BlogIt’s Fat Tuesday, which means it’s the last, and craziest, celebration of Carnival or Mardi Gras. What originated as a Christian celebration of levity and indulgence leading up to Lent, Carnival season has morphed into celebrations of epic proportion that turn cities like New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Venice, into outdoor festivals for days and even weeks.
Carnival season carries on the festivities of Christmas, starting on Twelfth Night in January and ramping up to Fat Tuesday or “Mardi Gras” in French, the last day of celebration before Ash Wednesday, ushering in 40 days of restraint and reflection.
French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
Many of the first residents of New Orleans were French, and established what is now called the French Quarter, with its old-world architecture and feel. Along with their architecture and language, the French settlers also influenced many traditions in NOLA, including the Mardi Gras celebration. “Mardi Gras” means “Fat Tuesday” in French, which is the biggest day of celebrations before Lent.
The French Quarter’s buildings are recognizable by their colorful two-story brick structures with balconies of decorative wrought iron, and narrow streets. Many of the parades and festivities start or go through the French Quarter. Even after Mardi Gras, the French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA
Bourbon Street in the French Quarter is the center of the party year-round, and especially during Mardi Gras. The alcohol-fueled parties go late into the night and are definitely for grown-ups, and are what people think of when they imagine a Mardi Gras celebration.
Many parades and events take place on or near Bourbon Street, and people rent rooms and stand on balconies to party, throw beads and trinkets, and have a good time with friends and strangers alike.
Sambadrome, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Carnival celebrations in Brazil are among the most festive and unique in the world. Blending African, indigenous and European influences, the music, costumes, and celebrations are flashy, elaborate, and extravagant. While Carnival parades the world over include costumed dancers, the samba dancers in Rio are a step above the rest.
The twelve major samba schools have produced such elaborate and talented performances that the dancing is the highlight of the parades, and have even spawned their own Carnival tradition, and venue. The Sambadrome was built in 1984, and can hold 90,000 spectators. So now, in addition to the many block parties, samba dancers parade through the long venue as both celebration and competition.
Samba School Mangueira in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Samba, which is heavily influenced by indigenous and African dance styles, is a major part of Brazilian Carnival traditions. Dancers go to school to learn to dance, and there are at least twelve major dance schools in the capital city.
The Samba School Mangueira has one of the best reputations, and is one of the oldest. It is named after its neighborhood Mangueira. It is not a wealthy area, but is a favela, or poor area of improvised housing, where many urban Brazilians live in difficult situations.
St. Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy
Carnival originated in Venice, likely starting in 1168 to celebrate a military victory, with dancing in St. Mark’s Square. Parties quickly developed as celebration before Ash Wednesday and Lent, when people were expected to refrain from celebrations, eating meat, and other indulgences. Venetian celebrations often included elaborate masks and costumes, and the masks were such a popular part of the celebration that they extended on past Carnival into regular usage.
Carnival was outlawed when the Republic of Venice fell in 1797, and brought back in 1979. These days, nearly three million people come to Venice to celebrate Carnival each year.
Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy
Current-day Carnival kicks off with a water parade, which is fitting for the city built on a lagoon. Led by a gondola decorated as a rat, homage to the city’s reputation of having many rats, hundreds of highly-decorated boats are guided down the Grand Canal. Some boats are decorated in elaborate themes, and others are simple boats with costumed passengers. Whether they go all out, or just dress up, it’s a chaotic but fun way to start a weeks-long party!
While the celebrations are all wrapping up this week, it’s fun to learn about the longstanding and important traditions that are celebrated worldwide as people prepare for the traditional forty days of restraint. While each locality does it their own way, we can see the fabulous traditions that tie them all together. As they say in New Orleans, “Let the good times roll!”
Pin