters flood the street to paint each other. This simply means that a mixture of water paint and water or raw eggs is used to paint people on the streets, the goal being to paint as many people as you can." The tradition continues despite critics who advocate the termination of these festivities. 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
conquistadors. Dances include
caporales and
tinkus. The parade runs from morning until late at night, 18 hours a day, for three days before Ash Wednesday. It was declared the 2001 "Masterpieces of Oral Heritage and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by
UNESCO. Throughout the country, celebrations are held involving traditional rhythms and water parties. In
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, on the east side of the country, tropical weather allows a Brazilian-type Carnival, with
Comparsas dancing traditional songs in matching uniforms.
Brazil ,
Pernambuco, Brazil , Brazil The Carnival in
Brazil (Portuguese: Carnaval) is a major part of Brazilian culture. The first expression of this festivity took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1641, with the
préstitos, very similar to musical processions that were held on public streets when
John IV of Portugal was crowned King.
Rio de Janeiro The street carnival of
Rio de Janeiro is designated by
Guinness World Records as the largest carnival in the world, with approximately two million people each day.
Samba schools are large, social entities with thousands of members and a theme for their song and parade each year. In
Rio Carnival, samba schools parade in the
Sambadrome (
sambódromo in Portuguese). Some of the most famous include
GRES Estação Primeira de Mangueira,
GRES Portela,
GRES Acadêmicos do Salgueiro,
GRES Imperatriz Leopoldinense,
GRES Beija-Flor de Nilópolis,
GRES Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, and recently,
Unidos da Tijuca and
GRES União da Ilha do Governador. Local tourists pay $500–950, depending on the costume, to buy a samba costume and dance in the parade.
Blocos are small informal groups with a definite theme in their samba, usually satirizing the political situation. About 30 schools in Rio gather hundreds of thousands of participants. More than 440
blocos operate in Rio.
Bandas are samba musical bands, also called "street carnival bands", usually formed within a single neighborhood or musical background. The Carnival industry chain amassed in 2012 almost US$1 billion in revenues.
Recife, Pernambuco Recife is marked by the parade of the largest carnival block in the world, the
Galo da Madrugada. This parade happens on the first Saturday of Carnival (Zé Pereira's Saturday), passes through downtown Recife, and has as symbol a giant rooster that is positioned on the Duarte Coelho Bridge. In this block, there is a great variety of musical genres, but
Frevo is the most common one; it is typical of both Recife and
Olinda, and is considered an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.
Salvador, Bahia Salvador has large Carnival celebrations, including the
Axé, a typical Bahia music. A truck with giant speakers and a platform, where musicians play songs of local genres such as Axé,
samba-reggae, and
Arrocha, drives through town with a crowd following while dancing and singing. It was originally staged by two Salvador musicians, Dodo & Osmar, in the 1950s. After the
Salvador Carnival,
Porto Seguro continues the celebration. Three circuits make up the festival. Campo Grande is the longest and most traditional. Barra-Ondina is the most famous, on the seaside of Pelourinho and the beaches Barra and Ondina. International singers like
David Guetta,
will.i.am,
Psy, and
Bob Sinclar have performed in Salvador.
Ivete Sangalo,
Claudia Leitte,
Daniela Mercury,
Margareth Menezes,
Chiclete com Banana, and
Banda Eva are some traditional attractions. The party officially lasts six days, but may go on for longer.
Canada Toronto Caribbean Carnival, held in
Toronto on the first weekend of August to take advantage of more comfortable weather, has its origins in Caribbean Carnival traditions. Tourist attendance at the parade typically exceeds one million. The
Quebec Winter Carnival is one of the biggest winter-themed Carnivals in the world. It depends on snowfall and very cold weather, to keep snowy
ski trails in good condition and
ice sculptures frozen. The carnival is held during the last days of January and first days of February. File:Posing at 2018 Toronto Caribbean Carnival (28969518847).jpg|Caribbean Carnival in
Toronto,
Ontario, Canada File:Carnaval de Québec - bain de neige avec le mascotte Bonhomme Carnaval (13-02-2010).jpg|Winter Carnival, taken in
Québec City,
Québec, Canada
Caribbean Most
Caribbean islands celebrate Carnival. The largest and most well-known is in
Trinidad and Tobago.
Antigua,
Aruba,
Barbados,
Bonaire,
Cayman Islands,
Cuba,
Curaçao,
Dominica,
Dominican Republic,
Grenada,
Guadeloupe,
Guyana,
Haiti,
Jamaica,
Martinique,
Puerto Rico,
Saba,
Sint Eustatius (Statia),
Sint Maarten,
Saint Lucia,
Saint Kitts,
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands,
Saint Vincent, and the
Grenadines hold lengthy carnival seasons and large celebrations. Carnival is an important cultural event in the
Dutch Caribbean. Festivities include "jump-up" parades with beautifully colored costumes, floats, and live bands, as well as
beauty contests and other competitions. Celebrations include a middle-of-the-night
j'ouvert (
juvé) parade that ends at sunrise with the burning of a straw
King Momo, cleansing sins and bad luck. On Statia, he is called Prince Stupid. Carnival has been celebrated in Cuba since the 18th century. Participants don costumes demonstrating the island's cultural and ethnic variety.
Colombia in
Pasto, Colombia Carnival was introduced by the Spaniards and incorporated elements from
European cultures. It has managed to reinterpret traditions that belonged to Colombia's African and
Amerindian cultures. Documentary evidence shows that Carnival existed in Colombia in the 18th century and had already been a cause for concern for colonial authorities, who censored the celebrations, especially in the main political centres such as
Cartagena,
Bogotá, and
Popayán. The Carnival continued its evolution in small/unimportant towns out of view of the rulers. The result was the uninterrupted celebration of Carnival festivals in
Barranquilla (see
Barranquilla's Carnival), now recognized as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The Barranquilla Carnival includes several parades on Friday and Saturday nights beginning on 11 January and ending with a six-day non-stop festival, beginning the Wednesday prior to Ash Wednesday and ending Tuesday midnight. Other celebrations occur in villages along the lower
Magdalena River in northern Colombia, and in
Pasto and
Nariño (see
Blacks and Whites' Carnival) in the south of the country. In the early 20th century, attempts to introduce Carnival in Bogotá were rejected by the government. The
Bogotá Carnival was renewed in the 21st century.
Dominica Carnival in
Dominica is held in the capital city of
Roseau, and takes elements of Carnival that can be seen in the neighboring French islands of
Martinique and
Guadeloupe, as well as
Trinidad. Notable events leading up to Carnival include the Opening of Carnival celebrations, the Calypso Monarch music competition, the Queen of Carnival Beauty Pageant, and
bouyon music bands. Celebrations last for the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
Dominican Republic ,
Dominican Republic Dominican Carnival is celebrated in most cities and towns in the main streets during February. Among its main characteristics are its flashy costumes and loud music. The one held in
La Vega, which is one of the biggest in the country, and the national parade in
Santo Domingo were where the first Carnival of the Americas was held. Carnival masks are elaborate and colorful. The costumes used on the parades are satires of the Devil and are called "Diablos Cojuelos". They dance, and run to the rhythm of
merengue music mixed with techno, hip-hop, and
reggaeton. Additional
allegorical characters represent Dominican traditions such as "Roba la Gallina" and "Califé".
Ecuador , Ecuador In
Ecuador, the celebrations began before the arrival of Catholicism. 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 Indigenous tradition merged with the Catholic celebration of Carnival. 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 revered by children and teenagers although feared by some adults. Throwing water balloons, sometimes even eggs and flour both to friends and strangers is fun, but can also upset the uninformed. Although the government as well as school authorities forbid such games, they are widely practiced. Historians tell of a bishop in 1867 who threatened
excommunication for the
sin of playing Carnival games. Festivals differ across the country. Locals wear disguises with colorful masks and dance. Usually, the celebrations begin with the election of
Taita Carnival (Father Carnival) who heads the festivities and leads the parades in each city. The most famed Carnival festivities are 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 revived Carnival traditions with colorful parades, such as in
Azogues (Cañar Province). In Azogues and the Southern
Andes in general,
Taita Carnival is always an Indigenous
Cañari. Recently, a celebration has gained prominence in the northern part of the Andes 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.
Latacunga celebrates Carnival in three manners: Carnival with water where people play with water, religious Carnival where people make religious festivity, and Carnival parade in the city in which people march on the Latacunga streets wearing masks while they dance with music bands.
French Guiana The Carnival of
French Guiana has roots in
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 masked balls and street parades. Friday afternoons are 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 fill the streets of
Cayenne,
Kourou, and Saint-Laurent du Maroni. Competing groups prepare for months. Dressed to follow the year's agreed theme, they march with Carnival floats, drums, and brass bands. Brazilian groups are appreciated for their elaborate feathered and sequined costumes. However, they are not eligible for competition since the costumes do not change over time. Mythical characters appear regularly in the parades: •
Karolin − a small person dressed in a
magpie tail and
top hat, riding on a
shrew; • ''Les Nèg'marrons'' − groups of men dressed in red
loincloths, bearing ripe tomatoes in their mouths while their bodies are smeared with grease or
molasses. They deliberately try to come in contact with spectators, soiling their clothes; •
Les makoumés −
cross-dressing men (out of the Carnival context,
makoumé 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. A uniquely Creole tradition are the
touloulous. These women wear decorative gowns, gloves, masks, and headdresses that cover them completely, making them unrecognisable, even to the colour of their skin. On Friday and Saturday nights of Carnival, touloulou balls are held in so-called "universities", large dance halls that open only at Carnival time. Touloulous get in free, and are even given
condoms in the interest of the sexual health of the community. Men attend the balls, but they pay admittance and are not disguised. The touloulous pick their dance partners, who may not refuse. The setup is designed to make it easy for a woman to create a temporary liaison with a man in total anonymity. Undisguised women are not welcomed. By tradition, if such a woman gets up to dance, the orchestra stops playing. Alcohol is served at bars – the disguised women whisper to the men "touloulou thirsty", at which a round of drinks is expected, to be drunk through a straw protect their anonymity. In more modern times, Guyanais men have attempted to turn the tables by staging
soirées tololo, in which it is the men who, in disguise, seek partners from undisguised women bystanders. The final four days of Carnival follow a rigid schedule, and no work is done: • Sunday − The Grand Parade, in which the groups compete. • Monday − Marriage burlesque, with men dressed as brides and women as grooms. • Tuesday − Red Devil Day in which everyone wears red or black. • (Ash) Wednesday − Dress is black and white only, for the grand ceremony of burning the effigy of Vaval, King Carnival.
Guatemala The
Mazatenango carnival is a two- or three-day celebration that has been celebrated in this city for more than a century. Though secular in nature, it takes place immediately before Christian
Lent begins. Early celebrations included bull fights, and modern celebrations include the wearing of masks and costumes, the selection of an Ugly King and the Queen of the Carnival, dances, and a variety of games.
Haiti Carnival in
Haiti started in 1804 in the capital
Port-au-Prince after the
declaration of independence. The Port-au-Prince Carnival is one of the largest in North America. It is known as Kanaval in the
Creole language. It starts in January, known as "Pre-Kanaval", while the main carnival activities begin in February. In July 2012, Haiti had another carnival called Kanaval de Fleur. Beautiful costumes, floats,
Rara festival parades, masks, foods, and popular
rasin music (such as
Boukman Eksperyans, Foula Vodoule, Tokay, Boukan Ginen, and Eritaj) and
kompa bands (such as T-Vice, Djakout No. 1,
Sweet Micky, KreyòlLa, D.P. Express, Mizik Mizik, Ram, T-Micky, Carimi, Djakout Mizik, and Scorpio Fever) play for dancers in the streets of the plaza of Champ-de-Mars, Port-au-Prince. A song competition takes place. Other places in Haiti celebrate carnival, including
Jacmel and
Aux Cayes. In 2013, Kanaval was celebrated in Okap (
Cap-Haïtien). Carnival finishes on Ash Wednesday, followed by rara festival, another parading musical tradition known mainly in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic. This festival emphasises religion. Songs are composed each year, and bands play bamboo tubes (
vaksin) and homemade horns (
konèt). Rara is also performed in
Prospect and
Central Park in summertime New York.
Honduras In
La Ceiba in
Honduras, Carnival is held on the third or fourth Saturday of every May to commemorate
San Isidro. It is the largest Carnival celebration in
Central America.
Mexico In
Mexico,
Carnaval is celebrated in about 225 cities and towns. The largest are in
Mazatlán and the city of
Veracruz, with others in
Baja California and
Yucatán. The larger city Carnavals employ costumes, elected queens, and parades with floats, but Carnaval celebrations in smaller and rural areas vary widely depending on the level of European influence during Mexico's colonial period. The largest of these is in
Huejotzingo,
Puebla, where most townspeople take part in mock combat with rifles shooting blanks, roughly based on the
Battle of Puebla. Other important states with local traditions include
Morelos,
Oaxaca,
Tlaxcala, and
Chiapas. Carnaval of
Campeche goes back 400 years, to 1582.
Nicaragua On the Caribbean coast of
Bluefields,
Nicaragua, Carnival is better known as "Palo de Mayo" (or Mayo Ya!) and is celebrated every day of May. In
Managua, it is celebrated for two days. There it is named
Alegria por la vida ("Joy for Life") and features a different theme each year. Another festival in Managua celebrates patron saint Domingo de Guzman and lasts ten days.
Panama Traditionally beginning on Friday and ending on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, "los Carnavales", as
Panamanians refer to the days of Carnival, are celebrated across the country. Carnival Week is especially popular in the sleepy town of
Las Tablas. The population multiplies because of the opulent Carnival celebrations. Carnival celebrations in
Panama City and almost all of the
Azuero Peninsula are popular tourist attractions. Penonomé features a parade on the Rio Zarati as a unique Carnival event. Besides Las Tablas, there are several other places in Panama where Carnival is celebrated. Pedasí, Tonosí, Chitré, and Ocú are also located on the Azuero Peninsula, as is Las Tablas. In Coclé, Carnival is celebrated in Penonomé and Aguadulce, as well as in Panama City, which seeks to organize a celebration to attract tourists. Carnival is also celebrated in nearby towns such as La Chorrera and 24 de Diciembre. On the Panamanian Caribbean coast, Carnival is celebrated in places like Bocas del Toro and Portobelo. However, there are no queens; instead, it is common to see devils. The Panamanian Carnival is also popular because of the concerts featuring popular artists in the most visited areas. Concerts are often carried out during the night, and continue until the next morning. Carnival Week is a national holiday in Panama, with most businesses and government offices remaining closed during its duration, and with most Panamanians opting to go to the country's rural areas to participate on the Carnivals and visit their relatives. Carnivals in Panama also feature large repurposed fuel trucks that are used for soaking attendees through the use of firehoses that are controlled and directed by one or more people that stand in a platform that is mounted on top of the truck. This is known as "culecos" or "los culecos". Trucks get their water from nearby, government-approved rivers, and the water is tested for cleanliness before use. Culecos are often performed from 10 am to 3 pm, when the sun is at its brightest. Children and pregnant women are banned from participating in the culecos, and the trucks are always sponsored by a well-known Panamanian company or brand. The culecos are also often accompanied by reggaeton concerts. The open consumption of large amounts of cold,
low-alcohol beer or
Smirnoff, stored in ice-filled coolers, is common among attendees. Just like in Rio de Janeiro, some carnivals also feature floats, but they may have young women with elaborate costumes that stand as the "Queens" of "Calle Arriba" and "Calle Abajo", representing rich and working-class people, respectively. The queens are chosen through a contest and announced on October of the previous year, and are replaced every year. The queens are introduced on the first carnival day, and are always accompanied by a music band, who are present whenever the queens are present. Fireworks are launched on the last carnival night, to signal the end of the carnival.
Peru , Peru
Cajamarca The town of
Cajamarca is considered the capital of Carnival in
Peru. Local residents of all ages dance around the
unsha, or , 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, which they attempt to cut down by striking it 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 the following year's governor.
Crime While generally peaceful, there have been issues with people using Carnival as a pretext for crime, particularly robbery or vandalism, especially in certain areas of Lima.
Trinidad and Tobago during
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival In
Trinidad and Tobago, Carnival lasts months and culminates in large celebrations on the three days before Ash Wednesday with Dimanche Gras,
J'ouvert, and Mas (masquerade). Tobago's celebration culminates on Monday and Tuesday on a much smaller scale, however Tobago hosted its inaugural standalone carnival on October 28–30, 2022 Carnival combines costumes, dance, music, competitions, rum, and partying (fete-ing). Music styles include soca,
calypso,
rapso, and more recently
chutney and
chutney soca. The annual Carnival
steel pan competition known as the National Panorama competition holds the finals on the Saturday before the main event. Pan players compete in categories such as "Conventional Steel Band" or "Single Pan Band" by performing renditions of the year's calypsos. "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 awarded. The King and Queen of the bands are crowned, where each band parades costumes for two days and submits a king and queen, from which an overall winner is chosen. These usually involve huge, complex, beautiful well-crafted costumes, that includes 'wire-bending'. 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". Revelers dress in costumes embodying puns on current affairs, especially political and social events. "Clean Mud" (clay mud), oil paint and body paint are familiar during J'ouvert. A common character is "Jab-jabs" (devils, blue, black, or red) complete with pitchfork, pointed horns and tails. A King and Queen of J'ouvert are chosen, based on their witty political/social messages. Carnival Monday involves the parade of the mas bands. Revelers wear only parts of their costumes, more for fun than display or competition. Monday Night Mas is popular in most towns and especially the capital, where smaller bands compete. There is also the "Bomb Competition", a smaller-scaled judging of steel bands. Carnival Tuesday hosts the main events. Full costume is worn, complete with make-up and body paint/adornment. Usually "Mas Boots" that complement the costumes are worn. Each band has their costume presentation based on a particular theme, and contains various sections (some consisting of thousands of revelers) that reflect these themes. The street parade and band costume competition take place. The mas bands eventually converge on the Queen's Park Savannah to pass on "The Stage" for judging. The singer of the most played song is crowned Road March King or Queen, earning prize money and usually a vehicle. This parading and revelry goes on until Tuesday midnight. Ash Wednesday itself, while not an official holiday, sends flocks to local beaches. The most popular are
Maracas Beach and
Manzanilla Beach, where huge beach parties take place on Ash Wednesday.
United States , in
New Orleans, USA Carnival celebrations, usually referred to as
Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday" in French), were first celebrated in the
Gulf Coast area, but now occur in many states. Customs originated in the onetime
French colonial capitals of
Mobile (now in
Alabama),
New Orleans (
Louisiana), and
Biloxi (
Mississippi), all of which have celebrated for many years with street parades and masquerade balls. Other major American cities with celebrations include
Washington, D.C.;
St. Louis, Missouri;
San Francisco and
San Diego, California;
Galveston, Texas; and
Pensacola,
Tampa,
Orlando, and
Miami in
Florida. The most widely known, elaborate, and popular U.S. events are in
New Orleans, where
krewes organize parades, balls, and other activities starting with Phunny Phorty Phellows streetcar parade on
Twelfth Night and ending with the closing of Bourbon Street at midnight on Fat Tuesday. It is often called "the greatest free party on earth". Many other Louisiana cities such as
Lake Charles,
Baton Rouge,
Shreveport,
Lafayette,
Mamou,
Houma, and
Thibodaux, most of which were under French control at one time or another, also hold Carnival celebrations. On the prairie country northwest of Lafayette, Louisiana, the
Cajuns celebrate the traditional
Courir de Mardi Gras, which has its roots in celebrations from rural Medieval France. In
Puerto Rico, the most popular festivals are the Carnaval de
Loíza and
Carnaval de Ponce. The Carnaval de Ponce (officially "Carnaval Ponceño") is celebrated annually in
Ponce. The celebration lasts one week and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday. It is one of the oldest carnivals of the Western Hemisphere, dating to 1858. Some authorities trace the Ponce Carnaval to the eighteenth century. In New York City, a Caribbean Carnival known as the
West Indian Day Parade is held in
Crown Heights,
Brooklyn on
Labor Day. Founded by immigrants from Trinidad, the event was initially held at the beginning of Lent, but was later moved to Labor Day in order to allow an outdoor event in the summer. Starting in 2013, the Slovenian-American community located in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood of
Cleveland began hosting a local version of
Kurentovanje, the Carnival event held in the city of
Ptuj,
Slovenia. The event is conducted on the Saturday prior to Ash Wednesday. During the celebration, 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 (
Murgas, Lubolos, or Parodistas) perform a kind of popular opera at the
tablados, singing and dancing songs that generally relate to the social and political situation. The 'Calls' groups, basically formed by drummers playing the tamboril, perform candombe rhythmic figures. The carnival in Uruguay have
escolas de samba too, and the biggest samba parades are in
Artigas and in
Montevideo. Revelers wear their festival clothing.
Vedettes, exuberant women wearing elegant, bright dresses, are also part of the parades.. Each group has its own theme. 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 festival.
Venezuela Carnival in
Venezuela covers two days, 40 days before Easter. It is a time when youth in many rural towns have water fights (including the use of water balloons and water guns). Any pedestrian risks getting soaked. Coastal towns and provinces celebrate Carnival more fervently than elsewhere in the country. Venezuelans 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.
Asia India , India, late 20th century In India, Carnival is celebrated only in the state of
Goa and was originally a local Roman Catholic tradition known as
Intruz which means "swindler" in
Konkani while
Entrudo is the appropriate word in
Portuguese for "Carnival". The present commercial version of the Goan carnival (
King Momo, floats, etc.) was created based on the
Rio Carnival only in the 1960s as a means of attracting tourism. The largest celebration takes place in the capital
Panaji. The commercial Carnival festivities occur during the three days and nights preceding Ash Wednesday. Sixtus Eric Dias from Candolim was the King Momo for the Carnival 2021. All-night parades occur throughout the state with bands, dances, and floats. Grand balls are held in the evenings.
Indonesia In
Indonesia, the word "carnival" or
karnaval is not related to pre-
Lent festivities, but more to festivals in general, especially those with processions and extravagant costumes. One of the largest carnivals in Indonesia is the
Solo Batik Carnival, held in
Solo,
Central Java. The Jember Fashion Carnaval is held in
Jember,
East Java. The Roman Catholic community of
Kupang,
East Nusa Tenggara, held an Easter procession in form of an Easter Carnival called
Pawai Paskah Kupang.
Philippines as well as photos of crowned Carnival Queens (), from the
Escolta Museum In the
Philippines, the
Manila Carnival (
Philippine Spanish: ) was formerly a major annual event in
Manila during the early
American colonial period up to the time before the
Second World War. It was organized by the American colonial administration to showcase the economic development of the
Philippines. The highlight of the event is the crowning of the Carnival Queens, which is the precursor of later national pageants like
Miss Philippines. It is also notable for founding and hosting the first
Far Eastern Championship Games (then known as the "First Oriental Olympic Games") which became the precursor of the modern
Asian Games. () of
Bacolod,
Philippines of
Cebu,
Philippines The carnival lasted around two weeks in which a variety of shows were presented like
circus,
vaudeville,
slapstick comedies, and
theater. Five parades were also held, an opening parade, a military parade, a school parade, a business and industry parade (which included foreign participants), and the floral parade (which featured the Carnival Queen winner). The carnival was first held in February 1908 and was initially only a city celebration. It expanded to a national scope by 1912, It was discontinued in 1939, due to the outbreak of the Second World War. It was also not held during the
Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1941 to 1944). After
Philippine independence in 1946, it was never renewed. In the modern Philippines, thousands of annual festivals and
fiestas throughout the islands feature public celebrations and street parade competitions with elaborate costumes similar to the carnival. However, they are not tied to the Lenten period and are instead celebrations of a
Catholic patron saint, of the local culture, or both.
Europe Albania Carnivals have begun to be celebrated in Korça before 1940, a period in which cultural life in this city has been varied. Although a pagan holiday, the Carnival was later celebrated on Feast Day in February. In addition to the many carnival-wearing individuals, there were bands with guitars, bows, and butaphoric masks such as animal heads and humans. The Korça Carnival took a big hit after the creation of cultural societies such as the "Korça Youth". During this period carnivals were accompanied by mandolins, guitars and humorous songs. Carnival celebrations were discontinued after 1960, to resume in other social conditions after 1990. Korça is one of the first cities to revive the Carnival tradition by establishing the Carnival Association in 1992 as part of the National Carnival Association of Albania. On 10 April 1994, the first International Carnival Festival in Albania was organized in Korça. The following year, the second International Carnival Festival is even larger. Since this year and until 2008, the Korca Carnival group has been represented at a number of international festivals organized in various European countries.
Belgium Many parts of
Belgium celebrate Carnival, typically with costume parades, partying and fireworks. These areas include the province of Limburg with its cities
Maasmechelen,
Maaseik and Lanaken along the river Meuse, the cities of
Aalst,
Ninove,
Binche,
Eupen,
Halle,
Heist,
Kelmis,
Malmedy, and
Stavelot. at the
Carnival of Binche, in
Binche, Belgium The
Carnival of Binche dates at least to the 14th century. Parades are held over the three days before Lent; the most important participants are the
Gilles, who wear traditional costumes on Shrove Tuesday and throw
blood oranges to the crowd. In 2003, the Carnival of Binche was recognised as one of the
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The
Carnival of Aalst, celebrated during the three days preceding Ash Wednesday, received the same recognition in 2010. Belgium's oldest parade is the
Carnival Parade of Maaseik, also held on Laetare Sunday, which originated in 1865. ''), in
Malmedy, Belgium The Carnival of
Malmedy is locally called
Cwarmê. Even if Malmedy is located in the east Belgium, near the German-speaking area, the
Cwarmê is a pure
Walloon and Latin carnival. The celebration takes place during the four days before Shrove Tuesday. The
Cwarmê Sunday is the most important and interesting to see. All the old traditional costumes parade in the street. The
Cwarmê is a "street carnival" and is not only a parade. People who are disguised pass through the crowd and perform a part of the traditional costume they wear. The famous traditional costumes at the
Cwarmê of Malmedy are the
Haguète, the
Longuès-Brèsses, and the
Long-Né. Some Belgian cities hold Carnivals during Lent. One of the best-known is
Stavelot, where the
Carnival de la Laetare takes place on
Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. The participants include the
Blancs-Moussis, who dress in white, carry long red noses and parade through town attacking bystanders with
confetti and dried
pig bladders. The city of
Halle also celebrates on Laetare Sunday.
Bosnia and Herzegovina In
Bosnia and Herzegovina, the
Croat-majority city of
Ljubuški holds a traditional Carnival (). Ljubuški is a member of the
Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC).
Croatia The most famous
Croatian Carnival (Croatian:
karneval, also called
maškare or
fašnik) is the
Rijeka Carnival, during which the mayor of
Rijeka hands over the keys to the city to the Carnival master (
meštar od karnevala). The festival includes several events, culminating on the final Sunday in a masked procession. (A similar procession for children takes place on the previous weekend.) at
Rijeka Carnival, in
Rijeka, Croatia Many towns in Croatia's
Kvarner region (and in other parts of the country, e.g. in
Međimurje County in
Northern Croatia) observe the Carnival period, incorporating local traditions and celebrating local culture. Some of the towns and places are Grobnik, Permani, Kastav and many others places near Rijeka, then
Čakovec,
Samobor etc. Just before the end of Carnival, every Kvarner town burns a
man-like doll called a "Pust", who is blamed for all the strife of the previous year. The
Zvončari, or bell-ringers push away winter and all the bad things in the past year and calling spring, they 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. from
Međimurje County, northern Croatia Masks are 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. Carnivals also take place in summer. One of the most famous is the Senj Summer Carnival – first celebrated in 1968. The towns of
Cres, Pag, Novi Vinodolski, and Fužine also organise Summer Carnivals.
Cyprus Carnival has been celebrated in
Cyprus for centuries. The tradition was likely established under
Venetian rule around the 16th century. It may have been influenced by Greek traditions, such as festivities for deities such as
Dionysus. The celebration originally involved dressing in costumes and holding masked balls or visiting friends. In the twentieth century, it became an organized event 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 , Czech Republic In the
Czech Republic, the Masopust Festival takes place from
Epiphany (
Den tří králů) through Ash Wednesday (
Popeleční středa). The word
masopust translates literally from old Czech to mean "meat fast", and the festival often includes a pork feast. The tradition is most common in
Moravia but also occurs in
Bohemia. While practices vary, masks and costumes are present everywhere.
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.
Norway In
Norway, students having seen
celebrations in Paris introduced Carnival processions, masked balls, and Carnival balls to
Christiana in the 1840s and 1850s. From 1863, the artist federation
Kunstnerforeningen held annual Carnival balls in the old
Freemasons lodge, which inspired
Johan Svendsen's compositions
Norsk Kunstnerkarneval and
Karneval in Paris. The following year, Svendsen's
Festpolonaise was written for the opening procession.
Edvard Grieg attended and wrote "Aus dem Karneval" (
Folkelivsbilleder Op. 19). Since 1988, the student organization has produced annual masquerade balls in Oslo, with masks, costumes, and processions after attending an opera performance. The Carnival season also includes
Fastelavens søndag (with cream buns) and
fastelavensris with decorated branches.
Finland in
Helsinki, Finland The
Helsinki Samba Carnaval, modelled after the samba carnivals in Brazil, takes place every year in middle June. The carnival lacks a proper historical tradition and has instead mostly grown from experimenting.
France , France Some major Carnivals of mainland
France are the
Nice Carnival, the Dunkirk Carnival and the Limoux Carnival. The
Nice Carnival was held as far back as 1294, and annually attracts over a million visitors during the two weeks preceding Lent. Since 1604, a characteristic
masked Carnival is celebrated in
Limoux. The
Dunkirk Carnival is among the greatest and most exuberant carnivals celebrated in Europe. Its traditions date back to the 17th century and are based on the
vischerbende as fishermen went from one café to another accompanied by their relatives and friends just before departing to
Icelandic fishing grounds. In the
French West Indies, it occurs between the Sunday of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday; this dates back to the arrival of French colonists in the islands.
Germany and Austria Germany The earliest written record of Carnival in
Germany was in 1296 in
Speyer. The first worldwide Carnival parade took place in
Cologne in 1823.
"Rhenish Carnival" (Rheinischer Karneval, Fasnacht, Fasnet, Fastabend, Fastelovend, Fasteleer, Fasching) The "Rheinische" Carnival is held in the west of Germany, mainly in the states of
North Rhine-Westphalia and
Rhineland-Palatinate, but also in
Hesse (including
Upper Hesse). Similar forms of the festival occur in
Bavaria, and other states. Some cities are more famous for celebrations such as parades and costume balls. The
Cologne Carnival, as well as those in
Mainz,
Eschweiler and
Düsseldorf, are the largest and most famous. Other cities have their own, often less well-known celebrations, parades, and parties, such as
Aachen,
Bonn,
Worms am Rhein,
Speyer,
Kaiserslautern,
Frankfurt,
Darmstadt,
Duisburg,
Dortmund,
Essen,
Mannheim,
Münster,
Krefeld,
Ludwigshafen,
Mönchengladbach,
Stuttgart,
Augsburg,
Munich, and
Nuremberg. The biggest German carnival club is located in the relatively small town of
Dieburg in South Hesse. Festivities start as early as 11 November at 11:11am for some carnival organizations, but the main events usually take place after the Christmas season. 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 passing man. Special acrobatic show dances in mock uniforms are a traditional contribution to most festive balls. They may or may not have been a source of inspiration to American cheerleading. The Fasching parades and floats make fun of individual politicians and other public figures. Many speeches do the same. Traditions often also include the "Faschingssitzung" – a sit-only party with dancing and singing presentations, and often many speeches given that humorously criticize politics.
"Swabian-Alemannic" Carnival (Schwäbische Fastnacht) im Allgäu,
Swabia, Germany The
Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht, known as
Schwäbische Fastnacht, takes place in
Baden,
Swabia, the
Allgäu,
Alsace, and
Vorarlberg (western
Austria). During the pagan era, it represented the time of year when the reign of the grim winter spirits is over, and these spirits are hunted and expelled. It then adapted to Catholicism. The first official record of Karneval, Fasching or Fastnacht in Germany dates to 1296. Often the costumes and masks on parades strictly follow traditional designs and represent specific historical characters, public figures – or specific daemons.
Switzerland Swiss Fasnacht evening in
Lucerne, Switzerland In
Switzerland,
Fasnacht takes place in the Catholic
cantons of Switzerland, e.g. in
Lucerne (
Lozärner Fasnacht), but also in Protestant
Basel. However, the
Basler Fasnacht begins on the Monday
after Ash Wednesday. Both began in the
Late Middle Ages. Smaller Fasnacht festivities take place across German Switzerland, e.g. in
Bern and
Olten, or in the eastern part (
Zürich,
St. Gallen,
Appenzell).
Greece In
Greece, Carnival is known as (, lit. '[goodbye] to meat'), and officially begins with the "Opening of the
Triodion", the liturgical book used by the
Orthodox Church from then until
Holy Week. Apokries is made up of three themed weeks of celebration known as (, 'preannouncement week'), (, 'meat week'), and (, 'cheese week'). One of the season's high points during Kreatini is (lit. 'Smoky-Thursday'), when celebrants throw large outdoor parties and roast huge amounts of meat; the ritual is repeated the following Sunday, after which point meat is forbidden until Easter. The following week, Tirini, is marked by similar festivities revolving around the consumption of cheese, eggs, and dairy and culminates with a "Cheese Sunday".
Great Lent, and its restrictive fasting rules, begins in earnest the next day on
Clean Monday. Throughout the Carnival season, festivals, parades, and balls are held all over the country. Many people disguise themselves as ("masqueraders") and engage in pranks and revelry throughout the season. , Greece
Patras holds the largest annual Carnival in Greece, and one of the largest in the world. The famous
Patras Carnival is a three-day spectacle replete with concerts, theatre performances, parading troupes, an elaborate
treasure hunt game, three major parades, parallel celebrations specifically for children, and many
masquerade balls including the famous Bourboúlia () ball in which women wear special robe-like costumes called a to hide their identy. The festivities come to a crescendo on "Cheese Sunday" when The Grand Parade of troupes and floats leads celebrators to the harbor for the ceremonial burning of the effigy of King Carnival. The Carnival in
Corfu is much influenced by the Carnival of
Venice. During this period, various theatrical sketches are presented on the island, called
Petególia or
Petegolétsa (Πετεγολέτσα) in the local dialect. In previous centuries, existed also the custom of "Giostra" (
jousting). The second biggest Carnival in Greece takes place in
Xanthi (
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace) since 1966 and it is the major event of its kind in Northern Greece. The
Xanthi Carnival manages to attract visitors from the nearby countries such as
Bulgaria,
Turkey, and
Romania. Other regions host festivities of smaller extent, focused on the reenactment of traditional carnival customs, such as
Tyrnavos (
Thessaly),
Kozani (
Western Macedonia),
Rethymno (
Crete). Tyrnavos holds an annual Phallus festival, a traditional "phallkloric" event in which giant, gaudily painted effigies of
phalluses made of
papier-mâché are paraded, and which women are asked to touch or kiss. Their reward for so doing is a shot of the famous local
tsipouro alcohol spirit. Every year, from the 1st to the 8th of January, mostly in regions of
Western Macedonia, traditional Carnival festivals erupt. Best known of these is the () festival in the city of
Kastoria whose celebration may date back to antiquity and whose name derives from the Latin word 'beggars', in reference to the beggars who could mingle with the rich in their masks. It takes place from 6–8 January with mass participation and is noted for its brass bands, flutes, and
Macedonian drums. It is an ancient celebration of nature's rebirth akin to ancient festivals for
Dionysus (
Dionysia) and
Kronos (
Saturnalia).
Italy s at the
Carnival of Venice 2011,
Uer iz de parti? at the
Carnival of Ivrea, in
Ivrea, Italy
Carnival in Italy is a farewell party to eat, drink, and have fun before the limitations and solemnity of
Lent. About a month before
Ash Wednesday, Italians celebrate over many weekends with parades, masks, and
confetti. The origins of this event may be traced to
ancient Greece and
Rome, when they worshipped
Bacchus and
Saturn. Some think they date back to archaic winter-to-spring ceremonies. Despite its pagan origins, the event was so extensively celebrated and the tradition so powerful that it was swiftly altered to fit into Catholic rituals. Carnival in Italy is traditionally celebrated on
Fat Tuesday, but the weekend prior features activities as well. Carnival traditions vary across Italy. In the
Ambrosian rite regions around Milan, Carnival ends on the first Sunday of
Lent. The
Carnival of Venice and
Carnival of Viareggio are particularly renowned, featuring sophisticated masquerades and parades. In
Sardinia, a distinct carnival form survives, possibly rooted in pre-Christian winter rituals of awakening the earth. These Carnivals include masquerades and parades. The
Carnival in Venice was first documented in 1296, with a proclamation by the
Venetian Senate announcing a public festival the day before the start of
Lent. Its subversive nature is reflected in Italy's many laws over the centuries attempting to restrict celebrations and the wearing of
masks. Carnival celebrations in Venice were halted after the city fell under
Austrian control in 1798, but were revived in the late 20th century. The
Carnival of Viareggio is the second-most popular in Italy. It lasts a month with night and day celebrations, floats, parades, district celebrations, masked dances, and other shows. The first masquerade took place in 1873, in response to the upper classes' dissatisfaction with having to pay hefty taxes. Thousands of travelers go to Italy for parades, Carnival masks and costumes, concerts, and music.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 fruit between the people on foot and the troops of the tyrant on carts, to remember the wars of the Middle Ages, allegory of struggle for freedom. It is considered one of the most ancient Carnivals in the world. The fight commemorates Ivrea's rebellion against tyrannical rule in the Middle Ages. The miller's daughter, "
la Mugnaia", allegedly killed the city's dictator after he tried to kidnap her, sparking an uprising that gave the inhabitants more freedom. Ivrea's Carnival celebration now includes parades in medieval costumes, folkloric ensembles, and musical performances from Italy and Europe. A bean soup,
fagiolata, is associated with the festival. The
Ambrosian Rite () is a
Latin liturgical rite of the
Catholic Church and the
Eastern Orthodox Church (specifically The Divine Liturgy of Saint Ambrose). The
rite is named after
Saint Ambrose, a
bishop of Milan in the fourth century. It is used by around five million Catholics in the greater part of the
Archdiocese of Milan (excluding
Monza,
Treviglio and
Trezzo sull'Adda), in some parishes of the
Diocese of Como,
Bergamo,
Novara,
Lodi, in the
Diocese of Lugano,
Canton of Ticino,
Switzerland, less prominently in some
Western Rite orthodox parishes and on special occasions of other jurisdictions. 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. In
Sardinia, the Carnival (in
Sardinian language Carrasecare or
Carrasegare) varies greatly from the one in the mainland of Italy. the majority of the Sardinian celebrations features not only feasts and parades but also crude
fertility rites such as bloodsheds to fertilize the land, the death and the resurrection of the Carnival characters and representations of violence and torture. from
Mamoiada, the
Boes and Merdules from
Ottana and many more. The Carnival is celebrated with street performances that are typically accompanied by Sardinian
dirges called , meaning literally "cry of a baby when the mother doesn't want nursed him/her anymore" (from the word
titta meaning breasts). Other particular and important Carnival instances in Sardinia are the
Sartiglia in
Oristano and the
Tempio Pausania Carnival.
Lithuania Užgavėnės is a
Lithuanian festival that takes place on Shrove Tuesday. Its name in English means "the time before Lent". The celebration corresponds to Carnival holiday traditions.
Užgavėnės begins on the night before Ash Wednesday, when an
effigy of winter (usually named Morė) is burnt. A major element symbolizes the defeat of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a staged battle between Lašininis ("porky") personifying winter and Kanapinis ("hempen man") personifying spring. Devils, witches, goats, the
grim reaper, and other joyful and frightening characters appear in costumes during the celebrations. Eating pancakes is an important part of the celebration. Eating pancakes during
Užgavėnės is a traditional practice symbolizing the sun's return and the anticipation of a bountiful harvest, aligning with the festival's theme of bidding farewell to winter and welcoming spring.
Pétange is the home of the Grand-Duchy's largest pre-Lenten Karneval celebration. Annually hosting a cavalcade with roughly 1,200 participants and thousand of celebrants, the official name is Karneval Gemeng Péiteng or "Kagepe" (the initials in
Luxembourgish are pronounced "Ka", "Ge" and "Pe"). The town of
Remich holds a three-day-long celebration, notable for two special events in addition to its parades. The first is the
Stréimännchen, which is the burning of a male effigy from the Remich Bridge that crosses the
Moselle River separating the Grand Duchy from
Germany. The
Stréimännchen symbolizes the burning away of winter. The other special event at the Remich Fuesend celebrations is the
Buergbrennen or
bonfire that closes the celebration. Like Remich, the town of
Esch-sur-Alzette holds a three-day celebration. Other major Fuesend parades in Luxembourg are held in the towns of
Diekirch and
Schifflange.
Malta , Malta Carnival in
Malta (Maltese: ''il-Karnival ta' Malta
) was 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 dresses, 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. The largest celebration takes place in and around the capital city of
Valletta and
Floriana; 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, a lighthearted re-enactment of the 1565 victory of the
Knights Hospitaller over the
Turks, and an 18th-century court dance known as
il-Maltija. The first known documentation dates from the late 8th century (
Indiculus superstitionum et paganiarum), but Carnaval was already mentioned during the
First Council of Nicaea in 325 and by
Caesarius of Arles (470–542) around 500 CE. In the Netherlands itself, the first documentation is found in 1383 in
's-Hertogenbosch. The oldest-known images of Dutch Carnaval festivities date from 1485, also in 's-Hertogenbosch. Normal daily life comes to a stop for about a week in the southern part of the Netherlands during the carnival, with roads temporary blocked and many local businesses closed for the week as a result of employees who are en masse taking the days off during and the day after the carnival.
North Macedonia The most popular Carnivals in
North Macedonia are in
Vevčani and
Strumica. The Vevčani Carnival (
Macedonian: Вевчански Kарневал, translated
Vevchanski Karneval) has been held for over 1,400 years, and takes place on 13 and 14 January (New Year's Eve and New Year's Day by the old calendar). The village becomes a live theatre where costumed actors improvise on the streets in roles such as the traditional "August the Stupid". The Strumica Carnival (Macedonian: Струмички Карневал, 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 house–to–house, with laughter, scream and song." The Carnival took an organized form in 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.
Poland The
Polish Carnival season includes
Fat Thursday (Polish:
Tłusty Czwartek), when
pączki (doughnuts) are eaten, and
Śledzik (
Shrove Tuesday) or Herring Day. The Tuesday before the start of Lent is also often called
Ostatki (literally "leftovers"), 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 has become more commercialized, with stores offering Carnival-season sales.
Portugal , Portugal Carnival is Carnaval in
Portugal, celebrated throughout the country, most famously in
Ovar,
Sesimbra,
Madeira,
Loulé,
Nazaré,
Mealhada, and
Torres Vedras. Carnaval in
Podence and
Lazarim incorporates pagan traditions such as the
careto, while the Torres Vedras celebration is probably the most typical.
Azores On the islands of the
Azores, local clubs and Carnival groups create colorful and creative costumes that jab at politics or culture. On
São Miguel Island, Carnival features street vendors selling fried dough, called a
malassada. The festival on the biggest island starts off with a
black tie grand ball, followed by Latin music at Coliseu Micaelense. A children's parade fills the streets of Ponta Delgada with children from each school district in costume. A massive parade continues past midnight, ending in
fireworks. Arguably, Brazil's Carnival could be traced to the period of the
Portuguese Age of Discoveries when their
caravels passed regularly through Madeira, a territory that emphatically celebrated Carnival.
Ovar in
Ovar, Portugal Carnival in the town of
Ovar, in the
Aveiro Region, began in 1952 and is the region's largest festivity, representing a large investment and the most important touristic event to the city. It is known for its creative designs, displayed in the Carnival Parade, which features troupes with themed costumes and music, ranging from the traditional to pop culture. Along with the Carnival Parade, there are five nights of partying, finishing with the famous 'Magical night' where people come from all over the country, mostly with their handmade costumes, only to have fun with the locals.
Other regions In
Estarreja, in the Central region of Portugal, the town's first references to Carnival were in the 14th century, with "Flower Battles", richly decorated floats that paraded through the streets. At the beginning of the twentieth century, these festivities ended with the deaths of its main promoters, only to reappear again in the 1960s to become one of many important Carnival 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. In the Central Portugal towns of
Nelas and
Canas de Senhorim, Carnival is an important tourist event. Nelas and Canas de Senhorim host four festive parades that offer colorful and creative costumes: Bairro da Igreja and Cimo do Povo in Nelas and do Paço and do Rossio in Canas de Senhorim. In
Lisbon, Carnival offers parades, dances and festivities featuring stars from Portugal and Brazil. The
Loures Carnival celebrates the country's folk traditions, including the
enterro do bacalhau or burial of the
cod, which marks the end of Carnival and the festivities. North of Lisbon is the famous
Torres Vedras Carnival, described as the "most Portuguese in Portugal". The celebration highlight is a parade of creatively decorated streetcars that satirize society and politics. Other Central Portugal towns, such as
Fátima and
Leiria, offer colorful, family-friendly celebrations. In these towns, everyone dresses up as if it were
Halloween. Children and adults wear masks. In the
Algarve region, several resort towns offer Carnival parades. Besides the themed floats and cars, the festivities include "samba" groups, bands, dances, and music. In
Lazarim, a civil parish in the municipality of
Lamego, celebrations follow the pagan tradition of Roman
Saturnalias. It celebrates by burning colorful effigies and dressing in home-made costumes. Locally-made wooden masks are worn. The masks are effigies of men and women with horns, but both roles are performed by men. They are distinguished by their clothes, with caricature attributes of both men and women. The Lazarim Carnaval cycle encompasses two periods, the first starting on the fifth Sunday before Quinquagesima Sunday. Masked figures and people wearing large sculpted heads walk through the town. The locals feast on 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 five weeks, men prepare large masked heads and women raise funds to pay for two
mannequins that will be sacrificed in a public bonfire. This is a key event and is unique to Portugal. During the bonfire, a girl reads the Compadre's will and a boy reads the Comadre's will. The executors of the will are named, a
donkey is symbolically distributed to both female and male "heirs", and then there is the final reckoning in which the Entrudo, or Carnival doll, is burned.
Russia 's painting of
Maslenitsa, Russia
Maslenitsa (, also called "Pancake Week" or "Cheese Week") is a Russian folk holiday that incorporates some pagan traditions. It is celebrated during the last week before Lent. The essential element is
bliny, Russian pancakes, popularly taken to symbolize the sun. Round and golden, they are made from the rich foods allowed that week by the Orthodox traditions: butter, eggs, and milk. (In the tradition of Orthodox Lent, the consumption of meat ceases one week before that of milk and eggs.) Maslenitsa also includes
masquerades, snowball fights, sledding, swinging on swings, and sleigh rides. The mascot is a brightly dressed straw effigy of Lady Maslenitsa, formerly known as
Kostroma. The celebration culminates on Sunday evening, when Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her finery and put to the flames of a
bonfire.
Slovakia In
Slovakia, the
Fašiangy (
fašiang,
fašangy) takes place from
Three Kings Day (
Traja králi) until the midnight before Ash Wednesday (
Škaredá streda or
Popolcová streda). At the midnight marking the end of
fašiangy, a symbolic burial ceremony for the
contrabass is performed, because music ceases for
Lent.
Slovenia The Slovenian name for carnival is
pust. 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 festival is held in
Ptuj (see:
Kurentovanje). Its special feature are the Kurents themselves, magical creatures from another world, who visit major events throughout the country, trying to banish the winter and announce spring's arrival, fertility, and new life with 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. in
Ptuj, Slovenia The
Cerknica Carnival is heralded by a figure called "Poganjič" carrying a whip. In the procession, organised by the "Pust society", a monstrous witch named Uršula is driven from the mountain
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 are known for the
Laufarji, Carnival figures with artistically carved wooden masks. The
Maškare 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
Kurent), 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.
Spain '', Francisco Goya, c. 1812 Arguably the most famous Carnivals in Spain are
Santa Cruz,
Las Palmas,
Sitges,
Vilanova i la Geltrú,
Tarragona,
Águilas,
Solsona,
Cádiz,
Badajoz,
Bielsa (an ancestral Carnival celebration),
Plan,
San Juan de Plan,
Laza,
Verín, Viana, and
Xinzo de Limia. One of the oldest pre-Indo-European carnival in Europe takes place in
Ituren and
Zubieta in
Navarre in late January/early February. The carnival symbolises the eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness, winter and spring.
Andalusia , in
Cádiz,
Andalusia, Spain In
Cádiz, 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 prepare for the whole year. The Choirs (
coros) are wider groups that go on open carts through the streets singing with an orchestra of guitars and lutes. Their signature piece is the "Carnival Tango", alternating comical and serious repertory. The comparsas are the serious counterpart of the chirigota in Cádiz, and the poetic lyrics and the criticism are their main ingredients. They have a more elaborated
polyphony that is easily recognizable by the typical
countertenor voice.
Canary Islands The Santa Cruz Carnival is the most important festival for Spanish tourism and Spain's largest Carnival. In 1980, it was declared a Festival Tourist International Interest. Every February,
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the largest of the
Canary Islands, hosts the event, attracting around a million people. ,
Canary Islands, Spain In 1980, it was declared a Festival Tourist International Interest. The Carnival of
Las Palmas (
Gran Canaria) has a drag queen's gala where a jury chooses a winner.
Catalonia ,
Catalonia, Spain. Water color painting by Brad Erickson. In
Catalonia, people dress in masks and costume (often in themed groups) and organize a week-long series of parties, pranks, outlandish activities such as bed races, street dramas satirizing public figures, and raucous processions to welcome the arrival of
Sa Majestat el Rei Carnestoltes ("His Majesty King Carnival"), known by various titles, including
el Rei dels poca-soltes ("King of the crackpots"),
Princep etern de Cornudella ("eternal Prince of Cuckoldry"), ("Duke of the fool and corrupt"),
Marquès de la bona mamella ("Marquis of the lovely breast"),
Comte de tots els barruts ("Count of the insolent"),
Baró de les Calaverades ("Baron of mocturnal debaucheries"), and ("Lord of the tall blooming Banana, of the voyeurs and punks and the artist of honor upon the bed"). The King presides over a period of misrule in which conventional social rules may be broken and reckless behavior is encouraged. Festivities are held in the open air, beginning with a
cercavila, a ritual procession throughout the town to call everyone to attend.
Rues of masked revelers dance alongside. On Thursday,
Dijous Gras (Fat Thursday) is celebrated, also called 'omelette day' (el
dia de la truita), on which
coques (), and
omelettes are eaten. The festivities end on Ash Wednesday with elaborate funeral rituals marking the death of King Carnival, who is typically burned on a
pyre in what is called the "burial of the
sardine" (
enterrament de la sardina), or, in Vilanova, as ''l'enterro''. The Carnival of
Vilanova i la Geltrú has a documented history from 1790 and is one of the richest in the variety of its acts and rituals. It adopts an ancient style in which satire, the
grotesque body It is best known for
Les Comparses, a tumultuous dance held on Sunday in which thousands of dancers in traditional dresses and
Mantons de Manila (Manila Shawls), organized into groups of couples march in the street forming lines while throwing tons of hard candies at one another. Vilanovinians organize several rituals during the week. On
Dijous Gras, Vilanovin children are excused from school to participate in the
Merengada, a day-long scene of eating and fighting with sticky, sweet
meringue while adults have a meringue battle at midnight at the historic
Plaça de les Cols. On Friday citizens are called to a parade for the arrival of King Carnival called ''l'Arrivo
that changes every year. It includes a raucous procession of floats and dancers lampooning current events or public figures and a bitingly satiric sermon (el sermo'') delivered by the King himself. On Saturday, the King's procession and his
concubines scandalize the town with their sexual behavior; the mysterious
Moixo Foguer (Little-Bird-Bonfire) is shown accompanied by the
Xerraire (jabberer), who try to convince the crowd about the wonders that this mighty bird carries in a box (which ends up being in fact a naked person covered in feathers); and other items such as: sport acts and barbecues in the streets; the
talking-dance of the Mismatched Couples (
Ball de Malcasats); the children's King
Caramel whose massive belly, long nose and sausage-like hair hint at his insatiable appetites; or the debauched
Nit dels Mascarots dance. After Sunday, vilanovinians continue its Carnival with the children's party
Vidalet, the satirical chorus of Carnestoltes songs and the last night of revelry, the
Vidalot. For the King's funeral, people dress in elaborate mourning costume, many of them cross-dressing men who carry bouquets of phallic vegetables. In the funeral house, the body of the King is surrounded by weeping concubines, crying over the loss of sexual pleasure brought about by his death. The King's body is carried to the
Plaça de la Vila where a satiric eulogy is delivered while the townspeople eat salty grilled sardines with bread and wine, suggesting the symbolic
cannibalism of the communion ritual. Finally, amid rockets and explosions, the King's body is burned in a massive pyre. "Comparses" groups organize free activities. These groups of friends create and personalize a uniformed suit to wear during the festivities. In
Sitges, special feasts include (
xató is a traditional local salad of the Penedès coast) 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. In 2022, the Rua de la Disbauxa hosted 34 floats and over 1,200 participants.
Tarragona has one of the region's most complete ritual sequences. The events start with the building of a huge barrel and ends with its burning with the effigies of the King and Queen. On Saturday, the main parade takes place with 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 5,000 people are members of the parade groups.
Galicia In
Galicia, the celebration is commonly known as
Entroido, or otherwise
Antroido,
Entroiro,
Entruido or
Entrudio. Throughout history, the cities, towns and villages of Galicia had poor connections between each other, so
Entroidos are very diverse with different cultural traditions and characters based in the zone you're in. Nine Entroido celebrations have been declared as places of touristic interest in Galicia:
Xinzo de Limia,
Cobres,
Laza,
Verín,
Felos de Maceda,
Xenerais do Ulla,
Vilariño de Conso,
Androlla and
Viana do Bolo and
Manzaneda. ,
Galicia, Spain In
Galician cuisine, there are various traditional dishes of
Entroido, such as
Filloas (a dish similar to
crêpes) and
Orellas (A traditional dish of
Catalonia and the
Valencian Community, but also traditionally served in Galician and
French carnivals). Other traditional foods include
Chorizo,
Lacón,
Caldo,
Androlla and
Pig Heads. -like typical dish served in Galician Entroidos
Valencian Community One of the most important Spanish Carnival Festivals is celebrated in
Vinaròs, a small town situated in the northern part of the
province of Castellón,
Valencian Community. The Carnival Festival in Vinaròs has been declared of Regional Touristic Interest and in 2017, this outstanding and ancient show celebrated 35 years of History. The Carnival Festival in Vinaròs became a forbidden celebration during the
Spanish Civil War but after the dictatorship, the party regained importance with the democracy's arrival. Every year in February, forty days before the Spanish
Cuaresma, thirty-three "comparsas" go singing, dancing and walking down the streets in a great costumes' parade in Vinaròs. In addition, many other festive, cultural and musical activities of all ages take place, such as an epic battle of confetti and flour, funny karaoke contests or the so-called "
Entierro de la Sardina" (Burial of the Sardine). Nevertheless, the most important event is the gala performance of the Carnival's Queen. In this breathtaking show, it is elected the Queen of the Carnival, the major representative of the Carnival in Vinaròs all year round.
Turkey For almost five centuries,
local Greek Orthodox communities throughout
Istanbul celebrated Carnival with weeks of bawdy parades, lavish balls, and street parties. This continued for weeks before Lent.
Baklahorani took place on
Shrove Monday or
Clean Monday, the last day of the carnival season. The event was led by the Greek Orthodox community, but the celebrations were public and inter-communal. The final celebration was sited in the
Kurtuluş district. In 2010, the festival was revived.
United Kingdom In
England, the three days before Lent were called Shrovetide. A time for
confessing sins ("shriving"), it had 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. Since 2012, Hastings in East Sussex has celebrated with its own Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. Five days of music and street events culminating with a Grand Ball on Fat Tuesday itself. Loosely based on the New Orleans style of carnival, Hastings has taken its own course. •
Birmingham International Carnival •
West Country Carnival •
Dover Carnival •
Leicester Caribbean Carnival •
Notting Hill Carnival •
Leeds West Indian Carnival •
St Pauls Carnival ==See also==