Carnival: Around the World. An intriguing holiday not observed by myself is Carnival, which is widely celebrated in Brazil but also in nearly every other country. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, 2010, the Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil holds the title for being the largest party worldwide. Carnival usually entails a festive public celebration or parade integrating aspects of a circus, masquerade, and street revelry. The streets of Rio de Janeiro become filled with revelers eager to enjoy themselves and partake in the festivities.
Music and drinking play a significant role in the Carnival festival, whose origin remains uncertain but is believed to date back to pre-Christian times. Carnival is rooted in the Catholic religion and occurs just before the period of fasting known as Lent. In preparation for Lent, all indulgent
...food and drink had to be disposed of. The consumption of these items during a community-wide celebration is thought to be the foundation of Carnival. The term "Carnival" is thought to have originated from the late Latin expression "carne vale," meaning "farewell to meat." This aligns with the nature of Carnival as a grand festival commemorating the last day when Catholics can partake in rich foods such as meat and wine before embarking on a forty-day Lenten fast. While Carnival is celebrated worldwide, it differs from region to region. In Russia, they observe Maslenitsa as their version of Carnival. Maslenitsa takes place during the final week preceding Great Lent and is also called Butter Week, Pancake Week, or Cheesefare Week due to dairy products being prohibited during Lent.
During Maslenitsa, which represents the last chance to enjoy dairy products an
social activities before the solemn Lenten season, parties, secular music, dancing, and other distractions from the spiritual life are excluded. Similarly, in Peru, the Carnival celebration takes place in Cajamarca, considered the Peruvian Carnival capital, where people of all ages gather and dance around a tree called unsha. This tree is decorated with ribbons, toys, balloons, fruits, bottles of liquor, and other prizes, attracting both locals and tourists.
At a certain point, the Mayordomo (governor of the feast) enters the circle and selects a partner to accompany him to the unsha. There, they try to bring down the unsha by striking the tree three times with a machete. The machete is then passed from couple to couple, each taking turns to strike the tree. When the unsha finally falls, the crowd eagerly rushes to claim their prizes. The person who successfully brings down the unsha earns the honor of being the next year's governor of the feast. The Carnival of French Guiana holds great significance in the country's culture.
Similar to Carnivals in other parts of the world, Carnival in French Guiana has a variable duration which is determined by movable religious festivals. It begins on Epiphany and concludes on Ash Wednesday, typically spanning across January and February. Throughout this period, from Friday evening until Monday morning, the entire country is consumed by the pulsating energy of masked balls and street parades. Daily life slows down to a near standstill. While costumes are an integral part of French Guiana's Carnival, what sets it apart from other carnivals across the globe are the touloulou balls, also referred to as masked balls.
The term "touloulou" is used to describe the
women who attend these balls. They don extravagant gowns, gloves, masks, and headdresses that fully conceal their identity and obscure their skin color. Touloulous can freely participate in the balls, whereas men are required to pay for entry. This arrangement allows women to have temporary relationships with men they find appealing while maintaining anonymity. The United States likewise has its own rendition of Carnival called Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras, which originated in the gulf coast region including Mobile, Biloxi, New Orleans, and Pensacola, is now most famously celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana. The festivities span approximately two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday – the day preceding Ash Wednesday. Typically, one main parade is held each day during this time period; however, some days may feature multiple grand parades. The final five days of the season showcase the most elaborate and intricate parades.
Throughout the final week of Mardi Gras, New Orleans and surrounding regions host a range of festivities. These lively celebrations showcase costumes, dancing, and an abundance of beads in a compact area that epitomizes Louisiana's jazz music, Cajun cuisine, and joyous atmosphere. Although Carnival may initially seem exclusive to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, upon closer inspection it becomes evident that this celebration is observed globally by various cultures with both similarities and unique customs.
Whether it is Carnival, Malenitsa, or Mardi Gras, these celebrations all take place before lent. These celebrations demonstrate the universality of human nature across the globe and highlight our similarities. Almost every culture that observes lent has its own version of carnival that has roots dating back long before the advent of modern communication technology. Carnival is truly a unique
and fascinating holiday that is not celebrated by me or by most people in my region. (Works Cited: "Mardi Gras History. Mardi Gras New Orleans 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2012.
