Carnival is celebrated throughout the Catholic world approximately five weeks before Easter every year. It is a time of celebration. People sing and dance in the streets and watch parades go by. Many people dress up in feathers, masks and colorful costumes. The highlight of carnival is Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. This day is 40 days before Lent and a time for people to eat and drink as much as they like before fasting for Easter.
Carnival has been celebrated for centuries as a time of celebration before the time of serious reflection that comes with Easter. The largest carnival in the world is celebrated in Brazil but another large celebration is held in Cologne, Germany. In the German version, the celebrations go on for days even in the cold weather. People often wear costumes and walk through the streets carrying on until late into the night.
Cadiz, Spain has also celebrated carnival for many centuries as it is once was one of the most important maritime ports in the world. The main events during the Spanish carnival include a coronation of the goddess of the carnival, numerous parades, children’s parties and a great masked ball. There are also singing competitions where teams of singers get together and write their own songs to perform in the streets. On the final day the dancers and singers are judged. Many songs include funny lyrics while other songs contain satires of well-known people such as local celebrities and politicians.
