the origins of carnival or karnival


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The Essence of Carnival

Carnival dates back hundreds of years when the Catholic religion started the tradition of holding a costume festival the night before the first day of Lent. As meat, and other animal products, are not supposed to be eaten during Lent, this festival was called carnovale - from the Italian meaning 'farewell to the meat', from Latin carem (meat) vale (farewell). Carnival is a corruption of carnovale. Through time carnival has spread and is celebrated by all nations touched by Catholicism.

Derived from the word carnovale meaning 'to put away the meat', Carnival is a traditional celebration dating back hundreds of years to a Catholic practice of celebration the first day of Lent with a celebration the night before. As Catholics are not meant to consume meat or other animal products during the period of Lent, carnovale became the name applied to the festival of using up all remaining meat and animal products before the period of fasting began. This forbiddance is believed to be responsible for the association of eggs with Easter at the end of Lent

As the carnivals in Italy became more famous and known about, they spread through Spain and France to all Catholic countries. As the Spanish and Portuguese began to explore the Americas they took and integrated the practise of celebrating carnival with them. The next big influence on carnival was the slave trade and the impact of the African cultures.

African traditions of parading in circles through villages whilst wearing costumes and masks was believed to bring good fortune and drive away evil spirits returning them to the next world. Carnival has borrowed from these African traditions through the use of costumes and masks. The early costumes and masks used natural objects to create the costume/mask with each representing a spiritual force. The African influence extends to the use of drum rhythms, puppets, stilt walkers all now fully integrated in Carnival.

Across the world where Catholic colonies were established and the slave trade entered into, carnival remains strongest. Brazil, once a Portuguese colony holds a world-renowned carnival as does Louisiana where African-Americans mixed with the French settlers and indigenous Americans. Carnival celebrations are now integral to life across the Caribbean.

Carnival has become extended into a season with the celebration ending on Mardi-Gras. This is the cross-over between Carnovale (farewell the meat) and Mardi-Gras (Fat Tuesday - from the French). Both are celebrated, in their truest sense, the day before Lent commences on Ash Wednesday. 'Fat Tuesday' and Carnovale are therefore the last opportunity to celebrate before fasting begins. Mardi-Gras, Carnovale are also known as 'Shrove Tuesday' or 'Pancake Day' which is all that survives of Carnival following the Reformation in England.

The Mardi-Gras season officially starts on Twelfth Night which occurs 12 days after Christmas with Mardi-Gras day being 46 days before Easter. Today the whole Carnival season is marked by celebrations, parties, dance and music. Most celebrations and parties involve the wearing of costumes usually brightly coloured. Visit Karnival-House for a great range of fancy dress costumes for all occasions.