Carnival is a global celebration observed in over 50 countries.
It features a range of cultural expressions from samba in Brazil to masked balls in Italy.
Historical Origins
Ancient Egypt: Originally a pagan festival to usher out winter and celebrate spring.
Ancient Greece: Adopted the festival after the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great.
Roman Empire: Assimilated the festival from the Greeks and integrated it with Christian traditions, evolving into "Carne Vale."
Meaning of 'Carne Vale': In Latin, "carne" means "meat" and "vale" means "farewell," symbolizing the feast before the Lenten fast in the Catholic calendar.
Carnival in Europe
18th-century Italy: Fancy-dress parties before Lent became popular.
Spread across Europe with the spread of Christianity.
Global Spread
Colonial Impact: Colonization spread the carnival to various parts of the world.
Brazil: Portuguese colonists took Lent to Brazil along with African slaves, resulting in a fusion of European and African rituals creating Brazil's famous carnival.
The carnival in Brazil celebrates its mixed heritage and significantly boosts the economy (e.g., 1.1 million tourists in Rio, 2016, contributing $900 million).
Caribbean (Trinidad): Introduced by French colonists. Excluded slaves created their own celebrations with Calypso music.
India (Goa): Celebrated in Goa, a former Portuguese colony, featuring parades and floats.
United States (New Orleans): Known as Mardi Gras, contributing significantly (over 2%) to the city's GDP.
Carnival in Unlikely Places
Quebec, Canada: Hosts the third-largest carnival celebration in the world.
Economic and Cultural Significance
From modest beginnings, carnival has become a global celebration involving millions and contributing billions of dollars to the global economy. It is not just a celebration in the sun but a major cultural event worldwide.