From the dancing streets of Rio to the outlandish floats of Mardi Gras, a country’s carnival offers an electrifying view of a nation and its people, one where serious fun is the name of the game and a non-stop party is always on the cards. The costumes, music and dates may change, but the spirit of carnival across the globe is universal; it’s a chance to indulge the soul and enjoy a moment of free abandon for a few sweet hours or days. Historically, a carnival was the last chance for a feast before the fasting of Lent, so a lot of today’s festivities centre around Shrove Tuesday and fall in early spring. Here’s our round-up of ten of the best carnivals around the world. Let the celebrations begin…
1. Carnival of Oruro, Bolivia
2. Rio Carnival, Brazil
3. Salvador Carnival, Brazil
4. Quebec Winter Carnival, Canada
5. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, Canary Islands, Spain
6. Kurentovanje, Slovenia
7. Barranquilla Carnival, Colombia
8. Carnival of Cadiz, Spain
9. Mardi Gras, New Orleans, USA
10. Venice Carnival, Italy
1
Carnival of Oruro, Bolivia
Held annually in February/March
First up on our list of the world’s best carnivals is UNESCO-approved; Bolivia’s Carnival of Oruro is inscribed on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A cocktail of Christian and indigenous traditions, this Andean party brings together a host of Bolivian traditions and their devoted followers. Performers dressed head-to-toe in rainbow-bright folkloric costumes put on the show of their lives – spectators watch from the stands as the procession snakes its way past, taking up to 20 hours from start to finish. The extravaganza features the ritual La Diablada, or the Dance of the Devils, where hundreds of masked dancing diablos perform amazing choreographed routines.
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2
Rio Carnival, Brazil
Held annually in February/March
The most famous carnival on Earth is also the most fun. Lavish, gigantic chariots, on-point dancers, world-famous costumes, thundering music and an electric atmosphere – Rio Carnival is everything you want it to be and more. It’s the carnival to which all others aspire – more colourful, in-your-face and dramatic every year. As the country’s best samba schools compete in the Sambadrome to win the title as parade champion, the carnival spirit sweats from every pore of Rio de Janeiro. Hundreds of street parties with millions of revellers blend into one another and celebrate into the night to create a city alive with merriment. The greatest party on the planet is one hell of a ride.
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3
Salvador Carnival, Brazil
Held annually in February/March
While it’s tempting to compare Salvador Carnival with Rio, the former stands out for different reasons from its rival. Unlike at Rio, where samba is the heart and soul of the carnival, in Salvador, you won’t find any samba parades. Instead, it’s legendary for its incredible music, showcasing Brazilian music with a spicy touch of reggae, African percussion and electric guitar. The biggest stars of Brazil’s music scene climb aboard huge trucks installed with massive speakers and the country’s best dancers. There are two carnival circuits – one by the sea, the other in the city centre – and the city is crammed with street parties. The madness of carnival seeps into the soul of Salvador; it’s a fun, mad atmosphere where drinking and dancing the days and nights away are all part of the experience.
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4
Quebec Winter Carnival, Canada
Held annually in February
Quebec Winter Carnival is one of the biggest in the world. French-speaking Quebec City offers a masterclass in how to throw a snowy celebration; with average daily highs of minus five degrees Celsius in February (yikes), you’ll need to wrap up warm to enjoy the powdery landscape. Impressive ice sculptures, circus shows, folk concerts, canoe races, a glittering night-time parade and even an axe-throwing competition are just some of what you can expect throughout this jam-packed celebration. Despite the freezing temperatures, you’ll feel a major dose of happiness and wonder throughout the city.
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5
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, Canary Islands, Spain
Held annually in February/March
Inspired by the sights and sounds of Rio, another of the world’s best carnivals is held in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, for at least ten days every year. A chaotic jumble of musical parades with grand floats, dancers in spangled, multicoloured costumes and musicians of all varieties come out in force, along with the tourists – all 100,000 of them – who cheer, sing and jive at the sidelines. The mercury hovers around 20°C, the ideal weather for partying from dusk until dawn. Festivities end with a ceremonial burning of the horse mackerel or the chicharro fish, an emblematic creature for locals. Thousands of mourners dressed for a funeral wail as the flames lick the sky, before the music and merriment resume and continue into the night to mark the final farewell of the carnival.
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6
Kurentovanje, Slovenia
Held annually in February/March
Now for something a little different. The largest Shrovetide carnival in Slovenia is a UNESCO-protected affair which began in 1960. Held in Slovenia’s oldest town, Ptuj, Kurentovanje is centred around a mythical creature called the Kurent (the clue’s in the name), who is believed to chase away the winter months and welcome in the spring. On its main parade days, people dressed as Kurenti, adorned in elaborate sheepskin costumes complete with masks, cowbells and streamers, march through Ptuj’s historic streets to drive away evil and bring good fortune. Boasting a blend of folkloric fun, cultural tradition and community spirit, Kurentovanje transforms Ptuj into a hub of music, dance and joy, attracting over 100,000 visitors each year.
Image by Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Images
7
Barranquilla Carnival, Colombia
Held annually in February/March
Proclaimed the most beautiful celebration in Latin America outside of Rio, Colombia’s Barranquilla Carnival is a lively celebration of the country’s traditions. A vital cultural event, UNESCO declared it a Masterpiece of Humanity’s Intangible and Oral Heritage in 2003. Held in its namesake city of Barranquilla, the celebrations take place over four days of revelry leading up to Ash Wednesday, and open with La Batalla de Flores, or The Battle of Flowers. The most historic and important parade of all, it’s an explosion of rainbow shades, floral displays, flawless costumes and dazzling floats. There are processions and parties at every turn, while children can take part in costume workshops and even their special parade. Festivities draw to a close with the burial of the effigy of Joselito, the guardian of the carnival, who is burnt in an atmospheric ceremony.
Image by Tiago Lopes Fernandez
8
Carnival of Cadiz, Spain
Held annually in February/March
Cadiz’s central streets, blooming parks and bustling main stages become one big celebration for this beloved carnival, the oldest of its kind in mainland Spain. There are two codes always respected throughout the calendar of events: a commitment to all-out fun and a respect for Andalusian traditions. Where Latin America’s carnivals are filled with eccentric feathers and skin-tight costumes, in Cadiz, these are swapped for elaborate Spanish clothes, and there are magnificent processions that reflect the character of this region. Expect dances originating in the Spanish countryside, songs from ancient times and a traditional mocking of the powerful in centuries-old shows. Inspired by the theatrical carnivals in Venice, the Carnival of Cadiz is a distinctly Spanish celebration packed with historical significance. It’s no wonder it’s considered one of the best carnivals in the world.
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9
Mardi Gras, New Orleans, United States
Held annually in January/February/March
This legendary spectacle, held between Epiphany and Shrove Tuesday, is best described as pure madness. It’s an almighty party that sees more than 70 musical groups and their troupes compete for hundreds of thousands of excited spectators between the banks of the Mississippi River and Vieux-Carre in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Giant decorated floats meander down the road, while sweets, flowers and fake coins are launched into the air, and costumes in the event colours – mauve, green and gold – are practically obligatory. Marching bands play in the squares of the old town, boats with booming music sail on the river, and talented musical soloists occupy the pavements. Anyone experiencing Mardi Gras will be blown away by the spectacle of what the locals call ‘the greatest free show on earth’.
Image by Philip Gould/Getty Images
10
Venice Carnival, Italy
Held annually in February/March
One of the world’s best carnivals (and arguably the most famous carnival in Europe) is also one of the most sophisticated. It offers a mesmerising, luxurious and spellbinding peek at the history of Italy. There are period costumes reproduced with all the refinement of royalty; chic masked balls organised by exclusive hotels; private evenings with chamber orchestras and waxed parquet floors, and plenty more. Venice has a striking beauty at whatever time of the year, but it’s never more seductive than when it takes up the thread of its glorious history.
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Honourable mentions
Cutting this list down to just ten of our favourite carnivals around the world was a tough task, so here are a few that deserve an honourable mention…
Viareggio Carnival, Italy: This dramatic Italian carnival features six showstopping parades that showcase incredible papier-mâché art floats.
Madeira Carnival, Portugal: Colourful parades, lively music and samba dancers fill the streets in Funchal, the island’s capital, for this week-long festival.
Kingston Carnival, Jamaica: During this infectious fiesta, an explosion of colour, reggae and soca music, beach parties and dance spread across the island.
Festa de Sao Joao, Portugal: A celebration of Porto’s patron saint, Saint John, held every June. Visitors can enjoy parties, fireworks, parades, folk dances and bonfires that fill the city’s streets.
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