Carnival

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For other uses, see Carnival (disambiguation).

Carnival or Carnivale is an annual Christian festival season. It occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February or March. It typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations.

Carnival is mostly a Roman Catholic and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Orthodox celebration; Protestant areas usually do not have carnival celebrations. The world's largest carnival celebration is held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but many cities worldwide have large, popular celebrations.

The traditional English name for the carnival is Shrovetide; many other names may be used for local versions of the festival.

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[edit] Length and individual holidays

Depending on the area, the carnival may last from a few days to several months. While its starting day varies, it usually ends on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. In Ambrosian rite, the carnival ends on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday.

Most commonly the season begins on Septuagesima, the third Sunday before Ash Wednesday, but in some places it starts as early as Twelfth Night or even in November. The most important celebrations are generally concentrated during the last days of the season.

The following holidays, which are all part of the seven days before Ash Wednesday, often have special customs:

[edit] History

The inspiration for the carnival lies in the fact that during Lent, traditionally no parties may be held and many foods, such as meat, are forbidden; the forty days of Lent serve to commemorate the Passion of Jesus. It is natural for people to have the desire to hold a large celebration at the last possible opportunity before fasting.

Parts of the carnival traditions, however, likely reach back to pre-Christian times. The ancient Roman festival of the Saturnalia is a probable origin of 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 a representation of medieval folk culture. Many local carnival customs are also based on local pre-Christian rituals, for example the elaborate rites involving masked figures in the Swabian-Alemannic carnival.

In Christianity, the most famous traditions, including parades and masquerading, are first attested from medieval Italy. The carnival of Venice was for a long time the most famous carnival. From Italy, carnival traditions spread to Spain, Portugal, and France. From France, they spread to the Rhineland of Germany, and to New Orleans. From Spain and Portugal, they spread to Latin America. Many other areas have developed their own traditions.

[edit] Name

The origin of the name "carnival" is disputed. According to one theory, it comes from the Latin carrus navalis ("ship cart"),[1] referring to a cart in a religious parade, such as a cart in a religious procession at the annual festivities in honor of the god Apollo. Other sources, however, suggest that the name comes from the Italian carne levare or similar, meaning "to remove meat", since meat is prohibited during Lent.[2] Another theory states 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.

[edit] Special celebrations around the world

Cities noted for elaborate Carnival celebrations:

[edit] Europe

[edit] German speaking areas

The Council of Eleven is a German Karneval tradition.
The Council of Eleven is a German Karneval tradition.

Germany, especially the western part (North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate) is famous for Karneval celebrations such as parades and costume balls. Whilst these events are widespread in places such as Krefeld, Aachen, Mönchengladbach, Duisburg, Bonn, Eschweiler, Odenheim and Cleves, only Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz are called carnival "strongholds" in the public media. In the South of Germany and Austria carnival is called Fasching and especially Munich developed a special kind of celebration. In Franconia and some other parts of Germany a carnival is called Fastnacht.

Although the festival and party season in Germany starts as early as the beginning of January, the actual carnival week starts on the Thursday ("Altweiberfastnacht") before Ash Wednesday. German Carnival parades are held on the weekend before and especially on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), the day before Shrove Tuesday, and sometimes also on Shrove Tuesday ("Faschingsdienstag") in the suburbs of larger carnival cities. The carnival session begins each year on 11 November at 11:11 a.m. and finishes on Ash Wednesday. Most festivities happen around Rosenmontag; this time is also called the Fifth Season.

[edit] Rhineland

In the Rhineland festivities developed especially strongly, since it was a way to express subversive anti-Prussian and anti-French thoughts in times of occupation, through parody and mockery. Modern carnival there began in 1823 with the founding of a Carnival Club in Cologne. Today all Carnival Clubs are assembled in the German Carnival Association. Most cities and villages of the Rhineland have their own individual Carnival traditions. Nationally famous is the Carnival in Cologne (Köln), Duesseldorf and Mainz.

In the Rhineland, the Carnival season is considered to be the "fifth season of the year", starting at November 11th at exactly 11.11 a.m. Carnival clubs organize "sessions" which are show events called Prunksitzung with club members or invited guests performing dance, comedy and songs in fancy dresses.

The main event is the street carnival that takes place in the period between the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and Ash Wednesday. Carnival Thursday is called "Altweiber" (old women) or "Wieverfastelovend" (The women's day). On the following days, there are parades in the street organized by the local carnival clubs. The highlight of the carnival period however is Rose Monday. Rose Monday is not a national bank holiday in the Rhineland but it is in reality because most of public life comes to a rest and almost all firms are closed and shops are only open in the morning or not at all. The biggest parades are on Rose Monday, the famous "Rosenmontagszug" (Rose Monday Parade), eg. in Cologne, Dusseldorf and many other cities. During these events, hundreds of thousands of people celebrate in the streets at low temperatures, most of them dressed up in fancy clothes.

[edit] Alemannic Fastnacht
Main article: Fastnacht

The "Swabian-Alemannic" carnival begins on January 6 (Epiphany/Three Kings Day). This celebration is known as Fastnacht. Variants are Fasnet, Fasnacht or Fasent. Fastnacht is held in Baden-Württemberg, parts of Bavaria, and Alsace. Switzerland and Vorarlberg, in Austria, also hold this celebration. The festival starts on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, known in these regions as Schmutziger Donnerstag or Fettdonnerstag. In standard German, schmutzig means "dirty", but actually the name is from the local dialect where schmutzig means "fat"; "Greasy Thursday". Elsewhere the day is called "Women's Carnival" (Weiberfastnacht), being the day when tradition says that women take control. In particular regions of Tyrol, Salzburg and Bavaria traditional processions of the Perchten welcome the springtime. The Schönperchten ("beautiful Perchts") represent the birth of new life in the awakening nature, the Schiachperchten ("ugly Perchts") represent the dark spirits of wintertime. Farmers yearn for warmer weather and the Perchtenlauf (Run of Perchts; typical scenery) is a magical expression of that desire. The nights between winter and spring, when evil ghosts are supposed to go around, are also called Rauhnächte ("rough nights"). Mask of an "ugly Percht"

[edit] England

Main article: Shrove Tuesday

In England Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as Pancake Day, but apart from the serving of pancakes and occasional pancake races and football matches (see Royal Shrovetide Football), little else of Carnival survived the Reformation. Caribbean influence has led to the establishment of several "West Indian" carnivals, but these are not held in Carnival season. The leading festivities are Notting Hill Carnival in August (reputedly the world's largest), and Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival in November.

Many London boroughs hold carnivals in the summer, usually involving a street parade of floats consisting of low sided open lorries or other smaller vehicles covered in decorations, with the participants dressed in costume. This procession often features a carnival queen or princess, usually the winner of a local beauty contest for young ladies. Although this cannot be said for all local carnivals. Some contests are based upon fundraising skills and the ability to talk to an audience. Over 100 smaller rural village and town carnivals still survive across the UK, sometimes taking note of Caribbean and European styles but striving to maintain their individuality and local community spirit. These smaller Carnivals are usually self funding and use the money they raise on their own carnival day to visit other carnivals. So all the Carnival Queens you see at a Carnival will be visited in return by the Town's Court. Devizes in Wiltshire, for example, has a week of carnival festivities which includes a street festival and a traditional confetti battle, concluding with a carnival parade with bands on the last day. Several have performance and holiday parade charters (now historical documents) going back many hundreds of years.

In Somerset, the West Country Carnivals are held between August and late November each year. They are a parade of illuminated floats or carts, with marching bands, groups of cheerleaders, and individuals walking in costume. These parades are also a competition for best float and best walking entrant categories. The float with the most points at the end of the carnival season picking up the County Cup. Carnivals are arranged into circuits, and so the same floats can be seen in different towns over the carnival period. Circuits and Carnival Clubs societies, who build and run floats, fund for the carnivals as well as for charity. To this end there are collectors with buckets walking in the procession, and in most places one or two floats used specially for collecting money, usually allowing the spectators to throw their contribution onto the float. Bigger carnivals will sometimes also include a funfair, fireworks display or food stalls such as a beer tent. The Bridgwater carnival is believed to be the largest illuminated carnival in Europe, if not the world.

See also:

[edit] Netherlands

In the Netherlands where it is called 'Karnaval', 'Carnaval', 'Vastenavond' or 'Vastelaovend' the last day of Carnival, the day before Ash Wednesday, is held exactly 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter. Dutch Carnival is most celebrated in Catholic regions, mostly the southern provinces Noord Brabant and Limburg, where it is also known as Vastenavond or Vastelaovend (literally "Fasting evening", although that strictly refers only to the last day, whereas Carnaval in the Netherlands usually begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday). The most popular places where Carnival is held (although every city, town or village celebrates it) are Maastricht, Roermond, Venlo, 's-Hertogenbosch, Bergen op Zoom and Breda. Carnival here has been celebrated ever since mediaeval times and was modernised after WW II, when Bergen op Zoom even continued to celebrate it indoors. However, it is the most southern province of The Netherlands, Limburg, where many Dutch go to celebrate it. During the event, every town is one big party.

During Dutch Carnival, many traditions are kept alive. First of all is the parade with dressed-up groups, musicians and elaborately built show-vehicles. Also traditions include a fake prince plus cortège ('Council of 11'), the boerenbruiloft (farmer's wedding) and the haring happen (eating herring) on Ash Wednesday. However, the traditions vary from town to town.

There are three types of Carnival celebrated in The Netherlands. The best known variant is known as the Rijnlandsche Carnival and it shares many folklore traditions with its German and Belgian counterparts. Maastricht is famous not so much for its parades but for its street carnival, with elaborate costumes that people work on all year, a bit like the South American style, but with a strong accent on humour, and not unlike Italian, mostly Venician, traditions, culture and costumes. The third variant can be found in 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda, Steenbergen and Bergen op Zoom. The Carnival in Den Bosch is known as the oldest in the Netherlands. Several paintings of the world famous Jheronimus Bosch, who lived in the city in the 15th century, are based on the carnival festivities in the city during the Middle Ages. The oldest known Carnival festivities in 's-Hertogenbosch date from 1385. In 1882 De Oeteldonksche Club was founded to secure the future of Carnival in 's-Hertogenbosch. The Carnival of Bergen op Zoom shares most traditions with 's Hertogenbosch and very few traditions and folklore with the rest of the Netherlands and they have celebrated it in their specific way ever since 1839.

[edit] Greece

Main article: Patras Carnival
Patras Carnival the float of the king of Carnival
Patras Carnival the float of the king of Carnival

Patras in the Peloponnese, holds the largest annual carnival in Greece, the famous Patras Carnival, with celebrations starting on the week before the beginning of Greek Orthodox Lent, which falls between February to March. It is a ‘gran spettacolo’ that lasts three days and finishes on Clean Monday. Also in many other regions festivities of smaller extent are organized, focused on the reenactment of traditional customs. Other important carnivals in Greece are these in Kozani (West Macedonia), Rethymno (Crete) and in Xanthi (East Macedonia and Thrace).

[edit] Cyprus

Limassol Carnival Parade
Limassol Carnival Parade

Limassol holds the largest annual carnival in the island of Cyprus. The Lemesos (Limassol) Carnival is an important institution; a tradition for the Limassolians, which remains alive and will survive throughout times. It is a festivity so much expected desperately by everybody, thousands of children, younger and adults from all the free parts of Cyprus. Even the foreigners, who happen to be here during this period of the year or live permanently on the island, are passionate to expect it. When the word Carnival is pronounced, it reminds us Limassol, as simple as that, which is quite justified, because this is where the Carnival King appeared for the very first time and made its first move; the roots of this festivity are deep here. Lemesos (Limassol) Municipality has realized how needful is to organize regularly and properly the Carnival festivities considering them amongst its yearly events. It has therefore become the pioneer in organizing these festivities and today we have reached an era where the Carnival fiesta is organized in the best way compared to the previous years.

The Municipality is the official vehicle and organizer of a series of festive Carnival events. These events start on the Shrove Thursday with the Carnival King entering the town in a festive atmosphere, then the children’s parade, the various Serenaders’ shows and finally the Grand Carnival Parade which takes place on the last Sunday of the Carnival festivities. The Municipality in its capacity of the administration authority of the town plays for years a pioneer role in organizing and coordinating the Carnival festivities, relying upon the Limassolians’ interest and why not all those people’s who wish to participate in the Lemesos (Limassol) Carnival. Over the last couple of years, the main aim is the biggest possible participation of the Limassolians in these festivities. A second objective is to bring back elements, which are related to the identity of the traditional Carnival as the Limassolians remember it and have experienced it in the past.

Considering all the above-mentioned, Lemesos (Limassol) Municipality tries to introduce essential changes in the structure of the Carnival festivities which have then proved quite successful, especially with the massive participation of the inhabitants indeed. In a few words, the Serenaders’ shows take place at the central key points of the town like the Heroon Square, the Medieval Castle Square, the Market Square, the Irenes Street Park etc. The children’s parade takes place at the city centre, along the coastal street in front of the knoll, so that the public may participate directly as easy as possible. The traditional Tuesday dance is organized on the Medieval Castle Square and many people in fancy dresses participate to enjoy a special razzle-dazzle.

The participation of a remarkable number of groups of people walking and dancing along the streets has been achieved beyond the satiric and artistic floats, which proceed within the framework of the Grand Carnival parade. It has been an element that was totally absent over the last years. At the same time, it has been managed that many groups of Serenaders lead successfully up to the Grand Carnival Parade and then come all the floats and the groups of people walking and dancing in the streets in the sounds of a unique music. Finally, special consideration has been given to the decoration of the town. All the places where festivities are planned as well as the central key points of the town are decorated in an as ingenious way as possible.

[edit] Italy

Main article: Carnival of Venice

The carnival in Venice was first recorded in 1268. The subversive nature of the festival is reflected in the many laws created over the centuries in Italy attempting to restrict celebrations and often banning the wearing of masks.

Masks have always been a central feature of the Venetian carnival; traditionally people were allowed to wear them between the festival of Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day, December 26) at the start of the carnival season and midnight of Shrove Tuesday. As masks were also allowed during Ascension and from October 5 to Christmas, people could spend a large proportion of the year in disguise [1]. Mask makers (mascareri) enjoyed a special position in society, with their own laws and their own guild.

In 1797 Venice became part of the Austrian-held Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio. The Austrians took control of the city on January 18, 1798 and it fell into a decline which brought carnival celebrations to a halt for many years. It was not until a modern mask shop was founded in the 1970s that a revival of old traditions began.

In Milan the Carnival lasts four more days, ending on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday, because of the Ambrosian rite.

Others very important Carnivals of Italy are Acireale, Foiano della Chiana, Ivrea, Putignano, Sciacca, Viareggio, San Matteo della Decima, Cento.

[edit] Malta

Main Article: Maltese Carnival

Carnival in Malta (known as Karnival) was first was introduced in 1535 by Grand Master Piero de Ponte, five years after the Knights took over the islands. The main celebration takes place in the capital, Valletta, but in every town and village many people, mostly children, dress up in colourful clothes to camouflage their identity. The Valletta parade includes the King Carnival float followed by about a dozen others. Until some years ago, Carnival was also the event of the year for dances and masked balls. Under the rule of the Knights, the Auberges were left open and were delightfully decorated.

[edit] Portugal

Loulé Carnival, Portugal
Loulé Carnival, Portugal

Carnival in Portugal is celebrated throughout the country, the most famous are the ones of Loule, Madeira, Podence, Ovar, and Torres Vedras. The one from Podence has pagan traditions, namely the Careto and Torres Vedras Carnival is seen as the most typical Portuguese carnival.

Paradoxically, Portugal having introduced Christianity and the customs related to Catholic practice to Brazil, has started to adopt some of the aspects of Brazilian-style Carnival celebrations, in particular those of Rio de Janeiro with sumptuous parades, Samba and other Latin musical elements.

[edit] Russia

Main article: Maslenitsa

Maslenitsa (Russian: Масленица, also called Pancake week) is a Russian folk holiday that dates back to the pagan times. It is celebrated during the last week before the Great Lent that is the seventh week before the Easter. Maslenitsa is a direct analog of the Roman Catholic Carnival. Maslenitsa has a dual ancestry: pagan and Christian. The essential element of Maslenitsa celebration are bliny, Russian pancakes, popularly taken to symbolize the sun. Round and golden, they are made from the rich foods still allowed by the Orthodox traditions: butter, eggs, and milk.

Maslenitsa also includes masquerades, snowball fights, sledding, swinging on swings and plenty of 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.

[edit] Spain

Queen from Tenerife carnival (2006)
Queen from Tenerife carnival (2006)

Arguably the most famous locales in Spain are Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Tarragona and specially Cádiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Aguilas, where the celebration normally takes place the week before Lent.

At Santa Cruz de Tenerife the parties of the cities are not only well known in Spain, but also worldwide. It is famous for thematic costumes, and the election of the Carnival Queen. There is also a parade of Drag-Queens, known as reinonas.

Sitges: This Carnival is one of the most important Carnivals in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Folk dances and xatonades (traditional local salad of Sitges, served with assorted omelets) are also characteristic elements of the carnival. The two most important moments in the carnival of Sitges are the Rua de la Disbauxa, or the Debauchery Parade, on Sunday night and the Rua de l‘Extermini, or Extermination Parade, on Tuesday night. Some forty-odd floats with more than 2,500 participants parade in Sitges. The carnival of Vilanova i la Geltrù is very important because of Les Comparses (on Sunday), in which good-humoured rival groups throw boiled sweets (candies) at each other.

In Tarragona is found 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 traditional groups with fireworks (the devils, the dragon, the ox, the female dragon). Carnival groups stand out for their splendid clothes full of elegance and of brilliant examples of fabric crafts at the Saturday and Sunday parades. [2]

[edit] Carnival of Cádiz
Main article: Carnival of Cádiz

In Cádiz everyone wears a costume, which is 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 glamourous dressings. It is traditional to paint the face with lipstick as a humble substitute of a mask.

A choir singing in the Carnival of Cádiz
A choir singing in the Carnival of Cádiz

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. There is an official competition in Teatro Falla, where they comepte for the award to the group. The music of the songs is written by each group. Each chirigota has a wide repertoire of satirical lyrics.

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 Cádiz, 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.

[edit] Poland

In Poland the traditional way of celebrating the Carnival is kulig, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered countryside. The Polish Carnival Season includes Fat Thursday (Polish: Tłusty Czwartek) - a day for eating pączki - and Śledziówka (Shrove Tuesday), or Herring Day. The Tuesday before Lent begins is also a holiday called Ostatki, which is translated as the "lasts," meaning the last day to party before the Lenten season.

[edit] Hungary

In Mohács in Hungary, the Busójárás 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.

[edit] Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the Masopust festival takes place from Epiphany (Den tří králů) until Ash Wednesday (Popeleční středa). The word masopust translates literally from old Czech to mean "goodbye to meat" and the festival often includes a pork feasts in preparation for Lent. The tradition is most common in Moravia but does occur in Bohemia in communities like Žižkov in Prague. While tradition varies from region to region, masks and costumes are present everywhere.

[edit] Slovakia

In Slovakia, the Fašiangy (fašiang, fašangy) takes place from Three Kings' Day (Traja králi) until the midnight before the 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 has to cease for the Lent.

[edit] Slovenia

The festive year of the Slovenes is extraordinarily rich and diverse. A great deal of national legacy has been preserved within 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, yet fluffy mask. The most significant ethonological Carnival festival is traditionally held in annually in the city of Ptuj (see: Kurentovanje). The special feature of the event of Ptuj itself and its surrounding area are the very Kurenti, magical creatures from the other world, who visit all major events throughout the country, the members of the parliament, the president and the 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, not much is known of times and beliefs nor the purposes of its first appearance. The origin of the name itself is obscure.

Another city, equal in importance to Ptuj, where the carnival tradition is evolving in all its might, is Cerknica. Carnival is heralded by, with a whip, a traditional mask called “Poganjič”. In the carnival procession, organised by the “Pust society”, a monstrous witch Uršula is driven from Mt. Slivnica, to be burnt on the stake on Ash Wednesday. Unique to this region is a group of dormice, driven by the Devil and a huge cave dragon spitting fire. Cerknica and its surrounding area is known for the "Laufarji" (the chasing men), Carnival figures with artistic masks.

Mačkare from Dobrepolje used to represent triple character: the beautiful and the ugly (among which the most important represented by an old man, an old woman, a humpback and a Corant) and the noble (imitating the urban elite).

The major part of the population, especially the young and children, enjoy dressing up as ordinary non-ethnical masks, going to school, faculties, work and organized events, where the best and most original masks are awarded. Dressed up children go from house to house asking for a treat.

[edit] Croatia

The Croatian city of Rijeka has a long and rich tradition of celebrating the time of the Carnival (Croatian: "karneval", but the period is also often called "maškare"). During the Carnival the mayor of Rijeka hands over the keys of the city to the master of the Carnival ("meštar od karnevala") and the spirit of the Carnival takes over completely. There are many festive events during the Carnival, and the culmination of them all is the famous masked procession held on the last Sunday of the Carnival. The procession is international, and there are participants from many different countries. There are many viewers and there are big tents put up in the city with food, drinks and music. There is also a masked procession for children, held on the Saturday of the week before the main procession.

Although the Carnival of Rijeka (Riječki karneval) is the most famous of all such manifestations in Croatia, most towns and villages of the Croatian Primorje region (the northern seaside region, also called Kvarner) observe the Carnival period in some way, and many areas of Primorje have their own special traditions (eg. "maškaroni" in the Novi Vinodolski area). The Carnival is a time filled with local traditions so the entire region enjoys a much higher than usual amount of exposure to local food, local music and the local non-standard variety of the Croatian language: "čakavština"(just about everything about "karneval" is handled speaking in "čakavština").

Just before the end of the Carnival and the beginning of Lent, every town in the region of Kvarner burns its own man-like doll, called "mesopust" or shorter "pust", which is "blamed" for all the bad events of the previous year and given an ironic name, usually alluding to politics.

One of the most famous traditions of "karneval" are "zvončari" (bell-ringers). Some of them are also called "dondolaši". They take part in many of the period's festivities and "zvončari of Halubje" are the last group of the main procession of the Carnival of Rijeka. They are men with loud bells attached to them, thick pieces of wood in their hands, sailor T-shirts and some kind of head regalia. The kind of head regalia they wear depends on where they are from - those from Halubje, who are the most renowned, wear large heads, reminiscent of animal heads, and those from Zamet, for example wear large cone-shaped regalia covered with floral decorations. The tradition of "zvončari" is a long-standing one and started many centuries ago when men ritually tried to scare winter away with animal-like "heads" and ringing bells loudly in a manner which was meant to induce fear.

The population enjoys the many concerts and parties of the period, sporting many various non-traditional masks. Most schools allow students and faculty to be masked for a day, and elementary schools organize dances. Masked children go trick-or-treating. The traditional Carnival food, such as "fritule", is eaten.

Although the Carnival traditions of Kvarner are the most renowned ones, there are other Carnival traditions and manifestations in Croatia, most notably those of "poklade" and "fašnik", pertaining to regions in inner Croatia. The most notable are the festivities of the area of the town Samobor.

[edit] Latin America

[edit] Bolivia

Main article: Carnaval de Oruro

One of the most vibrant carnivals in South America is La Diablada carnival, which takes place in the city of Oruro in central Bolivia. It is celebrated in honor of the patron saint of the miners, Vírgen 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. The parade runs from morning until late at night, 18 hours a day, on the Saturday and Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

[edit] Uruguay

The Carnival in Montevideo is the longest of the world, with more than 40 days of celebration. Murgas, Lubolos, Parodistas and other groups sing and dance, as a popular opera, in February thorugh mid March

[edit] Brazil

Main article: Brazilian Carnival

An important part of the Brazilian Carnival takes place in Rio de Janeiro, with samba schools. These are large, social entities with thousands of members and a theme each year. Some of the most important "samba schools" are Portela, Mangueira, Beija-Flor and Mocidade Independente. Blocos are small informal groups also with a definite theme, usually satirical of the current political situation. There are more than 30 blocos in Rio de Janeiro. Bandas are samba musical bands, usually formed by enthusiasts in the same neighborhood.

In 1982, the former governor of Rio de Janeiro, Leonel Brizola, created the Sambódromo, a purpose-built parade route complete with bleachers on either side, where the parades happened since then.

From Salvador, Bahia another form of the Brazilian Carnival, the Trio Elétrico, has spread throughout the country. A trio elétrico is an adapted truck, with giant speakers and a platform where musicians play songs of local genres such as Axé music, Samba-reggae , Pagodão and Arrocha. The truck is driven around the city with the crowd following dancing and singing. It was originally staged by three Salvador musicians, Armandinho, Dodo & Osmar, in the decade of 1950.

Pernambuco has large Carnival celebrations, including the frevo, typical Pernambuco music.

[edit] Mexico

In Mexico, specifically in the state of Veracruz, Carnival is celebrated with traditional music and dances. People dress in bright, feathered costumes and do their performances on the streets. It is sometimes compared to the carnaval of Rio de Janeiro or New Orleans.

[edit] Caribbean Carnival

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. Haiti, Antigua, Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, Saint Thomas, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are also known for lengthy carnival seasons and large celebrations.

[edit] Trinidad & Tobago

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, and steel pan.

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 "goodbye to the flesh" or "welcome to daybreak" (depending on the interpretation). 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.

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.

[edit] Colombia

Carnival float in the Blacks and Whites Carnival in Pasto, 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, Bogotá and Popayán.

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 Carnival), in other villages along the lower Magdalena River in northern Colombia, and in Pasto, Nariño (see Blacks and Whites Carnival) in the south of the country. In modern times, there have been attempts to introduce Carnival in the capital, Bogotá, in the early 20th century, but it has always failed to gain the approval of authorities. The Bogotá Carnival has had to wait until the 21st century to be resurrected, this time by the authorities of the city.

[edit] Honduras

In La Ceiba in Honduras, Carnival is held on the third Saturday of every May to commemorate San Isidro. It is the largest Carnival celebration in Central America.

[edit] Nicaragua

In the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, in the city of Bluefields, the carnival, better known as Palo de Mayo, is celebrated every day of May.

In the Nicaraguas capital city of Managua it is only celebrated for 2 days.

[edit] North America

[edit] Canada

The Quebec City Winter Carnival is the biggest winter-themed carnival in the world. 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 observe the lunar based Easter celebration but is fixed instead to the last days of January and first days of February of the solar calendar. It has lots of amusing winter games.

[edit] United States

Main article: Mardi Gras
Main article: New Orleans Mardi Gras

Carnival celebrations, usually referred to as Mardi Gras, are common in the Gulf Coast area of the Southern United States. They originated in the onetime French Colonial capitals of Mobile, Alabama; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Biloxi, Mississippi, all of which have celebrated for many years with street parades and masked balls. The best-known, most elaborate, and most popular events are in New Orleans, while other South Louisiana cities such as Lafayette, Mamou, and Houma are the site of famous Carnival celebrations of their own. Major Mardi Gras celebrations are spreading to other parts of the Southern United States, such as the Mississippi Valley region of Saint Louis Missouri.

The West Indian American Day Carnival held each Labor Day in New York City is known as the largest street festival in America.

[edit] Mexico

Main article: Mardi Gras

Carnival is celebrated in some Mexican cities, notably Merida in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mazatlan and Veracruz.

[edit] Australia

In Australia exist sports carnivals which combine an introducing clubs parade with the competitions.

[edit] Funfairs

Swingboats at a funfair in Yate, Bristol, England
Swingboats at a funfair in Yate, Bristol, England

Many carnivals also have an associated funfair (or fun fair) with a number of amusement rides and side stalls. In America a smaller or non-permanent funfair is called a carnival in contrast to the permanent amusement park. See also Circus (performing art).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Reichman, Ruth. Karnival, Fastnacht, Fasching
  2. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary

[edit] External links

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