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Carnival, Carnaval, Karneval, , Fasching...call it what you will, the tradition is known as a time of excess, merriment and celebration. Dating back millennia, the custom has varying histories and conventions all across the world. Progressive Party finds out more... Celebrating Carnival arnival’ is a Roman Catholic Followers of the Catholic Left: Opposuits Harleking costume. ‘ tradition, incorporated into the religion started the tradition CChristian calendar and celebrated in over 5,000 years worldwide, from Bavaria to Brazil and ago, before it spread to Suit Up, Suitors! from Louisiana to Luxembourg. In New France, Spain, and other Orleans they call it Mardi Gras. In Europe, Catholic countries in Opposuits are a popular choice there are several customs that fall under Europe. Then, as the for Carnival celebrations around the umbrella of Carnival. Germany has French, Spanish, and the world. Harleking is a design at least two, including Karneval in the Portuguese began to take that works for Mardi Gras in Rhineland region and Fasching in western control of the Americas America and Carnaval in Europe. Germany. Even in the UK, we have the and other parts of the It’s in danger of selling out so more modestly celebrated ‘pancake day’! world, they brought with order now to avoid missing out! Carnival is associated with the fasting them their tradition of and religious obligations surrounding the celebrating Carnival. to country, but from region to region, season of Lent in February and March. Other theories date it each with its own traditions, customs On the days before fasting, all remaining back even further. Some and roots. The celebrations usually winter stores of lard, butter and meat believe that the festivities includes any combination of dressing would be eaten before it started to rot are rooted in ancient Greek up in elaborate costumes and masks, and decay. A Carnival feast was the last celebrations for their god processions, pageants, fireworks, music, opportunity to eat well before the time of wine, Dionysus, while dancing, comedy, eating and drinking. of food shortage at the end of winter. others trace them back That’s a lot to fit into one day, so the Livestock would need to be replenished, to pagan customs of driving season can last anything up to a month. so there would be no meat for some out the evil spirits of winter. Each country or region will host time, giving Carnival its name. The Whatever the beliefs of its own parades and parties, some word itself is derived from the origin, the event became a Latin expression carne vale, series of street parties and meaning ‘farewell to the flesh’. balls in many countries. So Carnival, also known Revellers are said to have as ‘the Fifth Season’, was the worn masks and costumes last chance for 40 days to eat, so all classes could drink and be merry! celebrate together and poke fun at authority without revealing P their identities. Don’t Forget Balloons Most Carnival events Pioneer Europe Ltd. has updated take place sometime and refreshed its Qualatex collection between February and May. of Masquerade balloons to enhance The date of the main event any party decor. The Carnival designs varies, not just from country are now available in a 22” Bubble Left: Pioneers Carnival range. Balloon, an 11” latex, and a 3” latex. Right: Military costumes in Germany.

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themed, some following centuries- However, the old practices. As a party retailer, you centrepiece of the can probably see the attraction, so carnival’s proceedings is Progressive Party takes a closer look at a parade of clown-like how the world celebrates Carnival... performers known as CRAZY DAYS OF CARNIVAL 2016 Les Gilles. Making their GERMANY appearance on Shrove 4 February - Dirty Thursday, also Women’s Carnival Day Carnival in Germany and German Tuesday, Les Gilles speaking countries is known as by many are known for their 5 February - Sooty Friday medieval costumes with names: Fasching, Karneval, Fastnacht 6 February - Greasy or Schmaltzy Saturday and Fastelabend to name a few. They are lace cuffs and collars, all one and the same thing: pre-Lenten wax masks, feathered 7 February - Sparks Sunday, Carnival Sunday festivities celebrated in sumptuous style in hats and wooden clogs. or Schoduvel (‘scaring away the devil’) They are up to one predominantly catholic regions. The oldest 8 February - Rose Monday or Carnival Monday – highlight thousand participants surviving records of Carnival in Germany of the Carnival season in many European countries date back to 5 March 1341 and were in the parade, 9 February – Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday found in Rhineland, the home of Karneval. predominantly – highlight in New Orleans, Venice and Rio de Janeiro The Carnival capital in Germany is male and ranging Cologne, followed by Düsseldorf and in age from three 10 February - Ash Wednesday - first day of Lent Mainz. Cologne boasts the longest to 60 years old. and usually the last day of Carnival season parade, where over one million people FRANCE line up along Main Street waiting for it and friends, sharing the last of the fish to pass by. The parade lasts around five The Carnival lasts fifteen days and is before departing to Icelandic fishing hours, covering a distance of four miles. one of the world’s major Carnival events. grounds to replenish. The celebrations The procession itself is kilometre long! The festival is a riot of colour, with more were linked to Carnival as everyone was Traditions differ throughout the country than one thousand musicians able to enjoy the countdown to Lent. – Karneval customs date back to 1794 and dancers from around the when Rhineland was occupied by the world. Held annually on the ITALY French. Military-like costumes and French Riviera, records date it back to 1294 when the The most famous Carnival Right: Boland’s plush cow is a fun Carnival outfit. Count of Provence, Charles celebrations in Italy are held in Anjou, spent ‘the joyous Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea. days of Carnival’ in Nice. Carnival in Venice was first recorded in 1268, possibly making it the oldest Moove Over A highlight of the carnival is the ‘bataille des fleurs’ recorded carnival celebration still in Mark Brett, UK agent for one of the (flower battle). Mimosas, existence. It started as an underground leading suppliers of party products gerberas, and lilies are movement in defiance of Italy’s in Europe, Boland, says themes in thrown out into the public many laws attempting to restrict Germany vary from community to from floats decorated with celebrations and the wearing of masks. community, but their best selling items stunning floral displays. Ironically, Venetian masks are now the for Carnival celebrations have included It’s a tradition that started quintessential icon of the Venice Carnival. everything from plush animal costumes because the elite apparently The Carnival of Viareggio is a to Scottish kilts and...white disco boots! didn’t like being hit with month-long event, characterized by its eggs and vegetables! It is said parade of floats and masks caricaturing politicians, actors and other famous parades, and ‘fool’s greetings’ such as Kölle that Queen Victoria herself figures. The first Viareggio parade was Alaaf! meaning ‘Cologne above all!’, were once participated, throwing held in 1873 as a sign of protest against originally a way to ridicule the French flowers at young soldiers. high taxes, with masks worn by the and later the Prussian military. Napoleon’s The Dunkirk Carnival wealthy middle-class to hide the fact that military costumes are still a popular is another big French event they were refusing to pay their taxes! choice for revellers today.Celebrations and is ranked among the greatest and The Carnival of Ivrea is famous for in the Fasching and Fastnacht regions most exuberant celebrated in its . The festival tend to focus on more traditional masks Europe. It dates back to the 17th century commemorates the city’s liberation from and dressing up as devils, fools and wild when fishermen went from one café to a tyrant, a member of the ruling family beasts. This is said to be a reflection of another, accompanied by their relatives who attacked a young woman. She is the pre-Christian roots of the Swabian- Alemannic carnival. In ancient times these figures and masks were part of an effort to drive out evil spirits in the dark of winter. BELGIUM The biggest Belgian celebration, the , dates back to the 14th century and takes place each year in the town of Binche during the three days preceding Ash Wednesday. Sunday is the main day for dressing up, music, dancing, and marching.

Right: France – - flower battles. Far right: Belgium – Binche - Les Gilles.

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noon on Friday and noon on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, Much like the people of New Orleans, Brazilians often refer to it as the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’. Carnival was first recorded in Brazil in 1641, when John IV of Portugal was crowned King and parties took place on the streets to celebrate. Dating back to 1723, the biggest carnival in Brazil is held in Rio de Janeiro. It is a world famous festival and considered the biggest carnival in the world. More than five million people hit the streets of Rio every year. Above and right: Carnival around the world sees many trends from local produce celebration to traditional masquerade. is all about the spirit of harmony and community, and it said to have subsequently decapitated generates the now familiar and colourful him and the townsfolk burned the palace The Balloon Party scenes of huge crowds, dancers, down! Today, the battle is fought with sequins, masks and feathers. Smaller fruit between ‘the people’ on foot and Michelle Comerford, Pioneer Europe’s street festivals take place all over the ‘the troops of the tyrant’ on carts. head of sales and marketing, told city during the five day celebrations. PPE “balloons have proven just as Well known for its parades and NEW ORLEANS popular as costumes and decorations balls, music and dance are the Mardi Gras is the world famous New for Carnival celebrations. We are biggest features of the carnival, in Orleans Carnival. Its roots lie in expecting a big increase in demand particular ‘Samba’, a Brazilian dance medieval Europe, thanks to French- for our Mardi Gras balloons, thanks to with African influences. In fact, the Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le the World Balloon Convention, taking lively Rio Samba Parade, held at the Moyne Sieur de Bienville. On 2 March place this year in New Orleans”. 70,000-seat Sambódromo stadium, 1699, he arrived at a plot of land is the biggest attraction of the whole sixty miles south of New Orleans, The season officially starts at Twelfth carnival. It is a highly orchestrated and named it ‘Pointe du Mardi Gras’ Night, or twelve days after Christmas event, spread over several days, with when his men realised it was the eve on 6 January (Epiphany), with a masked a different group of ‘Samba schools’ of the festive holiday. America’s first ball. The parties continue with over taking part each day. Each school, Mardi Gras took place that night. fifty parades throughout February with up to 2,000 dancers, represents However, the earliest reference and March. The main events leading a particular neighbourhood in Rio. to Mardi Gras ‘Carnival’ appears up to Lent last five days and reach It is a competitive business, with in a 1781 report to the Spanish the climax on Mardi Gras Day . schools preparing all year round for colonial governing body. That year, this one event and all vying for the the Perseverance Benevolent & championship title! Winners are Mutual Aid Association was the first chosen based on the originality of hundreds of clubs and carnival organisations formed in New Orleans. Left: Rio Carnival Samba school dancers. In the early 19th century the city Below: Mardi Gras in New Orleans. prospered from cotton and sugar cane production, so by the late 1830s, rich plantation owners rode on floats during Carnival season, throwing money and jewels to the ‘poor people’. Huge (though not by today’s standards!) street processions with carriages and horseback riders took to the streets to celebrate Mardi Gras, with gaslight torches, or ‘flambeaux’, lighting the way in the days before electricity. Today, hundreds of ‘crews’ ride on dozens of floats during the parade throwing throw toy jewels to spectators. New Orleanians call it Traditional colours for the Carnival the ‘Greatest Free Show on Earth’. are purple, green, and gold, chosen in 1872 to honour the house colours of visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis and creativity of the theme of the Super-Size Me... Alexis Alexandrovich Romanoff. float, music, costumes and dances. So Carnival is truly a time to come Carnival is one big holiday in New BRAZIL together, celebrate and party to excess! Orleans - literally! ‘Fat Tuesday’ was Now, how can we just encourage Carnival in a major part of Brazilian made a public holiday in Louisiana in people in the UK to be a bit more culture - it is celebrated in just about 1875 and is now called ‘Mardi Gras Day’. passionate about pancake day... every state. It takes place between

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