Great carnivals around the world
While carnival is celebrated around the world, there are carnivals that are better known than others and are major events that attract millions of people. In this interactive map, discover fun facts about 15 great carnivals.
Although disturbed lately with the health crisis, before each spring, it is the period of many carnivals in the world. Collective creation, momentary inversion of norms and statutes, perpetuation of brotherhoods, ... this universal festival allows to reinforce the social cohesion through the cultural expression of a city or a region.
While carnival is celebrated around the world, there are carnivals that are better known than others and are major events that attract millions of people.
In this interactive map, discover fun facts about 15 great carnivals.
The origins of the Carnival
The origins of the carnival are multiple and the oldest known date back to antiquity.
Two centuries before JC, the inhabitants of Babylon organized 5 days of festival, called Sacées, to honor the goddess Anaïtis and to greet the arrival of spring. During this period, the established order was reversed: slaves took the place of their master.
In ancient Rome, the Saturnalia were great festivals marked by the reversal of roles in honor of Saturn, God of agriculture and time,
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church, initially opposed to these festivities eventually appropriated them. The carnival then becomes a period of festivities preceding a time of deprivation: Lent, during which Christians stop consuming fatty products such as meat or products derived from animals (butter, eggs, cheese etc.). In fact, the word "carnival" comes from the Latin "carne levare", which means "to remove the meat".
The carnival is a period of entertainment during which customs, social rules and roles are reversed. People celebrate in disguise and hide behind their masks to conceal their social class, sex or age and to enjoy a temporary freedom without fear of reprisals.
When does it take place?
Since the Middle Ages, the carnival established by the Catholic Church precedes Ash Wednesday and Lent and ends on Mardi Gras.
Many carnivals take place between January and March but there are variations according to countries and cultures. Nowadays, they are also the occasion to celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of the beautiful days.
About the author
As a specialist in Cross-Cultural Management and Diversity & Inclusion, Akteos helps companies to master risks linked to cultural differences and to value diversity as an asset by developing the skills of managers and their teams.