Carnival: the origins of one of the world's biggest street parties

Ash Wednesday - Ash Wednesday represents the first day of Lent on the Gregorian calendar, and is also known as Ash's Day. The date is celebrated by some Christian denominations. The date is a symbol of life change, remembrance of the fleeting fragility of human life, and a reflection on the nature of mortality.

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Cologne, Germany - Traditionally, it attracts more than a million visitors to the city to see the parades featuring giant puppets of German and international political figures made out of papier-mâché.

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Basel, Switzerland - Following very particular religious traditions, the Carnival of Basel is known as the largest Protestant festival in the world. The event is rooted in the Morgestraich ritual, always held on the Monday before Carnival.

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Cadiz, Spain - For a week, the streets of the Spanish city of Cadiz are filled with color. Thousands of visitors from all over the world visit the region during Carnival.

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Barranquilla, Colombia - Barranquilla's Carnival in Colombia was named a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The festival combines European, African, and indigenous cultural elements.

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Ecuador - Here Carnival also incorporates indigenous traditions, and during celebrations it is common to throw flour, flowers, and perfumed water at the revelers.

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Panaji, India - Dozens of floats and hundreds of participants make India's Carnival unique.

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London, United Kingdom - About one million people attend the Carnival to watch around 50,000 artists perform. However, the Carnival in London happens on the last Sunday and Monday of August.

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Mazatlán, Mexico - The Carnival in Mazatlán lasts for seven days. It begins on the Wednesday before Carnival Tuesday. One of its main features is the gathering of revelers on the city beaches.

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New Orleans, USA - The Carnival in New Orleans, called Mardi Gras, is among the best-known parties in the world. It is based on European traditions, but has strong multicultural roots, including African and Caribbean elements.

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Nice, France - Nice Carnival is among the largest in the world. It attracts more than a million visitors to the city for 15 days of partying.

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Peliqueiros Carnival, Laza, Spain - This Carnival is marked by its typical characters. Among them is the peliqueiro, who wears a very unique mask.

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Quebec, Canada - This is one of Canada's top winter festivals in the world, which attracts about 500,000 visitors.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Approximately two million people party in the streets of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, and watch the parades of about 200 samba schools and 300 Carnival groups.

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Sitges, Spain - Sitges Carnival usually gathers over 300,000 people and is known as one of the top Carnival destinations for the gay community.

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife - This Carnival features more than 100 musical groups, including murgas, comparsas, and rondallas.

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Trinidad and Tobago -

Traditionally, about 300,000 people gather at Queen's Park and the National Stadium to watch the steel drum bands competition.

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Venice, Italy -

Excluding the pandemic, about three million tourists go to Venice every year to participate in the traditional Carnival party, which lasts 10 days.

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The name -

The word Carnival originates from the Latin 'carne levare' and means 'farewell to flesh.'

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Rituals - Carnival has its roots in rituals performed for soil fertility that were organized at the turn of the year and the beginning of spring.

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And then Christianity happened - However, with the arrival of Christianity, the Carnival lost some of its symbolic and mystical character.

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Masquerade ball - Masquerade balls started in France around the 17th century, but quickly became popular in other European countries.

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Renaissance -

Carnival celebrations became very popular during the Renaissance period, mainly in Rome and Venice, in Italy.

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Lent - Since the 11th century, Carnival has been celebrated 40 days before Easter.

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No meat -

The Catholic Church calls this period Lent. It is marked by 40 days of fasting and meat abstinence.

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Prayer to pleasure -

This period is characterized by prayer, but also by celebrations where the very word carnival has come to be associated with pleasures of the flesh.

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Celebration days - Carnival is celebrated three days before Ash Wednesday.

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Shrove Tuesday - The date is also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, as the French say.

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Cadiz, Spain - For a week, the streets of the Spanish city of Cadiz are filled with color. Thousands of visitors from all over the world visit the region during Carnival.

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Ecuador - Here Carnival also incorporates indigenous traditions, and during celebrations it is common to throw flour, flowers, and perfumed water at the revelers.

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Panaji, India - Dozens of floats and hundreds of participants make India's Carnival unique.

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London, United Kingdom - About one million people attend the Carnival to watch around 50,000 artists perform. However, the Carnival in London happens on the last Sunday and Monday of August.

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Mazatlán, Mexico - The Carnival in Mazatlán lasts for seven days. It begins on the Wednesday before Carnival Tuesday. One of its main features is the gathering of revelers on the city beaches.

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Nice, France - Nice Carnival is among the largest in the world. It attracts more than a million visitors to the city for 15 days of partying.

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Peliqueiros Carnival, Laza, Spain - This Carnival is marked by its typical characters. Among them is the peliqueiro, who wears a very unique mask.

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Quebec, Canada - This is one of Canada's top winter festivals in the world, which attracts about 500,000 visitors.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Approximately two million people party in the streets of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, and watch the parades of about 200 samba schools and 300 Carnival groups.

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Sitges, Spain - Sitges Carnival usually gathers over 300,000 people and is known as one of the top Carnival destinations for the gay community.

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife - This Carnival features more than 100 musical groups, including murgas, comparsas, and rondallas.

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Trinidad and Tobago -

Traditionally, about 300,000 people gather at Queen's Park and the National Stadium to watch the steel drum bands competition.

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Venice, Italy -

Excluding the pandemic, about three million tourists go to Venice every year to participate in the traditional Carnival party, which lasts 10 days.

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Carnival: the origins of one of the world's biggest street parties

Find out how Carnival came to be and where in the world it's celebrated

08/02/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Parties

Not many people know its origins, but Carnival is actually a festival of Western Christianity that takes place before the liturgical season of Lent. Carnival is also one of the wildest and most popular parties in the world. Everyone wears costumes and takes to the streets to dance, sing, play, and party. In some countries, the festivities last for days.

Check out the gallery and get to know the origin of Carnival and where in the world it is celebrated!