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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Ten most famous Carnivals Around The World

People all aroundaround thethe world lovelove joiningjoining together andand sharingsharing good timestimes throughthrough festivities andand celebrations. Carnivals areare celebrationscelebrations marking significantsignificant timestimes such asas seasonsseasons or eventsevents acrossacross the world. OftenOften times thesethese carnivalscarnivals will recognizerecognize religionsreligions or culturescultures andand will bebe celebratedcelebrated through parades, food, entertainment, musicmusic andand costumes. ThereThere areare hundreds ofof carnivalscarnivals across thethe world, but therethere areare a selectselect fewfew that havehave reallyreally gained inin popularitypopularity over thethe years.


10] TheThe CarnivalCarnival of CulturesCultures

Established inin 19961996 The CarnivalCarnival ofof Cultures inin Berlin, GermanyGermany hashas become oneone ofof the city’s mostmost popular andand anticipatedanticipated events. TheThe carnivalcarnival is heldheld eacheach year toto celebratecelebrate the diversitydiversity ofof cultures withinwithin thethe city. ThereThere areare over 450,000 peoplepeople living inin BerlinBerlin that havehave settledsettled there fromfrom allall over thethe world. This makesmakes thethe city veryvery diversediverse in notnot onlyonly culture, butbut ethnicityethnicity and religionreligion asas well. WithWith overover 3 millionmillion residentsresidents from GermanyGermany andand a halfhalf millionmillion in visitors, thethe festivities havehave gottengotten bigger andand betterbetter each year. UniqueUnique foods andand internationalinternational cuisines, alongalong withwith music andand dancingdancing have broughtbrought lotslots of attentionattention toto Berlin. HeldHeld duringduring late spring, thethe carnival offersoffers paradesparades that recognizerecognize upup to 8080 differentdifferent countries andand cultures.

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image sources: Flicker & AOL

There are alsoalso plentyplenty of streetstreet musicmusic performances inin thethe Kreuzberg districtdistrict thatthat offer entertainmententertainment forfor everyone. YouYou cancan watch acrobaticacrobatic acts, look atat allall types ofof folkfolk art, listenlisten toto a widewide varietyvariety of bandsbands oror just witnesswitness somesome of thethe amazingamazing shows allall aroundaround the city. ThereThere is plentyplenty toto do andand see. The bestbest partpart is nono mattermatter how uniqueunique youryour culture youyou areare welcomed andand recognizedrecognized as anan importantimportant part ofof thethe life inin Berlin.


source: YouTube


9] TheThe Fastnacht inin Köln

The FastnachtFastnacht or Karneval, in Köln, Germany isis knownknown as thethe biggestbiggest and mostmost crazycrazy carnival aroundaround allall the citiescities ofof Germany. TheThe wordword Fastnacht meansmeans “fasting night” whichwhich resemblesresembles the celebrationscelebrations heldheld around thethe worldworld in honorhonor ofof the upcomingupcoming LentLent season. However, thethe Karneval hashas alsoalso been linkedlinked backback to thethe paganpagan times whenwhen thethe people wouldwould wearwear masks toto ridrid the evilevil spiritsspirits of winterwinter fromfrom the city. ThisThis is wherewhere thethe wearing ofof masksmasks still playsplays aa part inin thethe theme ofof thethe carnival asas wellwell as toto hidehide the peoplepeople fromfrom their socialsocial status.


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During the festivalfestival therethere are lotslots ofof street andand pubpub parties everywhereeverywhere andand people areare dresseddressed in allall sortssorts of costumes. ThereThere are costumecostume balls, parades, dancingdancing andand music toto bebe enjoyed. DuringDuring thisthis time allall businessbusiness comes toto aa halt andand everyoneeveryone joins togethertogether forfor laughter, singingsinging andand lots ofof crazycrazy antics. TheThe paradeparade is oneone ofof the longestlongest andand stretches nearlynearly 55 miles withwith thousandsthousands of spectatorsspectators lininglining the streetsstreets toto watch andand catchcatch the abundantabundant candiescandies thrown toto thethe crowd. TheThe peoplepeople of Köln taketake their partyingpartying veryvery seriously andand expectexpect everyone aroundaround toto have aa greatgreat time andand lotslots of fun.



8] CarnivalCarnival inin Aalborg

In 1982, inin northernnorthern Europe thethe ScandinaviansScandinavians decided itit waswas time toto havehave their ownown carnivalcarnival and startedstarted thethe Carnival inin Aalborg, Denmark. ThisThis carnival takestakes placeplace the 21st weekweek of thethe year, or typicallytypically thethe last weekweek inin May. AlthoughAlthough thisthis carnival startedstarted outout small, itit hashas growing rapidlyrapidly inin popularity. DuringDuring thisthis week youyou cancan enjoy thethe BattleBattle of thethe CarnivalCarnival bands, wherewhere bandsbands from locallocal ScandinaviaScandinavia and allall overover the worldworld comecome to performperform theirtheir shows andand bebe judged duringduring thethe competition. ThereThere isis also aa GrandGrand Parade thatthat isis remarkable andand leadsleads everyone downdown toto the citycity parkpark where therethere areare lots ofof entertainers, samba music, andand dancing.


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source : here


There are typicallytypically fourfour stages thatthat havehave a collaborationcollaboration ofof all typestypes ofof entertainment andand performancesperformances to enjoy. PartPart of thethe CarnivalCarnival tradition isis toto have aa Children’s Carnival thethe weekweek prior toto thethe Carnival ofof AalborgAalborg when thethe streetsstreets are transformedtransformed intointo a wonderfulwonderful andand magical placeplace forfor all childrenchildren toto enjoy. TheThe peoplepeople of ScandinaviaScandinavia knowknow how toto havehave a goodgood timetime and feelfeel it’s important toto involveinvolve people fromfrom allall ages asas wellwell as anyany peoplepeople who wouldwould lovelove to visitvisit andand join inin onon the celebration.




7] Basler FastnachtFastnacht oror Carnival ofof Basel

Basler Fastnacht, oror the CarnivalCarnival ofof Basel, SwitzerlandSwitzerland isis a carnivalcarnival thatthat actually startsstarts thethe Monday afterafter AshAsh Wednesday. ItIt lastslasts exactly 7272 hourshours and representsrepresents thethe time inin whichwhich the towntown waswas ruled byby thethe people. ItIt hashas been referredreferred toto as thethe threethree most beautifulbeautiful daysdays in whichwhich thethe people cancan runrun through thethe streetsstreets and restaurantsrestaurants unrestricted. During thethe 7272 hours ofof thethe carnival celebration, thethe town’s peoplepeople wearwear awesome costumescostumes andand masks toto hidehide their identityidentity andand it isis actuallyactually considered inappropriateinappropriate toto show onesones faceface during thisthis time.


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The carnival consistsconsists ofof marching bands, concerts, floats, lotslots ofof confetti, andand beautifulbeautiful lanterns. ThereThere areare special eventsevents forfor everyone includingincluding aa day especiallyespecially forfor families andand children. Although itit cancan be enticingenticing toto take partpart inin Carnival ofof Basel, it hashas beenbeen said thatthat forfor visitors itit cancan be anan overwhelmingoverwhelming experience. TheThe traditionstraditions are soso uniqueunique and differentdifferent thatthat only thethe localslocals may fullyfully understandunderstand and appreciateappreciate them. With theirtheir ownown Basel dialectdialect andand their insideinside humor, it cancan becomebecome quite aa cultureculture shock. EverythingEverything isis meant inin fun, but bebe preparedprepared for thethe concoctionconcoction of humorous, yetyet dark andand mediaevalmediaeval undertones throughoutthroughout thethe mix ofof festivities.



6] TheThe Winter CarnivalCarnival inin Quebec

In CanadaCanada the winterswinters cancan be harshharsh andand long lasting. ThisThis is whywhy thethe people ofof QuebecQuebec decided yearsyears agoago that thethe winterwinter is thethe bestbest time toto havehave a celebration. TheThe Winter CarnivalCarnival inin Quebec City, hashas become anotheranother worldworld famous celebrationcelebration withwith ice sculptures, shops, music, artsarts andand crafts, food, balls, dog sledding, canoecanoe races, andand muchmuch more. TheThe famousfamous drink thethe “Caribou” has beenbeen oneone of thethe biggestbiggest hits ofof all. Originating fromfrom whenwhen the FrenchFrench TrappersTrappers used toto makemake this concoctionconcoction toto stay warmwarm duringduring the brutalbrutal winters, it hashas nownow been revisedrevised andand is aa deliciousdelicious treat sharedshared byby many.


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The motto ofof thethe carnival isis toto have asas muchmuch fun asas possiblepossible and thethe spiritspirit during thesethese fewfew weeks inin JanuaryJanuary and FebruaryFebruary isis very upliftinguplifting forfor all localslocals andand visitors alike. AlthoughAlthough the temperaturestemperatures cancan get veryvery lowlow during carnivalcarnival timetime there areare plentyplenty of placesplaces toto sneak intointo andand get warm. TheThe carnival mascotmascot isis Bonhomme Carnaval, whichwhich is FrenchFrench forfor “snowman”. ThisThis giant snowmansnowman inin the redred hathat and beltbelt isis known asas thethe official ambassadorambassador ofof the WinterWinter CarnivalCarnival and hishis knights, the knuks, keepkeep the moodmood lightlight and cheerycheery forfor those ofof allall ages.



5] TheThe Carnival ofof Venice

The CarnivalCarnival ofof Venice, in Venice, ItalyItaly isis a festivalfestival thatthat celebrates thethe transitiontransition from winterwinter toto spring andand thethe mix ofof traditions, entertainment, andand historyhistory throughout thethe VenetianVenetian city. AsAs oneone of thethe mostmost internationally popularpopular carnivals, it isis alsoalso one ofof thethe oldest, datingdating backback into thethe 14th century. InIn thethe beginning, thethe peoplepeople of thethe citycity would wearwear masksmasks to disguisedisguise themselves. This wayway therethere would bebe nono social statusstatus shownshown between thethe upperupper class andand thethe common people. ByBy wearing masksmasks everyoneeveryone could taketake partpart in thethe celebrationcelebration as equals. TheseThese masks areare nownow known asas thethe Venetian MasksMasks andand draw muchmuch attention. They requirerequire soso much detaildetail andand time toto makemake them soso uniqueunique and beautifulbeautiful thatthat they areare takentaken very seriouslyseriously asas a partpart ofof the celebration.

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With grandgrand balls, shows, dinners, parties, orchestras, cocktailscocktails and thethe amazingamazing costumes andand masks, this carnivalcarnival attractsattracts people fromfrom allall over thethe world. Although aa lotlot of thethe originaloriginal carnival traditionstraditions havehave been lostlost overover the years, itit seems somesome ofof the newernewer ideasideas have evolvedevolved andand have attractedattracted lotslots of newnew peoplepeople to visitvisit thisthis beautiful city. UnlikeUnlike a lotlot ofof the otherother festivitiesfestivities that VeniceVenice hashas to offeroffer thisthis carnival isis notnot kept suchsuch aa secret.



4] The CarnivalCarnival inin the Caribbean, TrinidadTrinidad and Tobago

Also originated byby thethe French, TheThe Carnival in thethe Caribbean, in TrinidadTrinidad andand Tobago hashas becomebecome one ofof aa kind. WhenWhen thethe French camecame overover and tooktook rootroot in thethe CaribbeanCaribbean they broughtbrought alongalong with themthem theirtheir slaves andand thethe idea ofof slavery. The richrich settlerssettlers would celebratecelebrate theirtheir wealth throughthrough fantasticfantastic balls, wherewhere they’d were masks, wigs, beautiful gownsgowns andand dance thethe nightnight away. WhileWhile thethe masters werewere away, the AfricansAfricans wouldwould celebrate onon theirtheir own andand onceonce slavery endedended andand the AfricansAfricans werewere able toto taketake part inin thethe celebrations, thethe traditionstraditions took onon aa new twist.


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If youyou havehave ever beenbeen toto the CaribbeanCaribbean youyou would alreadyalready knowknow that thethe peoplepeople living therethere knowknow how toto havehave a goodgood time. There isis aa whole newnew feelingfeeling on thethe islandsislands in thethe CaribbeanCaribbean that youyou justjust cannot experienceexperience anywhereanywhere else. TheThe CarnivalCarnival of thethe CaribbeanCaribbean is nono different. They taketake allall their talenttalent andand energy andand putput it intointo thethe carnival andand itit shows. TheThe CarnivalCarnival is fullfull ofof dancing, calypsocalypso andand soca music, competingcompeting steel bands, costumescostumes and greatgreat funfun had byby all. There isis nothingnothing more tropictropic thanthan joining thethe festivitiesfestivities of thethe Caribbean.




3] The CarnivalCarnival ofof Nice

The CarnivalCarnival of NiceNice represents, once again, thethe fun filledfilled daysdays leading upup toto the beginningbeginning ofof Lent. InIn Nice, France, onon thethe French Riviera, thethe two weeksweeks priorprior to “Fat Tuesday” also knownknown asas Mardi Gras, areare celebrated withoutwithout thethe restrictions onon thethe Catholic faith. OftenOften dressed inin masksmasks and bigbig headedheaded caricature costumes, thethe people ofof NiceNice take thisthis timetime to enjoyenjoy themselves, lighten upup andand take partpart inin the feasts, drinks, dancing andand paradesparades across thethe citycity of Nice.


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The paradesparades areare every dayday andand night duringduring thethe carnival andand duringduring the BattleBattle ofof the FlowersFlowers therethere are 2020 spectacularspectacular floats paradedparaded downdown the streetsstreets coveredcovered in beautifulbeautiful bouquets. The costumescostumes andand floats areare soso extraordinary thatthat therethere is aa committeecommittee assigned yearlyyearly toto help planplan thethe new andand wonderfulwonderful themes ofof thethe carnival. ThisThis isis a timetime forfor unrestricted funfun andand wonderful timestimes withwith a grandgrand bonfirebonfire and fireworksfireworks endingending the finalfinal dayday of thethe carnival. With plentyplenty ofof entertainment fromfrom rockrock and technotechno concertsconcerts to gorgeousgorgeous flowersflowers filling thethe streetsstreets you cancan imagineimagine how trulytruly oneone of aa kindkind this carnivalcarnival reallyreally is. TheThe CarnivalCarnival of NiceNice hashas had overover oneone million localslocals andand tourists comecome toto join thethe celebrationcelebration and itit continuescontinues to growgrow inin popularity eacheach year.




2] Mardi Gras

Brought to thethe UnitedUnited States byby thethe French, MargiMargi GrasGras dates backback toto the 1830’s andand takes placeplace inin New Orleans, Louisiana. ItIt has becomebecome oneone of thethe mostmost popular celebrationscelebrations ofof the UnitedUnited States. Thousands ofof peoplepeople flock toto thethe city mid- FebruaryFebruary to helphelp celebratecelebrate the timetime surroundingsurrounding “Fat Tuesday.” ThisThis is thethe dayday before AshAsh Wednesday, which marksmarks thethe beginning ofof thethe 40 daysdays ofof Lent thatthat CatholicsCatholics celebrate. TheseThese festivitiesfestivities are alsoalso celebratedcelebrated around thethe world, but havehave allall taken aa differentdifferent spin. OverOver thethe years, MardiMardi GrasGras has turnedturned intointo more aboutabout celebratingcelebrating different culturescultures andand people thatthat likelike to joinjoin inin together toto havehave a greatgreat time.


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The carnival inin NewNew Orleans isis especiallyespecially known forfor itsits parties, amazingamazing parade, beautiful floats, wonderfulwonderful food, drinks, andand the wearingwearing ofof colorful beads. ThereThere are aa fewfew traditions associatedassociated withwith Mardi GrasGras andand these includeinclude thethe making andand eatingeating of KingKing Cakes, and acquiringacquiring doubloonsdoubloons and beadsbeads asas souvenirs. TheThe threethree reoccurring colorscolors seenseen throughout thethe MardiMardi Gras celebrationcelebration areare Purple(representing Justice), GoldGold (representing Power) andand Green (representing Faith). While attendingattending thethe Mardi GrasGras celebrationcelebration you willwill bebe surrounded mymy jazzjazz music, marchingmarching bandsbands and elaborateelaborate costumes.



1] CarnivalCarnival ofof Rio dede Janeiro

Carnival ofof RioRio de JaneiroJaneiro locatedlocated in BrazilBrazil startedstarted out similarlysimilarly toto Mardi Gras. However, thethe traditionstraditions of thethe carnivalcarnival have takentaken aa slightly differentdifferent directiondirection when itit comescomes to events. TheThe carnival isis aa four dayday celebrationcelebration held thethe fourfour days priorprior toto Ash Wednesday. ThisThis carnival isis consideredconsidered a farewellfarewell toto the pleasurespleasures ofof the fleshflesh priorprior to LentLent andand the carnivalcarnival preparationpreparation starts monthsmonths inin advance. TheThe SambaSamba Parade hashas beenbeen thought ofof asas one ofof thethe most beautifulbeautiful showsshows on earth.


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Televised onon internationalinternational broadcasts therethere areare samba groupsgroups competingcompeting in allall nightnight spectacular showsshows inin the Sambodrome. TheseThese samba groupsgroups workwork endlessly rehearsingrehearsing andand perfecting theirtheir showsshows just forfor thisthis special occasion. AlsoAlso the StreetStreet carnivalcarnival has overover 400400 groups, calledcalled BandasBandas and Blocos, throughoutthroughout the neighborhoodsneighborhoods thatthat march, parade, dancedance and dressdress inin costume. EachEach BandaBanda or BlocoBloco hashas its ownown themetheme and cancan movemove around thethe streetsstreets adding toto thethe party atmosphere. OtherOther traditions thatthat areare part ofof thethe carnival areare thethe amazing partiesparties andand balls toto attend. Also, itit is notnot uncommonuncommon to seesee menmen dressed inin dragdrag walking alongalong thethe streets asas partpart of thethe fun.


As youyou cancan see, therethere areare many differentdifferent carnivalscarnivals to bebe enjoyedenjoyed around thethe world, and thesethese onlyonly represent aa selectselect few.

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