Carnival

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The Carnival was originally a Roman Catholic tradition, which took place in the days before Lent, the period of 40 days before Easter. After spreading throughout Europe it was then introduced to other parts of the world, particularly South America and the Caribbean, where it was enthusiastically accepted by the native populations and then developed in different ways. Now it is a popular festival, uniting whole communities in dancing and other festivities, for days or even weeks on end.

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Indeed, whilst the Carnival season still normally reaches a high point in the days just before Lent, it may begin up to three months before. In Austria, where it is known as Fasching, the Carnival season officially starts on November 11^th, whereas in New Orleans Mardi Gras opens on Twelfth Night, January 6^th. London’s own Notting Hilll Carnival, imported by Caribbean immigrants in the 1950s, often takes place on two days in August, when about two million people fill the streets of West London.

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However, there is no Carnival celebration that rivals Rio for its spectacular parades, colourful costumes and the flamboyant nature of the people who take part. The main feature of the four-day event is the parade of the city’s samba schools, which each consist of hundreds of people. The schools compete with each other in front of a huge number of spectators to give the best display of dancing and have the most elaborate costumes.

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There is also a competition in Venice, but the prize is awarded there for the most beautiful mask in the Carnival. Masks have long been an important part of Carnevale, originally to enable those who wore them to hide their identity while they behaved in a manner that was not entirely acceptable to contemporary society. The modern Carnevale is still theatrical, with many people wearing a costume, and of course a mask.

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Mardi Gras started up in New Orleans in 1827, but it is no less important or colourful than the 1.000-year-old Carnevale. The tradition was taken to New Orleans from Europe by a group of students who had been studying in Paris and who saw Carnival being celebrated there. Other young people took to the custom of dressing up and dancing in the streets and in 1837 the city organized its first parade, which in the early days had just one float. Now the parades are almost endless.

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In New Orleans anyone can take part in the big Mardi Gras street parade, but you have to belong to a “krewe” if you want to get into one of the many balls that are held during the period just before Mardi Gras. “Krewes” are special Carnival organizations, each of which has its own king and queen.

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But what of Britain’s Carnival customs? Certainly, people mark the occasion: for centuries pancakes have been eaten on Shrove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent. This was the traditional way of using up eggs and milk before a fast. But whilst Carnival parades can be seen throughout the country, the custom has never really caught on in the same way as it has in the capital. Perhaps British people are simply not used to extravagant or flamboyant behaviour.