PHOTOS: 2014 Carnival celebrations around the world
February 27, 2014
Carnival participants pose for pictures during the carnival procession (Fasnacht), in the historic center of Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
People celebrate the start of the carnival season around the carnival fountain in Mainz, Germany, 27†February 2014. The street carnival starts with the Women's Carnival Day in Germany's carnival strongholds like Mainz, Duesseldorf or Cologne, when women enter the town halls and symbolically take over power. EPA/ FREDRIK VON ERICHSEN ( GERMANY CARNIVAL )
Revelers in carnival costumes attend the opening of the Lucerne carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland, on the so-called dirty Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Sigi Tischler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
A woman smiles behind her mask when tens of thousands revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
A carnival participant in costume poses in the historic center of Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
A young reveler wears a sheep-fur costume and wooden mask as he with others gets ready for the traditional carnival parade in the yard of a house in Mohacs, 189 kms south of Budapest, Hungary, 27 February 2014. The carnival parade of the so-called busos, wearing costumes and wooden masks, using various noisy wooden rattlers is traditionally held on the seventh weekend before Easter to drive away winter, and is a revival of a legend, which says that ethnic Croats ambushed the Osmanli Turkish troops, who escaped in panic seeing the terrifying figures during the Turkish occupation of Hungary. EPA/TAMAS SOKI HUNGARY OUT ( HUNGARY CARNIVAL )
Revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival with its tradition of entering the town halls and women cutting off men's ties with scissors on carnival's so called "Old Women's Day" in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) ( Germany Carnival )
A customer leaves a popular sweet shop in Warsaw, Poland with packets full of fresh jam-filled doughnuts, or Paczki, after having stood in line for some four three to get the cakes traditionally eaten on the last Thursday of carnival, the Fat Thursday in Warsaw, Poland, Feb. 27, 2014.. Long lines in front of sweet shops are a traditional sight in Poland on this Thursday. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) ( Poland Carnival Fat Thursday )
Shoppers try out an outfit for carnival in a party goods store in Tilburg, The Netherlands, 26 February 2014. The festive event will be held on 02 and 03 March. EPA/LEX VAN LIESHOUT ( NETHERLANDS CARNIVAL )
Carnival participant wearing A grotesque mask arriveS to take part in a procession through the historic centre of Lucerne, Switzerland 27 February 2014 at the start of the annual traditional Fasnacht (Carnival) celebrations. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL CHARACTERS )
Carnival participants arrive to take part in a procession through the historic centre of Lucerne, Switzerland 27 February 2014 at the start of the annual traditional Fasnacht (Carnival) celebrations. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL CHARACTERS )
A carnival character in full costume walks with a tray of sunglasses as he arrives to take part in a procession through the historic centre of Lucerne, Switzerland 27 February 2014 at the start of the annual traditional Fasnacht (Carnival) celebrations. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL CHARACTERS )
Fireworks explode into the sky above Lake Lucerne marking the start of the Carnival, in Lucerne, Switzerland, early morning 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( epaselect SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Masked revelers parade through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/URS FLUEELER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
With a noisy big bang (locally known as Urknall) at 5.00 a.m local time and confetti hanging above the kapellplatz square thousands of revelers celebrate the start of the carnival session in Lucerne, Switzerland, early morning 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Masked revelers parade through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/URS FLUEELER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Revelers celebrate the start of the carnival session in Lucerne, Switzerland, early morning 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Woman in carnival costumes pose in front of the cathedral in Cologne, Germany, 27 February 2014. The street carnival starts with the Women's Carnival Day in Germany's carnival strongholds like Mainz, Duesseldorf or Cologne, when women enter the town halls and symbolically take over power. EPA/OLIVER BERG ( GERMANY CARNIVAL )
Boris celebrates carnival on the Hay Market in Cologne, Germany, 27 February 2014. The street carnival starts with the Women's Carnival Day in Germany's carnival strongholds like Mainz, Duesseldorf or Cologne, when women enter the town halls and symbolically take over power. EPA/Rolf Vennenbernd ( GERMANY CARNIVAL )
Carnival participants pose for pictures during the carnival procession (Fasnacht), in the historic center of Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
A member in costume of a carnival band joins the carnival procession (Fasnacht), in the historic center of Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Carnival participants pose for pictures during the carnival procession (Fasnacht), in the historic center of Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
People celebrate the start of the carnival season around the carnival fountain in Mainz, Germany, 27 February 2014. Carnival has begun in many locations in Germany. EPA/ FREDRIK VON ERICHSEN ( epaselect GERMANY CARNIVAL )
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 26: Nominee Yolanda Mendoza (C) prepares at backstage for her performance on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings thousands of revelers every year . Santa Cruz is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival from Rio Janeiro. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) ( 475233407 )
Revelers parade during the 'Schmotzige Dunschtig' (lit.: Dirty Thursday), a South-German carnival tradition in Bonndorf, Germany, 27 February 2014. EPA/PATRICK SEEGER ( GERMANY CARNIVAL )
Masked revelers parade through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/URS FLUEELER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Masked revelers parade through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/URS FLUEELER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Masked revelers parade through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/URS FLUEELER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Masks are laid out prior to the great parade through the streets of the city during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/URS FLUEELER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Young revelers wear sheep-fur costumes as they get ready for the traditional carnival parade in the yard of a house in Mohacs, 189 kms south of Budapest, Hungary, 27 February 2014. EPA/TAMAS SOKI ( HUNGARY CARNIVAL )
Nominee Ana Belen Sepulveda prepares at backstage for her performance on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings thousands of revellers every year . Santa Cruz is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival from Rio Janeiro. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) ( 475233411 )
Young revelers wearing masks get ready for the traditional carnival parade in the yard of a house in Mohacs, 189 kms south of Budapest, Hungary, 27 February 2014. EPA/TAMAS SOKI ( HUNGARY CARNIVAL )
Young revelers wearing sheep-fur costumes chat as they get ready for the traditional carnival parade in the yard of a house in Mohacs, 189 kms south of Budapest, Hungary, 27 February 2014. EPA/TAMAS SOKI ( HUNGARY CARNIVAL )
Masked revelers tour through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Urs Flueeler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
A masked reveler parades through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, 27 February 2014. EPA/URS FLUEELER ( SWITZERLAND CARNIVAL )
Four women are dressed us as witches when tens of thousands of revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
Revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival with its tradition of entering the town halls and women cutting off men's ties with scissors on carnival's so called "Old Women's Day" in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) ( Germany Carnival )
Revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival with its tradition of entering the town halls and women cutting off men's ties with scissors on carnival's so called "Old Women's Day" in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) ( Germany Carnival )
Amanda Perdomo celebrates after being elected Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings every year thousands of revellers. Santa Cruz is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival from Rio Janeiro. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) ( 475112643 )
Wood sculptor Adrian Burger chisels at a wooden mask that he is preparing for a client for Carnival, locally called Fastnacht or Fasnet, at his workshop on February 26, 2014 in Elzach, Germany. Burger produces about 120 masks a year for local revelers but also for collectors, and is one of four artisans in Elzach who have specialized in the masks in a local tradition going back to the 16th century. Carnival in the region is already underway and will continue through early next week in celebrations similar to shrovetide or Mardi Gras. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) ( 475195125 )
Nominee Amanda Perdomo poses for photographs at backstage before she was elected as Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings thousands of revellers every year. Santa Cruz is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival from Rio Janeiro. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) ( 475233431 )
A man in a superman costume talks on his cellphone when tens of thousands of revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
A man dressed up as the killed giraffe from the Copenhagen zoo walks in the street when tens of thousands of revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
Revelers in carnival costumes attend the opening of the Lucerne carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland, on the so-called dirty Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Sigi Tischler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
Nominee Gara Ramos stands on stage after her performance on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings thousands of revellers every year . Santa Cruz is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival from Rio Janeiro. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) ( 475233403 )
A little girl indulges in Poland's tradition of eating jam-filled doughnuts, or Paczki after having stood in line for some three hours to get the cakes traditionally eaten on the last Thursday of carnival, the Fat Thursday in Warsaw, Poland, Feb. 27, 2014. Long lines in front of sweet shops are a traditional sight in Poland on this Thursday. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) ( Poland Carnival Fat Thursday )
A woman dressed as a nun and a man as a pilot dance in the street when tens of thousands revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
Revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival with its tradition of entering the town halls and women cutting off men's ties with scissors on carnival's so called "Old Women's Day" in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) ( Germany Carnival )
A woman smiles at a man with a horse head when tens of thousands of revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
Revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival with its tradition of entering the town halls and women cutting off men's ties with scissors on carnival's so called "Old Women's Day" in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) ( Germany Carnival )
Members of a carnival band in costumes attend the opening of the Lucerne carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland, on the so-called dirty Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Sigi Tischler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
Masked revelers tour through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Urs Flueeler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
Two girls waiting on stairs in a street when tens of thousands of revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
Members of a carnival band in costumes attend the opening of the Lucerne carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland, on the so-called dirty Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Sigi Tischler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
Two men kiss a girl on the street when tens of thousands revelers dressed in carnival costumes celebrate the start of the street-carnival on the so called "Old Women's Day" in the party capital Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) ( Germany Carnival )
A reveler in a carnival costume attends the opening of the Lucerne carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland, on the so-called dirty Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Sigi Tischler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
Masked revelers tour through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Urs Flueeler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
Masked revelers tour through the streets during the start of the carnival season in Lucerne, Switzerland, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Keystone, Urs Flueeler) ( Switzerland Carnival )
In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, 19-month-old Daniele De Sanctis, dressed up as a pope, is handed to Pope Francis as he is driven through the crowd during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. Francis kissed the child as the new must-have Carnival costume made its debut at the pope's general audience Wednesday. During Carnival in Italy, children often go to school and spend their weekends dressed up in pirate, princess and now pope costumes. Carnival, also known as mardi gras, marks the period before the church's solemn Lenten season begins. Daniele's mother, Paola Ciabattini, said she dressed her son as a pope in a demonstration of affection towards Pope Francis. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho) ( Vatican Pope )
A member of 'Grupo Especial Tom Maior' samba school performs during celebrations of the Carnival at the sambadrome of Anhembi in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 01 March 2014. EPA/SEBASTIAO MOREIRA ( BRAZIL CARNIVAL )
Mud covered revelers attend the "Bloco da Lama" or "mud street party" underneath a hazy sky and orange smoke caused by smoke bombs thrown by revelers, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Costumes are the name of the game at most of Rio de Janeiro's nearly 500 raucous Carnival street parties, with revelers dressed up as everything from devils to firefighters to sexy angels. But at the Bloco da Lama street celebration in the coastal resort town of Paraty, swamp monster is the acceptable disguise. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) ( Brazil Carnival )
Parade goers gather ahead of the start of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Sydney, Saturday, Mar 1, 2014. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) ( 2014 MARDI GRAS PARADE )
Drummers from the Academicos do Tucuruvi samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) ( Brazil Carnival )
Tongue poking moment by a colourful character of 'Grupo Especial Tom Maior' samba school performs during celebrations of the Carnival at the sambadrome of Anhembi in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 01 March 2014. EPA/Sebasti„o Moreira ( BRAZIL CARNIVAL )
People attend the 'Cordao da Bola Preta' traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on March 01, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) ( 475798563 )
A reveler dressed as a character from the movie Avatar poses for a photo at the 'Ceu na Terra' block party during Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Rio de Janeiro's over-the-top Carnival is the highlight of the year for many local residents. Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers will take to Rio's streets in the nearly 500 open-air "bloco" parties. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) ( Brazil Carnival )
A carnival goer holding two beers stands in the streets after the Malostranky carnival parade in Prague, Czech Republic, 01 March 2014. 'Masopust' meaning carnival in Czech is considered the last opportunity to celebrate and eat rich food before the start of the 40-day Lent period. EPA/FILIP SINGER ( CZECH REPUBLIC PRAGUE CARNIVAL )
A carnival goer wearing a gorilla cotume drinks a beer during the Malostranky carnival parade in Prague, Czech Republic, 01 March 2014. 'Masopust' meaning carnival in Czech is considered the last opportunity to celebrate and eat rich food before the start of the 40-day Lent period. EPA/FILIP SINGER ( CZECH REPUBLIC PRAGUE CARNIVAL )
Carnival goers take part at the Malostranky carnival parade in Prague, Czech Republic, 01 March 2014. 'Masopust' meaning carnival in Czech is considered the last opportunity to celebrate and eat rich food before the start of the 40-day Lent period. EPA/FILIP SINGER ( CZECH REPUBLIC PRAGUE CARNIVAL )
A handout photograph provided by Mayor's Office of Recife on 01 March 2014 shows the 'bloco' Galo da Madrugada (lit.: Cock of the Early Morning') during carnival celebrations in Recife, Brazil. EPA/MARCOS PASTICH / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVES ( BRAZIL CARNIVAL )
A man takes part in the Las Palmas' Carnival Parade held in the main streets of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, 01 March 2014. EPA/ANGEL MEDINA G ( SPAIN CARNIVAL )
People take part in the Las Palmas' Carnival Parade held in the main streets of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, 01 March 2014. EPA/ANGEL MEDINA G ( SPAIN CARNIVAL )
People take part in the Las Palmas' Carnival Parade held in the main streets of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, 01 March 2014. EPA/ANGEL MEDINA G ( SPAIN CARNIVAL )
Masked people attend to the carnival procession in the city of Strumica, some 150 km south-east of Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 01 March 2014. On this day Macedonians mark Trimery, an Orthodox Christian holiday, when evil spirits are chased away with dance rituals. The holiday marks the beginning of the fasting period ahead of Easter. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI ( FYROM CARNIVAL )
Masked people attend to the carnival procession in the city of Strumica, some 150 km south-east of Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 01 March 2014. On this day Macedonians mark Trimery, an Orthodox Christian holiday, when evil spirits are chased away with dance rituals. The holiday marks the beginning of the fasting period ahead of Easter. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI ( FYROM CARNIVAL )
Carnival goers during the Malostranky carnival parade in Prague, Czech Republic, 01 March 2014. 'Masopust' meaning carnival in Czech is considered the last opportunity to celebrate and eat rich food before the start of the 40-day Lent period. EPA/FILIP SINGER ( CZECH REPUBLIC PRAGUE CARNIVAL )
Masked people attend to the carnival procession in the city of Strumica, some 150 km south-east of Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 01 March 2014. On this day Macedonians mark Trimery, an Orthodox Christian holiday, when evil spirits are chased away with dance rituals. The holiday marks the beginning of the fasting period ahead of Easter. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI ( FYROM CARNIVAL )
Masked people attend to the carnival procession in the city of Strumica, some 150 km south-east of Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 01 March 2014. On this day Macedonians mark Trimery, an Orthodox Christian holiday, when evil spirits are chased away with dance rituals. The holiday marks the beginning of the fasting period ahead of Easter. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI ( FYROM CARNIVAL )
Masked people attend to the carnival procession in the city of Strumica, some 150 km south-east of Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 01 March 2014. On this day Macedonians mark Trimery, an Orthodox Christian holiday, when evil spirits are chased away with dance rituals. The holiday marks the beginning of the fasting period ahead of Easter. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI ( FYROM CARNIVAL )
Members of dancing group 'Cariocas' perfom during a carnival parade in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, 01 March 2014. EPA/RAMON DE LA ROCHA ( SPAIN CARNIVAL )
Participants dressed in costume attend the Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia, 01 March 2014. The floods in the country, which have left 59 dead, affected the traditional carnival this year, recognized by Unesco as an intangible and oral heritage of humanity since 2001. EPA/STR ( BOLIVIA CARNIVAL )
Two mud-covered revelers, center, dance during the "Bloco da Lama" or "mud street party" in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Fans of the "Bloco da Lama," insist the event is among the most democratic of the thousands of booze-filled parties that take over BrazilÌs streets throughout Carnival, because revelers do not need to buy costumes, but instead create a disguise by smearing handfuls of mud on their bodies, some adding a crown and/or a skirt of swampy vines. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) ( Brazil Carnival )
People gather watch an effigy of Lady Winter burning, with one couple wearing traditional carnival masks, during Shrovetide celebrations, in the Rumsiskes village, some 89 kilometers (56 miles) north of Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Shrovetide is a traditional Lithuanian holiday marking the end of winter. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) ( Lithuania Shrovetide )
Costumed revelers perform during the carnival procession in the southeastern Macedonia's town of Strumica, on Saturday, March 1, 2014. Some 2.500 disguised people participated Saturday, on the main carnival evening in Strumica. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) ( Macedonia Strumica Carnival )
Mud covered revelers dance and sing at the "Bloco da Lama" or "mud street partyî underneath an overcast sky in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. The "Bloco da Lama" was founded in 1986 by two local teens who became local Carnival sensations after they appeared in the city's historic downtown covered in mud following a crab hunting expedition in a nearby mangrove forest, said Diana Rodrigues, who was hired by Paraty's City Hall to explain the history of the ìblocoî to foreigners. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) ( Brazil Carnival )
Dancers from the Vai-Vai samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) ( Brazil Carnival )
Mud-covered revelers frolic in ocean waters during the "Bloco da Lama" or "mud street partyî in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. "Bloco da Lama" was founded in 1986 by two local teens who became local Carnival sensations after they appeared in the cityís historic downtown covered in mud following a crab hunting expedition in a nearby mangrove forest, said Diana Rodrigues, who was hired by Paraty's City Hall to explain the history of the "Bloco" to foreigners. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) ( Brazil Carnival )
Dressed as The Big Bad Wolf from the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, a reveler strums a cavaquinho, a small four-stringed guitar, at the Heaven on Earth block party during Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Rio's over-the-top Carnival is the highlight of the year for many local residents. Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers will take to the streets in the nearly 500 open-air "Bloco" parties. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) ( Brazil Carnival )
Dancers from the Vai-Vai samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) ( Brazil Carnival )
Mud-covered revelers dance during the "Bloco da Lama" or "mud street party" in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Extravagant costumes need not apply at the "Bloco da Lama" Carnival street party, where revelers dispense with pirate, princess and devil disguises in favor of a thick, head-to-toe layers of black mud. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) ( Brazil Carnival )
Nominee for Queen of the 2014 Santa Cruz carnival Noemi Hormiga takes part on the opening parade of the carnival on February 28, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings thousands of revelers every year. Santa Cruz is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival from Rio de Janeiro. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) ( 475718151 )
A member of the Dragoes da Real samba school performs during the first night of the Sao Paulo's Carnival parade at the Sambodromo on February 28, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Bufolin/Getty Images) ( 475733269 )
People attend the 'Cordao da Bola Preta' traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on March 01, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) ( 475798561 )
People attend the 'Cordao da Bola Preta' traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on March 01, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) ( 475798607 )
People attend the 'Cordao da Bola Preta' traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on March 01, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) ( 475798617 )
People attend the 'Cordao da Bola Preta' traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on March 01, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) ( 475798631 )
People attend the 'Cordao da Bola Preta' traditional street carnival parade at Rio Branco avenue on March 01, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) ( 475798633 )
The Pereira family revels in fake snow while dancing during the 'Ceu na Terra' street carnival bloco on March 1, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) ( 475807141 )
Revelers pose during the 'Ceu na Terra' street carnival bloco on March 1, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) ( 475807181 )
Revelers kiss while posing during the 'Ceu na Terra' street carnival bloco on March 1, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) ( 475808189 )
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