Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
The dazzling spectacle of feathers and sequins, the tantalizing aroma of local cuisine, the cheers of an electrified crowd, the hypnotic pulse of percussion... Nothing compares to the magic of a great carnival. In some cities, carnival weekends bring more festivities than any public holiday, transforming streets into a whirlwind of color and celebration.
From New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro, Venice to London, you can don your most eye-catching attire and dance from day to night in some of the world’s most iconic festivities.
Considered the biggest celebration of Carnival in the world, with two million people per day on the streets, the Rio de Janeiro Carnival is a festival held every year before Lent. The first Carnival festival in Rio occurred in 1723. The first Rio masquerade was held in 1840, featuring polka and waltz.
In the early 1900s, Samba and Batucada rhythms, now iconic to Rio Carnival, were introduced. With its roots in West African traditions brought to Brazil by enslaved peoples, the samba style of music and dance is now embedded in Rio's identity, and it's an integral part of Carnival.
With its exquisite costumes and distinctive decorative masks, the Carnival of Venice is renowned worldwide. This spectacular event features historical reenactments and lavish masquerade balls that look straight out of a movie set.
Dating back to the Middle Ages, the Carnival flourished for centuries before being abolished in 1797. Revived in 1979, it has since thrived, drawing three million visitors each year. Despite the packed streets and soaring hotel rates, three million people still flock to Venice to participate in the two-week extravaganza.
Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street festival, with around one million people taking to the streets of the city to celebrate London’s Caribbean communities, traditions, and cultures. You can usually expect to see some 50,000 performers in the parade with more than 30 sound systems.
Notting Hill Carnival was first held in 1966 attracting around 500 people. The carnival has since grown extensively, attracting more than one million people to West London over its weekend.
Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event, Belgium's Binche Carnival dates back to approximately the 14th century and includes many folkloric traditions, including a ritual of throwing oranges for good luck.
Participants can immerse themselves in the festivities by dressing as iconic characters such as Gilles, Peasants, Pierrots, and Harlequins. Among them, the Gilles are the most cherished, easily identified by their distinctive wax masks, wooden clogs, straw-filled costumes, and eccentric antics.
The oldest Carnival celebration in mainland Spain, Cádiz's festival originated from the city's trading partnership with Venice in the 16th century. Its main characteristic is humor. Through sarcasm, mockery, irony, and song, the main groups and the people of the street "purge" the most pressing problems of today.
The whole city participates in the carnival for more than two weeks each year. The most famous component of the festival is the singing groups, called chirigotas, who write and perform satirical lyrics.
The first recorded Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana took place on March 2, 1699, near the mouth of the Mississippi River in what is now Plaquemines Parish. Today, New Orleans boasts the longest revelry season, kicking off with Carnival and culminating in the world-famous Mardi Gras.
Fat Tuesday’s Mardi Gras has earned a reputation as America’s ultimate street party, but in New Orleans, the celebration goes far beyond a single day. Krewes, social organizations that plan extravagant parades, balls, and parties, keep the festive spirit alive year-round, especially in the weeks leading up to the big event.
