February 20, 2009

Carnival season around the world

It's party time again. People all over the world, from Haiti to Brazil and France, are taking to the streets to celebrate

Carnival: Carnival in Mainz, Germany — Mainz, Germany: Carnival dancers walk through the rain-soaked streets during the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Carnival: Vila Isabel samba school at Rio Carnival — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A samba school rides a float in the Sambadrome Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters

Carnival: A drag queen competition during carnival festivities on Gran Canaria — Las Palmas, Spain: A drag queen competition during carnival festivities on the island of Gran Canaria Photograph: Borja Suarez/Reuters

Carnival: A man in a carnival dress is covered with snow after a sledge race — Gaissach, Germany: A man in a carnival dress is covered with snow after a Bavarian sledge race called 'Schnablerrennen' Photograph: Alexandra Beier/Reuters

Carnival: A man in a mask participates in carnival celebrations in Ecuador — Guaranda, Ecuador: A reveller in a mask participates in the traditional carnival celebrations Photograph: Guillermo Granja/Reuters

Carnival: CArnival in Oruro, Bolivia — Oruro, Bolivia: A reveller parades during carnival celebrations Photograph: Dado Galdieri/AP

Carnival: Carnival in Paraty, Brazil — Paraty, Brazil: Revellers covered with mud perform during the "Bloco da Lama" street carnival parade Photograph: Joao Padua/AFP/Getty Images

Carnival: Carnival in Rijeka, Croatia — Rijeka, Croatia: People dance in the northern Adriatic port Photograph: Hrvoje Polan/AFP/Getty Images

Carnival: Carnival of Barranquilla — Barranquilla, Colombia: Carnival groups march during the Batalla de Flores parade. Colombia's Carnival of Barranquilla was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to be a tradition of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003 Photograph: Ricardo Maldonado/EPA

Carnival: Hungarians at a traditional Buso carnival in Mohacs — Mohacs, Hungary: People wearing wooden masks step out of boats after crossing the river Danube during the traditional Buso carnival Photograph: Karoly Arvai/Reuters

Carnival: Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Children dance to soca as they perform carnival — Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Children dance to soca music as they perform during a children's Carnival parade Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Carnival: Rival teams pelt each other with orangesat carnival in Ivrea Italy — Ivrea , Italy: Rival teams pelt each other with oranges during an annual Carnival battle in the northern Italian town Photograph: Chris Helgren/Reuters

Carnival: Vila Isabel samba school dance during the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Members of Vila Isabel samba school dance during the first night of the Carnival parade Photograph: Fernando Soutello/Reuters

Carnival: carnival Torres Vedras , Portugal — Torres Vedras, Portugal: Carnival goers dressed as miners, arrive at the village parade Photograph: Jose Manuel Ribeiro/Reuters

Carnival: carnival in Curuca, Brazil — Curuca, Brazil: Carnival goers covered in mud from mangrove swamps before parading in the streets at the point where the Amazon River meets the Atlantic Ocean Photograph: Paulo Santos/Reuters

Carnival: sartiglia carnival — Sardinia, Italy: A man dressed as a knight rides a horse at the end of the 544th Carnival of Sardinia Photograph: Mario Laporta/AFP/Getty Images

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Venice, Italy, 15 February 2009: Costumed revellers walk in Saint Mark's square during a performance to mark the beginning of the this year's 'Sensation of the Six Senses' Carnival Photograph: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Asunción, Paraguay, 14 February 2009: A dancer joins the fun in the third week of the Encarnación carnival. Paraguayan Carnival is held in February all around the country, the most popular celebrations take place in Encarnación, Villarica and Caacupé Photograph: Diego Benitez/EPA

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15 February 2009: Carnival revellers walk with their costumed dogs during pre-carnival festivities on Copacabana beach. The pets are entered in a pre-carnival fashion parade, now in its seventh year Photograph: Bruno Domingos/Reuters

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Montevideo, Uruguay, 5 February 2009: Uruguayan painter Carlos Paez Vilaro (left) plays the drum with members of a 'comparsa', carnival band, in the 'llamadas' parade - Spanish for 'calls'. On the first Thursday and Friday of February, thousands of people crowd the capital's traditionally black neighbourhood as costumed drummers and dancers kick off this street fiesta, which originated from the colonial period as a parade of slaves on the streets of the city Photograph: Andres Stapff/Reuters

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Jacmel, Haiti, February 15 2009: Haitians celebrate Carnival, which is marked by parades, pageants, masked balls, elaborate costumes, seductive music and great dancing on the streets. Festivities bring a diversity of cultures to the area Photograph: Thony Belizaire/AFP

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Nice, France, 14 February 2009: People take part in a parade of the 125th Nice Carnival. This year the theme will celebrate 'the art of concealment in all its senses', from wearing a simple mask to changing appearances with plastic surgery Photograph: Valery Hache/AFP

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Quebec City, Canada, 14 February 2009: People play in the snow during the Carnival 'snow bath' Photograph: Mathieu Belanger/Reuters

World Carnival's: Carnival's around the world in early 2009 — Canary Islands, Spain, 14 February 2009: A dancer takes to the stage during the Carnival Group Contest in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Photograph: Cristobal Garcia/EPA

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