Carnival

Carnival, any kind of revelry or festivity; by tradition, the season just before Lent, celebrated in some Roman Catholic countries by merrymaking, processions, dancing, and feasting. The word probably comes from the medieval Latin carnelevarium, meaning to take away or remove meat (in the past, Catholics were forbidden to eat meat during the 40 days of Lent). The first day of the carnival season varies from country to country. In Bavaria and Austria, where it is known as Fasching, it begins on January 6, the Epiphany. In Cologne and other parts of Germany, the season commences at 11 minutes past 11 a.m. on November 11. In parts of France and other southern European countries, it begins on Quinquagesima Sunday (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent) and finishes on Shrove Tuesday. Masked balls, processions of decorated floats through the streets, costume parades, and feasting generally mark the celebration. Notable carnival festivities take place in New Orleans in the United States (where it is known as Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using up meat and fats in the home before Lent), Venice in Italy, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and Cologne in Germany. See also Notting Hill Carnival.