Get to know the different carnivals around the world

The different carnivals The world offers you an inexhaustible succession of costumes, songs, party lights and traditions, each one more hedonistic. Not in vain, according to Christian tradition, they are celebrated before the Lent.

This means that it is the last opportunity for fun before that time of spiritual purification prior to the Easter. But, regardless of their religious connection, the different carnivals celebrated around the world include exuberant celebrations that attract thousands of people. Next, we are going to show you some of the best Shrovetide (as this festival is also called) of the world. But first we want to talk to you, precisely, about the origin of these celebrations.

When and why is carnival celebrated?

As we told you, carnivals are celebrated just before Lent. Therefore, they do not have a fixed date, since the latter depends on Holy Week. The Lent It is the period of forty days prior to that week, which, in turn, changes dates each year. Therefore, carnivals usually take place between February and March.

As a curiosity, we will tell you that this word derives from Latin and means, literally, "tolerated meats", which will give you an idea of ​​the character of the carnival. And this takes us to its origins.

It is also curious that it is not a holiday created by modern religions. The most accepted theory links the carnival with the pagan celebrations of ancient Rome. Above all, its origin has been seen in the Bacchanals, that is, the festivals in honor of the god Worm. However, other scholars relate it to other events of the time such as the Lupercales or the Saturnalia. The latter were carried out in honor of Saturn, while the previous ones commemorated the history of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome and suckled by a wolf.

Whatever the origin of carnivals, they are recognized as a party by the vast majority of the world's Western religions. Christianity, Protestantism, Methodism or the Anglican communion accept it. For this reason, it is celebrated all over the planet. Next, we will introduce you some of the cities that celebrate carnival the most and how they do it.

Carnivals of Spain

Virtually all the towns in our country have events for carnivals. Normally, they start the call lazy thursday and end the following Tuesday. Already on Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the religious celebrations of the ash. But some of the places where it is celebrated most relevantly are the ones we explain below.

Cadiz Carnival

It is mainly characterized by the good humor it exudes. Not in vain, the costumes are accompanied by humorous songs that they perform the comparsas and chirigotas. In fact, one of its most important events is the Official Competition of Carnival Groups, which is held at the city's Gran Teatro Falla.

The aforementioned musical groups perform satirical songs with the present in the form of couplets accompanied by instruments such as the cane whistle or the box. We advise you, if you can, to visit these celebrations in Cádiz. Not in vain, they are declared of International Tourist Interest.

Gran Canaria Carnival

We could talk to you about the carnivals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which are also spectacular. But we have preferred to do it the way Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for being somewhat less known outside the archipelago and equally wonderful.

However, they also hold the distinction of International party of touristic interest. In this carnival there are also comparsas, although that name is given to dance groups. The equivalent of those from Cádiz are the murgas, who also perform satirical songs. Likewise, they celebrate Carnival Queen and Drag Queen election galas.

Badajoz Carnival, another of the carnivals in Spain that is worth knowing

Also declared Festivals of International Tourist Interest, the Badajoz carnivals are also worth your visit for their spectacular nature. Thousands of people walk the streets of the city dressed in the most original costumes.

Among the most notable acts are The Candelas, which are divided into two events: those of the Right Bank and those of Santa María. Both include parades of troupes that are accompanied by percussion. Precisely, from the first of them comes the Tamborada, which is a contest for that type of instruments.

There is no shortage of murgas competitions and costume parades in Badajoz. It is very curious that of Artifacts, with the passage of large vehicles. Finally, everything ends with the popular Burial of the Sardine.

Carnivals of the world

As we told you, carnivals are celebrated all over the planet. There is no country in which its inhabitants stop dressing up. However, just as in our nation, some cities have greatest carnival tradition. So much so that the event they celebrate on these dates is among the biggest shows in the world. Let's see some of them.

Rio de Janeiro's carnival

Perhaps it is the carnival par excellence due to its fame and spectacularity. In fact, an average of two million visitors come to it each year. During its celebration, more than two hundred blocks or artistic groups take to the streets filling them with atmosphere, music and dance.

However, his most important act is parade at the Sambadrome of the Marquis of Sapucai. As its name indicates, it hosts the dance steps of all samba schools and spectacular fantasy groups.

Venice's Carnival

It is the other great classic of this party in the world. Furthermore, it is about senior of those that are celebrated, since it began in the 12th century as a form of rapprochement between the aristocratic and popular classes. It is also probably the most spectacular carnival on the planet because the exuberance of costumes. As for these, their distinctive feature is the elaborate wearing masks, as varied as original. Among them, the most popular are the Bauta, the Golombina and the Plague Doctor.

Likewise, among his actions stands out the Feast of the Marys, which commemorates the recovery of girls kidnapped by pirates in the Middle Ages. And, related to it, the Flight of the Angel, in which one of those young women descends by a cable from the bell tower of the St Mark's Basilica.

Carnival of Barranquilla

This is probably the most important Colombian carnival. Because the one from Barranquilla surpasses the simple act of dressing up to be a authentic exaltation of Caribbean folklore. Of course, there is no shortage of original outfits like those of Marimonda, Monocuco, Garabato or Congo.

But more than five hundred folkloric groups walk the streets of the city that are full of visitors. In fact, it is considered the second largest carnival in the world after Rio. Among his most relevant acts are the Battle of Flowers, with a parade of floats, and the funeral of Joselito Carnival, which closes the festivities.

Nice Carnival

We return to Europe to see the Nice Carnivals, another of the cities that celebrate carnival with more joy. It also has a battle of the flowers, in which these are thrown from beautiful floats accompanied by big heads or big heads.

According to tradition, whoever catches one of the bouquets that are thrown will have a year of fortune. Finally, thousands of dancers and numerous international musicians enliven the streets of the French city during its carnivals.

Oruro's Carnival

Unlike most of the previous ones, the carnival of this Bolivian city has a deep component ethnographic. In fact, it has its roots in an ancestral festival that paid tribute to the Pacha Mama o Mother Earth and Uncle Supay or god of the underworld. All this complemented with The Diablada, a spectacular dance that recreates the fight between Good and Evil.

Logically, there is no shortage of funny costumes and parties. But the Oruro carnivals are, without a doubt, among the most original in the world.

Cologne Carnivals

Such is the importance of this festival in the German city that begins on November 11 and is called "the fifth season of the year". However, of course, the most important celebrations take place in February.

Among them, the parade of the Rose Monday. It is a parade of wonderful floats that takes place in Southtown, to the south of the town, from which flowers, chocolates and candies are thrown. Likewise, there are all kinds of recreational events and celebrations.

Notting Hill Carnival

Baptized as "London's biggest street party", Notting Hill Carnival is also popular around the world. But, unlike the previous ones, it is not celebrated in February, but in August.

But this is not the only originality of this event. Because it transfers the caribbean world to the British capital for a few days. Its organizers are the members of that community in the big city and they fill the streets of the neighborhood of music reggae, food stalls and sales of objects and parades.

New Orleans Carnival

Known as Mardi Gras, which means "fatty or lazy Tuesday," is one of the most famous carnivals in United States. This name comes from his most important act: precisely, the so-called Fat Tuesday. During it, all the brotherhoods parade (called krewes) accompanied by impressive floats.

The city is transformed into a giant stage through which musical groups and thousands of people dressed in cheerful colors walk. But gastronomy also plays a very important role.

In conclusion, we have shown you some of the best carnivals of the world. But we could also recommend others like the by Binche in Belgium, declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity; he from Viareggio in Italy, with its Carnival Citadel, and, naturally, that of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which we have already mentioned. Come on and enjoy these holidays.