From Rio to Notting Hill: The world’s greatest and most extravagant carnivals revealed
- Carnivals feature colourful parades, extravagant costumes and heaps of culture
- Though they’re all big parties, different places celebrate Carnival in unique ways
- MailOnline has rounded up the biggest and most extravagant celebrations
With colourful parades, extravagant costumes and heaps of culture, Carnival events are attended by millions around the world.
This bank holiday weekend, the streets of London’s Notting Hill will be packed with people who travelled far and wide to celebrate.
Carnival is traditionally a Christian celebration that occurs before Lent – it’s believed that the festival originated as a chance for people to party once more before Lent begins.
However, different countries and cultures have their own origins and unique traditions for Carnival – Notting Hill’s Carnival was started by London’s Caribbean communities in 1966 and is a celebration of diversity, freedom and Caribbean culture.
From Rio to Venice, MailOnline has rounded up the world’s greatest and most famous carnivals.
Rio Carnival
Exotic costumes, floats and parades make for an exciting event that attracts more than two million people for each day of festivities
The heart of Rio Carnival is the Sambadrome, where the parades take place and locals and tourists alike come together at the stadium to watch as top samba schools perform for the title of Grand Champions
Held every year before Lent, Rio de Janeiro’s infamous Carnival is one of the biggest street parties in the world.
Exotic costumes, floats and parades make for an exciting event that attracts more than two million people for each day of festivities.
The heart of Rio Carnival is the Sambadrome, where the parades take place and locals and tourists alike come together at the stadium to watch as top samba schools perform for the title of Grand Champions.
Hundreds of street parties, or ‘blocos’ are also held in the city between January and February – the parties are more casual that the parades in the Sanbadrome and each bloco consists of a musical band and of course partiers.
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, which is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’ is celebrated in southern Louisiana, New Orleans
Described as ‘one big holiday’, on Mardi Gras day most non essential businesses are shut down due to the celebration
Mardi Gras, which is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’ is celebrated in southern Louisiana, New Orleans.
The event stretches between one to three months and the streets come alive with music, art and costumes.
It begins on Twelfth Night, which is January 6 and the eating of colourful ‘king cake’ is an iconic tradition not to be missed.
Described as ‘one big holiday’, on Mardi Gras day most non essential businesses are shut down due to the celebration.
Venice Carnival
Venetian masks were traditionally worn as a symbol of freedom to conceal the wearer’s identity and social class
It starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday, featuring authentic masquerade balls, and of course parties and live music
Venice Carnival, which dates back to the 11th century, is often a majestic sight to behold.
The Italian Carnival is best known for it’s elaborate costumes, especially it’s iconic masks.
Venetian masks were traditionally worn as a symbol of freedom to conceal the wearer’s identity and social class.
It starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday, featuring authentic masquerade balls, and of course parties and live music.
Munich Beer Festival
Although the most different to a traditional Carnival, Munic Beer Festival, more commonly known as Oktoberfest, is the worlds largest Volksfest
More than six million national and international visitors gather for flowing beer steins and the chance to experience Bavarian music and culture
Although the most different to a traditional Carnival, Munic Beer Festival, more commonly known as Oktoberfest, is the worlds largest Volksfest.
More than six million national and international visitors gather for flowing beer steins and the chance to experience Bavarian music and culture.
There are also costume parades with festively decorated wagons and brewery carriages, music and dancing.
Taking place for around sixteen days between September and October, it’s not one to be missed for beer-lovers.
Carnival in the Canary Islands
Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the biggest and most notable Carnivals – it’s believed to be the second largest after Rio
Tenerife looks like one huge rainbow for a whole month and as well as the parades, costumes and marches, there is also a gala party to choose the Carnival queen
Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the biggest and most notable Carnivals – it’s believed to be the second largest after Rio.
It last around a month but the most important date is Piñata Saturday, featuring a dazzling fireworks display on the last weekend of celebrations.
Tenerife looks like one huge rainbow for a whole month and as well as the parades, costumes and marches, there is also a gala party to choose the Carnival queen.
Held in February and March, it attracts people to the island from all over the world.
Notting Hill Carnival
Happening this weekend, London’s Notting Hill Carnival cannot be missed from the list
Dancing, parades and partying creates an explosion of colour over the bank holiday weekend
Happening this weekend, London’s Notting Hill Carnival cannot be missed from the list.
Notting Hill Carnival is an annual Caribbean festival that’s lined London’s streets with dancing, food and culture since 1966.
Taking part from Saturday August 26 to Monday 28 August, attendees will see the UK’s biggest steel pan competition, adults and children’s parades and authentic food including Trinidadian roti and Jamaican jerk chicken.
Dancing, parades and partying creates an explosion of colour over the bank holiday weekend – it’s free for everyone and there’s still time to source a glittering outfit if you do plan to go.
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is a two-day celebration known across the world for it’s colourful costumes and street parades
Dubbed the ‘best Caribbean Carnival in the world,’ it originated as a rebellion against slavery
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is a two-day celebration known across the world for it’s colourful costumes and street parades.
Dubbed the ‘best Caribbean Carnival in the world,’ it originated as a rebellion against slavery.
African slaves were forbidden from attending the celebrations so instead, they held their own parties which were called canboulay.
At the Carnival you can either be a spectator and watch the parades or join in by ‘playing mas’.
You need to select a mas band you want to be a part of and then sign up to join in with the fun – who doesn’t need an excuse to wear a beautifully crafted costume?
Belgium’s Binche Carnival
It’s most famous for it’s ‘Gilles’ who are masked men in uniform costumes – they are the Carnival’s oldest and principal participants
They appear on Shrove Tuesday in costume and wooden shoes, throwing oranges at the crowd during the parade as a sign of good luck
Binche Carnival in Belgium is held annually in the days preceeding Ash Wednesday.
It’s most famous for it’s ‘Gilles’ who are masked men in uniform costumes – they are the Carnival’s oldest and principal participants.
They appear on Shrove Tuesday in costume and wooden shoes, throwing oranges at the crowd during the parade as a sign of good luck.
In 2003, UNESCO proclaimed Binche’s carnival celebration a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity,’ celebrating the Carnival’s unique character and spectacles.
Oruro Carnival Bolivia
It offers a mix between ancient Andean and Spanish colonial traditions and religions, as well as featuring a lot of catholic symbolism
Attracting, half a million people each year, it’s Bolivia’s most famous tourist attraction
Carnival of Oruro is a cultural and religious festival in Bolivia that’s been celebrated since the 18th century.
It offers a mix between ancient Andean and Spanish colonial traditions and religions, as well as featuring a lot of catholic symbolism.
Attracting, half a million people each year, it’s Bolivia’s most famous tourist attraction – from food and drink to dancing, confetti and bonfires, it has something for everyone.
In 2008, the Carnival of Oruro was even inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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