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What are the best carnivals in the world?
Get to know the cities with the best carnival parties
Carnival festivities have an ancient origin, dating back to the 13th century of our era, being celebrated mostly in countries with Christian traditions; as in Europe and the American continent.
Each of these places stands out for the magnitude of its festivals, with its massive celebrations, which manage to stop the lives of its inhabitants; who give themselves over to the party, wearing their masks and costumes, while witnessing numerous carnival shows.
Because we are very close to this celebration, today we will present you the best carnivals in the world.
Meet the Top 10 of the best carnivals in the world
1. Viareggio, Italy
Each city and country celebrates the carnival in a particular way, in Viareggio, the allegorical cars of 20 to 30 meters high, are the main protagonists.
These floats can be walking theaters, they move thanks to ingenious mechanisms, and they usually show themes of various kinds, from animals and imaginary figures, to cultural or political figures; going through issues of global interest, such as climate change, war or peace.
The Viareggio carnival lasts about a month, but the five parades with the most impressive floats are in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday.
Viareggio is a beautiful maritime city in the Italian Tuscany, it is located in Lucca, and the celebration is almost 150 years old.
2. Cologne, Germany
The Cologne carnival is one of the most famous in Germany and Europe, attracting thousands of tourists, both from the surrounding areas and from other countries.
Many consider it the funniest celebration in Germany, starting on November 11 at 11:11 in the morning.
Despite this, the carnival lasts until February or March, with Carnival Monday being its most important day.
On the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 and 11 in the morning, the celebration begins with parties and people dressed up in the streets, but there are no parades, since these begin in the month of February.
There are three figures known as the triumvirate, the Prince, the Peasant and the Virgin, all three are represented by men, who are chosen in January, with the Mayor in charge of delivering the titles.
These characters will visit nursing homes, places for infants, schools, etc., and will have an important participation, during the peak days of carnival.
Already on Carnival Thursday at 11 and 11 in the morning, the carnival festivities begin with "Women's Day", since they dress up carrying scissors to cut men's ties. A local tradition.
Carnival Monday is the "Day of the Roses", with the best parades, float presentations and the appearance of the triumvirate, where flowers and candies are thrown to the public; this being the most special day.
During these days, the city is filled with numerous cultural activities, music festivals and food fairs.
3. Tenerife, Spain
The carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is considered the best in the world after that of Rio de Janeiro ; and it is not for less, since it is a monumental party.
this carnival It has the particularity of being thematic, that is, the entire city adapts each year to a main theme.
The first to be held under this concept was in 1987, with the Roman Empire as the main theme, creating the atmosphere of a Roman temple.
Other great settings have been:
1989, entitled "Millenary Egypt", with its sphinxes in an Egyptian temple.
1990, "El Mundo de los Cuentos", creating the atmosphere of a children's story, the good part with happy houses, along with a darker and darker side.
2001. “Space Odyssey”, a clear and forceful nod to the Stanley Kubrick film, released in 1968.
This year 2022 it is expected that the central theme will be: "Science Fiction".
4. Ivrea, Italy
The histrionic fun of the Italians reaches its peak, with the carnivals of Ivrea, where the “Orange War” is celebrated, which is the biggest food battle in Europe.
Ivrea is located in the north of the country, in the Italian region of Piedmont, very close to the city of Turin,
It is one of the most famous carnivals in the world, and attracts thousands of tourists eager to participate in this great event.
The battle involves dividing the city into nine tribes, each equipped with helmets and other protections, throwing up to 20,000 oranges at each other.
Each tribe represents a district of the city, and they have, as in football, their flags, banners, banners and distinctive colors.
This battle of oranges is a memory and a representation of when the city of Ivrea rose up against the hosts of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The "fight" takes place for three days, with a group of referees who will observe the battle, giving one of the teams the winner.
When the winner is announced, a "funeral" is offered for those who lost the fight; in this sense, the entire city is plagued with the remains of the battle, that is, thousands of remains of oranges everywhere.
5. Basel, Switzerland
The most famous carnival in Switzerland and one of the most recognized worldwide, is the particular carnival of Basel; which is considered by the locals, the three most beautiful days of the year.
In the city of Basel, this celebration, unlike other carnivals, is celebrated after Ash Wednesday, that is, a week after the end of the most famous carnivals in the world.
On Monday after Ash Wednesday at 4 in the morning, the celebration begins, highlighting the exhibition of lanterns, which at nightfall, light up creating a magical atmosphere, full of pure color.
The next day, the streets are filled with people in costumes, with marches or parades of musicians, and children throwing confetti.
Wednesday is when the expected carnival parade takes place, with groups of people wearing impressive masks and costumes, marching through the main routes of the city.
At 4 am on Thursday the carnival comes to an end, with a final march of the carnival groups, wearing their masks and costumes.
6. Crop Over, Barbados
The Barbados Crop Over is another of the most famous carnivals in the world, with its caravans full of people dancing, sequined costumes and lots of fun.
This festival lasts 12 weeks, starting in July and ending in August, with August 1 being the most important day, thanks to its great carnival parade.
One of the main protagonists of this carnival is the artist Rihanna, who never misses this important event.
7. Nice, France
For fifteen days, the city of Nice in France dresses up with flowers, lights and large floats; celebrating its carnivals, which each year takes on a different theme.
The Nice carnival stands out for its large floats created by the best craftsmen in the world.
These floats can reach 20 meters in height, and will be the protagonists of the parades, both day and night, since at night, the floats are adorned with lights.
Another of the great attractions these days is the Battle of the Flowers, or Day of the Flowers, where those present usually throw flowers at each other, also throwing them from the floats to the public.
This celebration in Nice is considered one of the best carnivals in the world, due to its marked joy, artistic beauty, lights and party.
For the year 2022, the central theme will be the “King of Animals”.
8. New Orleans, United States
On Shrove Tuesday in New Orleans, the so-called Mardi Gras takes place, which is the most important carnival party in the United States.
It is one of the most famous and best carnivals in the world, with its street parties, masks and costumes, as well as the incredible floats, which parade throughout the city.
Mardi Gras is a celebration for the whole family, since in various parts of the city, carnival characters offer toys and gifts to children; although there are areas where the party becomes more intense.
The French Quarter and Canal Street are the places to go wild at Mardi Gras, with large banquets, lots of partying and numerous open bars.
9. Venice, Italy
The Venice Carnival in Italy is not only one of the most famous in the world, but it is also the oldest on the planet.
The characteristic touch of this wonderful carnival are its iconic masks, which inspired part of the clothing in the film "Eyes Wide Shut", by film director Stanley Kubrick.
The costumes and masks of this celebration recall the outfits of the 17th century, when the Venetian aristocracy used these costumes to mingle with the people, participating in large parties and banquets.
The main point of the celebration is the mythical Plaza de San Marcos.
10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
We now arrive in Rio de Janeiro, a Brazilian city where the best and most famous carnivals in the world take place, with four days full of floats, dance, and fun.
This event attracts millions of people from all over the world, who gather in this city to watch the competition between the best samba schools in Brazil.
On the first day of carnival, the festivities begin at the Marques de Sapucaí Sambadrome, when the prefect of Rio de Janeiro hands over the keys to the city to King Momo, who will be in charge of taking the party to every corner of Rio.
Later, the parades of the samba schools begin, with majestic floats and a lot of dancing, which in addition to orchestrating a great show, the presentations can call for reflection on different aspects of society, both Brazilian and worldwide.
This carnivalesque celebration brings together different cultural elements, the indigenous of Brazil, the African heritage and the European influence; all this in a single party, which is considered by many to be the best carnival in the world.
