Carnival 2012-Lễ Hội Carnival 2012
Feb 22, 2012
Carnival Season 2012 is nearing its end. All over the world, celebrations have been held as a final pre-Lent bacchanalian festival -- a way to usher out the winter and welcome spring. Across Europe and the Americas, parades and festivals have been taking place for nearly a month, culminating in the largest, most famous party of all: the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Rio this weekend, millions took to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio's six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city's top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions. Gathered here are recent images of carnivals around the globe.
So many great photographs from this year's Carnival Season have been appearing that I just had to feature more of them today, including scenes from New Orleans, Spain, Germany, and Brazil. Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and Carnival celebrations have now come to a close. Across Europe and the Americas, parades and festivals have been taking place for nearly a month, culminating in the largest, most famous party of all: the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Rio this weekend, millions took to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party.
A dancer from the Mocidade samba school parades on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) 
A member of from the Diablada Urus group, dressed as an angel, during the Carnival parade in Oruro, some 200 km (124 miles) south of La Paz, on February 18, 2012. Partying and religion mingle in Bolivia's Carnival celebration in Oruro, a mining and commercial city of more than 200,000 people.
(Reuters/David Mercado) # 
Performers from Diablada group wearing bear costumes take part in the carnival parade in Oruro, Bolivia, on February 18, 2012.
(Reuters/David Mercado) # 
A masked reveller in costume walks near the Piazza San Marco during the Venice carnival, on February 18, 2012. The 2012 edition of the Venice Carnival runs from February 4 to 21 entitled this year "Life is theatre! It's time to get masked".
(Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Images) # 
People gather to watch a woman dressed in a traditional costume descend from the bell tower into Piazza San Marco, during the "Angel's flight", one of the highlights of the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, on February 12, 2012.
(AP Photo/Luigi Costantini) # 
People play in the mud during the "Bloco da Lama," or "Mud Block" carnival parade in Parati, Brazil, on February 18, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
A crowd takes part in the traditional "Cordao do Bola Preta" carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, on February 18, 2012.
(Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A dancer from Mocidade samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
Carnival dancers perform on a float during a parade by the Perola Negra samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 19, 2012.
(AP Photo/Andre Penner) # 
A dancer performs in a carnival parade by the Perola Negra samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 19, 2012.
(AP Photo/Andre Penner) # 
Revellers of Rosas de Ouro samba school wait their turn on the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome, as part of Carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo, on February 18, 2012.
(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images) # 
Dancers perform on a float during the parade of Mancha Verde samba school in Sao Paulo, on February 18, 2012.
(AP Photo/Andre Penner) # 
A dancer performs in the parade of Mancha Verde samba school in Sao Paulo, on February 18, 2012.
(AP Photo/Andre Penner) # 
A Candombe dancer performs during Las Llamadas or parade of The Calls in Montevideo, Uruguay, on February 10, 2012. A feature of the Montevideo Carnival, Candombe is an Afro-Uruguayan rhythmic style music, which is based on the sound of three types of tambores or drums: its roots can be traced back to the 1700's when African slaves were brought to Uruguay.
(AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) # 
A dancer and drummers perform along the streets of the "Sur" neighborhood during the second night of the "Llamadas" (Calls) parade of the carnival of Montevideo, on February 10, 2012. The "Llamadas" is Uruguay's biggest carnival parade, in which "comparsas" -- groups of dancers and drummers of the traditional "candombe" music -- compete for two consecutive nights.
(Pablo Porciuncula/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A person in a mask poses in Piazza San Marco during the Venetian Carnival in Venice, on February 11, 2012.
(Reuters/Stefano Rellandini) # 
LaToya DeLeon presents her creation titled "Heat Wave-The Last Of The Phenomenal Havoc," on the stage at Queen's Park Savannah, during the preliminaries of the King and Queen of Carnival competition in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on February 9, 2012.
(Reuters/Andrea De Silva) # 
A masquerader parades on stage at the carnival individual competition at Victoria Square, in Trinidad and Tobago, on February 16, 2012. Picture taken February 16.
(Reuters/Andrea De Silva) # 
People take part in the 128th Nice carnival on February 18, 2012 in Nice, France.
(Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images) # 
The parade of the 128th Nice carnival in Nice, France, on February 18, 2012. The parade celebrates the "King of Sport", with some 20 floats and running until March 04, 2012.
(Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A costumed woman takes part in the 128th Nice carnival, on February 18, 2012 in Nice, France.
(Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images) # 
The King of the Nice Carnival 2012's float parades during the 128th edition of the Nice Carnival, on February 18, 2012, in Nice, France.
(AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau) # 
Dancers perform during a carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 18, 2012. Barranquilla's Carnival, a tradition cretaed by locals at the end of the 19th century as a response and to parody the celebration held by European immigrants and aristocracy, was declared a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by the UNESCO in 2003.
(Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A woman applies make-up for carnival celebrations in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 19, 2012.
(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) # 
Revellers wait before their performance at a carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 19, 2012.
(Reuters/Joaquin Sarmiento) # 
Renascer Jacarepagua samba school parades at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, on February 19, 2012. Rio's two nights of famously extravagant Carnival parades began in a burst of fireworks and to the cheers of festival goers who have been partying on the streets for days. (Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
Revellers from the Portela samba school parade on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 19, 2012.
(Reuters/Nacho Doce) # 
A dancer of Beija Flor samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro,on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
The Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school, during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
A member of the Mocidade samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 20, 2012.
(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) # 
Dancers from the Imperatriz samba school, during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012.
(Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A reveller of Camisa Verde e Branco samba school adjusts her costume before the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, early on February 18, 2012.
(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A dancer of the Porto da Pedra samba school parades on a float at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
Revellers from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school take part in the annual carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 19, 2012.
(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) # 
A member of the Beija-Flor samba school dances on a float at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012.
(Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images) # 
Revellers from the Beija Flor samba school perform at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012.
(Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images) # 
Dancers of Uniao da Ilha samba school parade on a huge float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) 
Revelers participate in a masked ball during the "Carnival of All Colors" in Maragojipe city, northeastern Brazil, on February 21, 2012.
(Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino) # 
A masked participant during celebrations of the "Carnival of All Colors" in Maragojipe city, Brazil, on February 19, 2012.
(Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino) # 
Masked party-goers share a moment during the "Carnival of All Colors" in Maragojipe city, on February 21, 2012.
(Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino) # 
People watch as a masked reveler take part in the "Carnival of All Colors" in Maragojipe city, on February 19, 2012.
(Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino) # 
Crowds congregate on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans, on Friday, February 17, 2012.
(AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman) # 
Actor and comedian Will Ferrell tosses beads and doubloons to fans as he reigns as King of Bacchus in the 2012 Krewe of Bacchus Parade, on February 19, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Skip Bolen/Getty Images) # 
A member of the Kolossus performance troupe rides a converted bicycle during the Orpheus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 20, 2012.
(Reuters/Lee Celano) # 
The Ambassador float makes its way down Jackson Avenue, on February 21, 2012 in New Orleans.
(AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, John McCusker) # 
Fleambeaux Carriers march alongside the Captain's float in the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Bill Haber) # 
A couple costumed in horse masks dance on Bourbon Street as part of the Mardi Gras celebrations in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 20, 2012.
(Reuters/Lee Celano) # 
Actress Mariska Hargitay rides in the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, on Monday, February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Bill Haber) # 
The Rex Parade moves through the central business district of New Orleans, on February 21, 2012. This is the last day of the Mardi Gras celebration ending at midnight, after a day long celebration of parades, marching groups and people in costumes.
(AP Photo/Bill Haber) # 
People throw talcum powder at one another as they take part in the carnival "Los Indianos" (the Indians) in Santa Cruz de la Palma, on the Spanish Canary island of Las Palma, on February 20, 2012.
(Desiree Martin/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A sculpture of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy burns in a bonfire during the Carnival celebrations in Vigo, northwestern Spain, on February 21, 2012.
(Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A child blows a kiss during the carnival parade in Torres Vedras, Portugal, on February 21, 2012. The Portuguese government's attempt to make people work more by scrapping the traditional Carnival holiday has flopped as most companies and public services shut down despite an economic crisis.
(AP Photo/ Francisco Seco) # 
"Gilles" in traditional costume parade during the carnival in the streets of Binche, Belgium, on February 21, 2012, during Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras). The Binche Carnival tradition is one of the most ancient and as representative of Wallonia, was inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
(Benoit Doppagne/AFP/Getty Images) # 
Parade floats make their way through the Mardi Gras parade in downtown Crested Butte, Colorado, on Fat Tuesday, February 21, 2012.
(AP Photo/Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Nathan Bilow) # 
Musicians dressed for carnival perform at the Luzern-Carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland, on February 16, 2012. The history of Lucerne's carnival can be traced back over more than 600 years and is best known for its individually hand-crafted masks and costumes paraded in the town's streets and squares by thousands of revellers during the three-day carnival festival.
(Reuters/Michael Buholzer) # 
Musicians dressed for carnival perform at the start of the Luzern-Carnival in Lucerne in the early morning hours of February 16, 2012.
(Reuters/Michael Buholzer) # 
Ben wears a "King Frog" costume as he attends the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade in Mainz, Germany, on February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season.
(Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) # 
A scary musician holds some flowers during the traditional carnival parade in Cologne, Germany, on February 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A masquerader participates in the Jouvert celebrations, a revellery of music, mud and paint which marks the start of the two-day Trinidad Carnival street parade, in the capital city Port of Spain, on February 20, 2012.
(Reuters/Andrea De Silva) # 
A member of Mohacs Busok (Mask-people from Mohacs town) steps out from their local base on February 21, 2012 prior to their carnival masquerade. The Busojaras (Hungarian, meaning "Buso-walking") is an annual celebration of the Sokci (Croatians) living in the town of Mohacs, Hungary, held at the end of the Carnival season and ending the day before Ash Wednesday. The celebration features Busos and includes folk music, masquerading, parades and dancing.
(Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images) # 
A reveler wearing sheepfur costume with horns and a mask stands by a bonfire as revelers burn a coffin symbolizing winter during the traditional carnival parade of the town of Mohacs, on February 19, 2012.
(AP Photo/MTI, Ferenc Kalmandy) # 
A masked reveller participates in the traditional Buso Carnival in Mohacs, on February 19, 2012. The carnival parade of busos dressed in similar costumes and frightening wooden masks, using various noisy wooden rattlers is traditionally held on the seventh weekend before Easter to drive away winter, and is a revival of a legend, which says the ethnic Croats crossed the river to ambush the Osmanli Turkish troops, who escaped in panic seeing the terrifying figures during the Turkish occupation of Hungary.
(Reuters/Bernadett Szabo) # 
The Mangueira samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 21, 2012.
(AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) # 
People cheer from the stands as the Salgueiro samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
A reveller from the Sao Clemente samba school takes part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 20, 2012.
(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) # 
Members of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school dressed as birds perform on a float during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 21, 2012.
(Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images) # 
The Grande Rio samba school parades at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 21, 2012.
(AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) # 
Members from the of Salgueiro samba school parade on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
Dancers from the Salgueiro samba school take part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 20, 2012.
(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) # 
Revelers cheer at the Beatles-themed street party, "Sargento Pimenta," Portuguese for "Sergeant Pepper," at the Aterro do Flamengo urban park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 20, 2012. The group that organizes the party gives the Beatles repertoire a Brazilian tweak, adapting "All My Loving" to the peppy beat of a traditional Carnival "marchinha," or march, and infusing "Hard Day's Night" with a Rio funk sound.
(AP Photo/Dado Galdieri) # 
A dancer of Mangueira samba school dances on a giant float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 21, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
A topless dancer of the Salgueiro samba school parades on a carnival float at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 21, 2012.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 
Revelers from the Academicos do Grande Rio samba school perform during the second night of Carnival at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 21, 2012.
(Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images) # 
Dancers from the Uniao da Ilha samba school parade in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 21, 2012.
(AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) # 
Women dance during the carnival gay and lesbian ball at the Jockey Club in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 21, 2012.
(AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) # 
Revelers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school participate in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 21, 2012.
(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) # 
A dancer from the Sao Clemente samba school smiles after parading during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012. The processions were held before a stadium crowd of 70,000 and an international broadcast audience.(Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
