Carnival around the World

Carnival is one of the most anticipated festivals of the year around the world. And it’s not surprising, since for one night everyone can whoever he or she wants to be, protected by a mask or disguise. Also, on the night of Carnival anything goes, so you’re guaranteed to have a good time. This ancient celebration of pagan origins became popular in Europe during the Roman Empire and made the leap to the New World with the help of Spanish and Portuguese navigators in the fifteenth century. Today, Carnival is celebrated around the globe in a variety of ways, having adapted some of the local folk traditions from each place. Are you ready to experience carnival around the world? Cue the song Viva el Carnaval (Long Live Carnival)!

The first stop on our Carnival world tour is, of course, Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian metropolis holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest carnival. Year after year, the city’s sambódromo, designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, brings together nearly 70,000 people in exotic carnival parades to the rhythm of samba.

If you want to experience carnival in Rio de Janeiro, we suggest that you discover it while staying in an apartment near Copacabana beach, one of the most famous beaches of the city.

We reach our next stop on our tour of the carnivals around the World without leaving American soil, arriving in New Orleans. The Mardi Gras here (Fat Tuesday) is an institution in the carnival world and has also been the scene of several film productions with its multitudinous and colorful parades during which they like to throw out bead necklaces and toys to the public.

Returning to the Old Continent, our next destination is Venice. Its carnival dates from the eleventh century, although it didn’t garner the international recognition it enjoys today until the thirteenth century. During the days of celebration, masked participants take over the city of Venice, which returns to the seventeenth century, when the nobility disguised themselves in order to mingle with the people.

If you want to breathe the unique carnival atmosphere of Venice, we suggest doing it in an original Venetian apartment.

Our world tour of Carnivals continues in Nice. Over the course of 15 days, the French Riviera is witness to a special battle, the Battle of Flowers, featuring daisies, dahlias and carnations as unique weapons. Since 1873, the Promenade des Anglais has been home to this unique parade with floats full of flowers with the King of Music starring in 2015. If you0 want to get a head start on spring, check out our apartments in the French city.

 

The next stop on our worldwide tour of the most popular carnival celebrations is Binche, a small Belgian town in the heart of Wallonia. This carnival originated in 1549, when Emperor Charles V and his son Philip II traveled to the city, at the invitation of Maria Theresa of Austria, wife of French King Louis XIV. The celebrations for the Emperor were so grand that they gave birth to this unique carnival, which includes scenes representing the welcoming of the Spanish soldiers, nicknamed ‘Gilles’ from the name ‘Gil,’ and of the American Indians who accompanied them. One of the curiosities of this carnival party is that its participants throw oranges to commemorate the gifts once received from the Spanish troops.

 

Now, we’ve landed on the Iberian Peninsula to visit the Carnival in Sitges. This celebration, which dates back to the nineteenth century, is noted for its spectacular parades, which are reminiscent of the Brazilian Carnival in both its music and color. And since this massive carnival party is popular among young people, the festivities last until the wee hours of the morning. If you want to firsthand experience of the Carnival in Sitges, we suggest you do it while staying in an apartment with sea views.

Our tour of the Carnivals around the world ends with the Carnival of Cadiz. Declared of International Tourist Interest, this celebration is one of the most famous in Spain, with origins dating back to the late-sixteenth century. In addition to traditional costumes, this carnival is characterized by a great sense of humor. The local chirigotas, comparsas, choirs, and quartets focus their efforts on getting the audience to laugh, and there’s plenty of satire involved. Would you like to discover the Carnival of Cádiz? Take the opportunity to get to know it yourself while staying in an apartment by the sea.

Long live Carnival!