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Praying woman with
ashen cross on her forehead |
Introduction and Religious Significance
As
part of my ongoing posts about religious holiday observance, I would
like to share another religious tradition that starts this week: the
Christian Lenten season.
In 2018, for Christians in the Roman Catholic,
Chaldean, Anglican, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and
several other Western Christian traditions, the season begins on February 14 with Ash Wednesday.
For Christians in the Eastern Orthodox traditions using the Julian calendar, the season begins on February 19 with Clean Monday, but (atypically) the dates on the Julian and Gregorian calendars The same holds true for 2018 in the Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches, Great Lent (in the latter two churches known as Abiy Tsom) when the Lenten Season begins on February 19 as well.
Normally, the dating for the observance varies markedly among the three traditions. Last year, 2017, the alignment of all three dating systems on the same set of dates was an anomaly.
Ash
Wednesday, Clean Monday and the season associated with Lent, Great Lent
and Abiy Tsom are all very important holidays in their respective
traditions, and you should accommodate employees, students or others who
may need to miss activities during at least part of the day in
observance.
It
should be noted that while many Protestant traditions observe Lent,
other Protestant traditions specifically bar the observance of Lent.
Some Protestant denominations are divided in their view of the season;
for example, some United Church of Christ and Baptist congregations
oppose its observance while others support its observance. Additionally,
some Protestant denominations, such as the Mennonites, that formerly
opposed the observance of Lent have begun to recognize its practice in
varying degrees in recent years.
Variations in Dating the Holiday
The
season itself runs for 40 days and is called Lent in the Western
traditions and Great Lent or the Great Fast in the Eastern traditions. is
a time of introspection for many Christians, and often focuses on
questions of mortality and on Jesus' sufferings and sacrifice. In
the Western traditions, Sundays are not counted in the 40 days. In the
Eastern Orthodox traditions, Sundays are counted. Within the Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches the Lenten season lasts for 56 days in which period, traditionally only one meal per day is eaten.
To
keep in the spirit of these somber subjects, many Christians observe
some sort of restrictive behavior, for example many people abstain from
alcohol or from attending parties. In some traditions, observers fast
during the day or restrict themselves to one meal only. For others,
observers maintain a vegetarian diet. For still other traditions,
observers give up something they particularly enjoy such as sweets or
ice cream. In many traditions, the fast or abstinence is lifted on the
six Sundays during Lent. In Irish tradition, the fast is lifted for St.
Patrick's Day (March 17).
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Priest placing an ashen cross
on worshiper's forehead |
For Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Anglicans, Ash Wednesday
is usually observed by attending Mass and having the priest mark one's
forehead with ashes that have been blessed. The ashes are traditionally
made from the palm fronds used in the preceding year’s Palm Sunday. The
day is often observed as a full fast day. Ashes have a long
traditional association with repentance in these traditions. Many other
traditions have modified observance with sermons or other recognition of
the holiday.
The
holiday itself has its origins in the New Testament, which relates that
Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting before he began his ministry.
While in the desert, Jesus withstood the temptations of Satan.
Because the tradition of Lent is so somber, many Roman Catholic cultures have embraced a massive celebration on the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. This will take placein 2017 on Tuesday, February 28. Many of the festivities begin well before this date as well.
The most significant celebration of the day, however, is not in the US
at all, but is the Carnaval of Brazil. The festival begins on the
Friday before Ash Wednesday (this year starting on February 24) and runs
until Ash Wednesday begins. Most Brazilian cities hold a Carnaval
celebration (as do Brazilian communities worldwide). While Rio is, by far, the largest Brazilian Carnaval celebration, it is far from the only one. Most regions and major cities of Brazil have their own Carnaval, each with its own distinctive traditions. Carnaval in Brazil from 1641 with official status coming in 1724.
Carnaval of Rio
 |
Elaborate floats are part of
the Rio Parade |
The
largest of the Brazilian celebrations is the Carnaval of Rio de
Janeiro. It is claimed that the Rio Carnaval is the largest annual
gathering of people in the world; although this claim is often disputed,
it is unquestionably the largest annual gathering of people in South America. For example, the Rio Carnival annually attracts over 5 million people over 5 days, with between 2 and 2.3 million per day in the main streets. To put this in perspective, that same year, New Orleans' Mardi Gras hit a record for attendance of 1.2 million, about half that of the average Carnaval single-day street attendance, and roughly the number of just foreign-tourists alone at the Rio Carnaval.
Carnaval in Rio has a major impact on the city's -- and country's -- tourism revenues. In 2017 (the last year with full figures at the time of this blog), Brazil's government estimated that there were roughly 1.1 million foreign tourists (up from 977,000 in 2015 and just 400,000 in 2011), generating US $431.9 million in foreign tourism alone.
Nor is the economic impact simply limited to those watching. There are over competing samba schools at the Rio Carnaval. The samba schools spend US$ 5 million on the parade annually.
 |
| Elaborate costumes at the Rio Carnaval |
The
Carnaval of Rio is also one of the oldest pre-Lenten celebrations,
taking place annually since 1641. The Rio Carnaval has at its core the
so-called
blocos or block
parades tied to individual neighborhood blocks. Participants dress in
elaborate costumes with a particular theme for each year.
Blocos compose
original music and dances which they combine with traditional songs and
samba dances. Various samba schools prepare all year to compete in
dance and music competitions, the most important of which are held at
the 90,000-seat
Sambadrome
Marquês de Sapucaí for four consecutive nights from 8:00 PM until the
following morning. The five winning samba schools then are allowed to
parade on the Saturday following Ash Wednesday.
São Paulo Carnaval
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Samba competitors
at the Anhembi Sambodrome |
The
São Paulo Carnaval, like that in Rio, centers on samba competitions with annual themes. The São Paulo competitions usually last for two nights are held at the 30,000-seat Anhembi Sambodrome.
The São Paulo Carnaval samba competition takes place on the Friday and Saturday before Lent. Since this occurs before Rio's Carnaval (on Sunday and Monday night), the timing allows attendance for both.
While the Rio Carnaval may be Brazil's most famous and prestigious, the Säo Paulo Carnaval holds the world record for samba band people gathered in one spot. This took place at Republic Square in 2011 when 1,038 samba people gathered at one time for a massive performance.
Considered the "poor person's alternative" to Rio, the São Paulo Carnaval by design keeps ticket prices at events purposely low to all all Paulistanos to be able to afford attendance.
 |
Trio Elétrico
at the São Paulo Carnaval |
The São Paulo Carnaval is additionally famous for the use of the
trio elétrico (also called the carros alegóricos) which are huge floats or trucks. The trio elétrico is fitted out with sound systems which amplify the performances of the singers who stand on their roof.
Bahian Carnaval
The trio elétrico is the central focus of Carnaval in the state of Bahia, and indeed it was in Bahia that the trio elétrico was first introduced.
 |
Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio
atop a trio elétrico at the Salvador Carnaval |
The largest of the Carnavals in Bahia is in the city of Salvador, but most cities in the state have their own version. The festivities throughout the state last roughly for a week, each day going on for 16 hours. Salvador's Carnaval is primarily a Brazilian only event, with 600,000 tourists of whom only 10% are foreign.
 |
| Afoxés |
The Bahian Carnaval has many elements that are quite separate from the Roman Catholic Church. These focus on the Afro-Brazilian afoxés who perform puxada do ijexá drumming that honors the orixás (dieties of the Afro-Brazilian religions of Candomblé and Santería).
Because of the influence of the Afro-Brazilian religions, the music and
dance of the Bahian Carnavals differs significantly from that of those
in Rio and São Paulo, with significantly greater African influences.
Carnaval in Pernambuco
Throughout the state of Pernambuco, cities and towns hold there own variety of Carnavals. The two largest of these are the Recife and Olinda Carnavals. Pernambuco Carnavals also differ musically from the rest of Brazil. As in Bahia, the celebrations last a week; however, unlike Bahia (or Rio or São Paulo), the Recife and Olinda Carnavals have no group competitions. The music played and dancing performed in Pernambuco is unique to the state.
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| Frevo dancer |
There are two main varieties: the frevo and the maracatu. Frevo
is an intense, fast-paced form that is supposed to make performers (and
viewers) feel as if the ground beneath them is boiling (the word frevo has its origins in the Portuguese word ferver meaning “to boil”). Frevo danccers are called passistas,
and they are famous for their athleticism, their endurance and
especially their acrobatic dance moves based on the Brazilian martial
art of capoeira.
The music of frevo has a polka-like element to it and is played largely by trumpets, trombones, tubas and saxophones accompanied by percussion.
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| Maracatu de nação percussionists |
Maracatu is actually the name of two dance forms unique to Pernambuco: maracatu de nação and the maracatu rural. Maracatu de nação (national maracatu) has its roots in the Brazilian slave community when slaves would crown “Kings of the Congo”
as leaders within their communities. The accompanying investiture
ceremony was heavily influenced by the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomblé, and the influence of the dance and music continue to carry rich symbolism from that religion. Maracatu de nação is primarily based on Afro-Brazilian drumming with groups of up to 100 percussionists performing.
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| Alfaias |
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| Afoxé |
Many of the percussions instruments used are unique to Pernambuco. One of the most notable is these is the afoxé, a gourd rattle with threaded beads. The Afro-Brazilian drums too are unique to the area. Among the most notable of these drums is the alfaia (sometimes simply called the (maracutu drum). Alfaias come
in a variety of sizes, but all have roping along their sides that the
drummers use to tighten or loosen the drum head to give differing
pitches. Other special drums include caixa-de-guerra (“war snare-drum”) and the tarol (a somewhat thin snare drum). Additionally, percussionists use agbês (special gourds filled with beads), mineiros (metal tubes filled with dried seeds) and cowbells. The singing that accompanies maracatu de nação is a unique call-and-response form with a male caller and female chorus.
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| Caboclo de lança |
The maracatu rural more closely resembles the sort of music performed elsewhere in Brazil. It combines elements of the maracatu de nação with brass instruments (especially trombones) and musical styles from elsewhere in Brazil. The name means “maracutu of the countryside” because maracatu rural grew out of the countryside among sugar plantation workers. Maracatu rural traditionally includes dancers in special costumes such as the caboclo de lança warrior.
Carnaval de Olinda
The Carnaval de Olinda, the largest in Pernambuco, is cited by many in Brazil (especially those in Brazil's North and Interior) as the "real" Carnaval. While this can be easily debated, what is less subject to controversy is that the Olinda Carnaval is Brazil's most colorful. It is also the only major Carnaval event in Brazil in which most of the major events take place during the daylight hours rather than in the evening.
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| Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda |
Annually, the Olinda Carnaval host 500 group with over 200 events. The most famous Olinda Carnaval event is the "Meeting of the Giant Puppets." These are massive puppets standing about 3.5 meters (12 feet) tall. The giant puppets depict political figures, sports heroes and folk characters.
The Carnaval de Olinda averages 2.7 million visitors a year with annual revenues of around US $150 million, making it the most important economic event in the region.
Recife Carnaval
The Recife Carnaval holds the world record for the most people in a parade. The Guinness Book of World Records verified that in 2013, Recife's Galo da Madrugada parade reached 2.5 million participants (http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,galo-da-madrugada-publico-estimado-de-2-5-milhoes,995344). The figure of 2.5 million participants actually marching in the parade is all the more staggering, considering that this was a million more people than the population of the entire city proper at the time (1.5 million).
 |
Recife’s 2013 Galo da Madrugada
parade
set the world record for most people in a parade
|
While the 2013 record was remarkable, the annual influx of non-resident visitors at the Recife Carnaval is not. Indeed, even in the midst of the Zika outbreak, official estimates placed the number of non-resident visitors for the Recife Carnaval in 2016 at just under 1 million people.
As could be expected from the numbers attending, the centerpiece of the Recife Carnaval is its parade of the Galo da Madrugada (in English, "Rooster of the Early Hours"). That said, while the Recife Carnaval dates back for centuries, the first Galo da Madrugada took place only
in 1978, a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene for such a major crowd generator. The parade is the culmination of an all-night party which concludes in the "early hours" of the next morning with the parade that follows a four-kilometer path through the center of the city.
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| Recife's Noite dos Tambores Silenciosos |
Although like other Pernambuco Carnavals, the Recife Carnaval does not host samba contest, Recife averages 3000 separate shows with 430 groups. Most unique to the Recife Carnaval is its strong emphasis on the Afro-Brazilian tradition. Chief among the events celebrating the Afro-Brazilian tradition is the Noite
dos Tambores
Silenciosos
(Night
of the Silent Drums) honoring the 1000’s of slaves who died in prisons before
abolition. As midnight approaches, the drumming reaches a frenzy and then -- at the stroke of midnight -- stops abruptly and everyone in complete silence raises their hands at the same time to honor the martyrs of these sad chapter in Brazilian history.
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Teresina's Carnaval holds the world record
for floats in a parade |
Carnaval de Teresina
The Teresina Carnaval in the state of Piauí is a relative newcomer on the Brazilian Carnaval scene, beginning only in 1940. The Carnaval de Teresina, though, like the Recife Carnaval, a record-holder in Guinness Book of World Records, in this case for the most number of floats in a parade. The Teresina Carnaval first set the record in February of 2012, a record it has maintained ever since (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-parade-of-floats/). Guinness verified a total off
343 floats paraded in the Corso do Zé Pereira. The parade runs for 6-½ hours along a 7.3 kilometer (just over 4.5 mile) route.
Other Major Brazilian Carnavals
Virtually every city in Brazil holds some sort of Carnaval. Space does not permit listing all of these, but some of the other more notable ones include:
• Carnaval
Ouro Preto in
Minas Gerais one
of oldest, with today’s giving great attention on college students
• Carnaval
de Vitória/Carnaval Capixaba in Espírito
Santo (one week before Rio), sadly the subject of attacks by gunmen shooting into the crowd this year in 2017
• Carnaval
de Manaus in Amazonas, arguably as famous for its free entrance and reduced-price beer stalls as for its floats and samba
• Carnaval de Uberlândia/ Uberfolia in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (which began as a Carnaval specifically for Afro-Brazilian samba dancers who were discriminated against in the early years of the Rio Carnaval
• Carnaval
de Magia/Carnaval
de Florianópolis in
Santa Catarina features many beach celebrations, and most famously the LGBT-centered Praia Mole Carnaval
* Carnaval de Brasilia, the capital is not a major Carnaval center and yet this is a growing attacking, with over 1.5 million people participating in 2017 (and increase of 58% from 2016)
For more on the Brazilian Carnaval, see
United States: Mardi Gras
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| Mardi Gras in New Orleans |
The best known pre-Lenten celebration in the United States is the New Orleans' Mardi Gras. In French, Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday"
and evolved from the French tradition of indulging on the last day
before Lent, particularly eating fatty things which traditionally would
be given up for Lent.
New Orleans Mardi Gras
In New Orleans,
Mardi Gras activities run roughly for two weeks, culminating on Mardi
Gras day. There are several local parades and a major central parade in
which Carnival krewes parade
on elaborate floats while wearing elaborate costumes. During the
parade, participants throw special coins and necklaces of plastic beads
to the spectators. Several special parades elect various monarchs. The
most important of these are the Zulu King elected by the Zulu Social Aid
and Pleasure Club and the King of Carnival elected by the Rex Krewe.
Several older Krewe kings were disbanded when they refused to comply
with anti-segregation laws that the United States began to enforce in 1991.
Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Louisiana since at least 1699, with official New Orleans celebrations dating to 1703.
Mardi
Gras is not limited to New Orleans, however, with other notable US
Mardi Gras celebrations in other Louisiana cities. Lafayette's Mardi Gras in the center of Louisiana's Cajun cultural region is the state's second largest, attracting 250,000 people annually. Other notable Mardi Gras celebrations take place in Baton Rouge, Houma, Shreveport, New Roads, Kaplan, Monroe, Thibadaux, Lake Charles, and Alexandria.
Several other cities in the United States hold well-attended Mardi Gras events outside of Louisiana as well. The oldest Mardi Gras after New Orleans in the United States is actually that held in Pensacola, Florida, which dates to 1874 The largest of these is in Mobile,
Alabama. Vicksburg, Mississippi holds a major Mardi Gras Ball along with its annual parade. Eureka Springs in the Ozark region of Arkansas began holding Mardi Gras events after the destruction in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and has continued the tradition ever since under the "Krewe of Krazo" (which is Ozark backwards). Other notable cities with Mardi Gras events include Portland, Oregon; La Crosse, Wisconsin; Saint Louis, Missouri; Port Arthur, Galveston and Austin, all in Texas.
The Caribbean: Trinidad Mas
Carnival celebrations are also held in many Caribbean islands. The most famous of these is the one held at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, with its associated steel drum competition. Carnival is celebrated as well elsewhere in the Caribbean including Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Haiti, Belize, Cuba, St. Lucia, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Carnival celebrations are also held in some cities in Colombia and Honduras. The Caribbean communities of Notting Hill in London as well as those in Brooklyn, New York and Toronto, Ontario also celebrate an annual Caribbean Carnival.
While Carnival is celebrated to varying degrees throughout much of the Caribbean,
the biggest of these celebrations is the Trinidad Carnival in
Port-of-Spain. Trinidad Carnival begins in January and lasts until Ash
Wednesday; in other words, the festivities can last for months. The
entire festival climaxes with the week before Ash Wednesday with
Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday), J’Ouvert (also called Carnival Monday, with
the name from the French Creole jour ouvert or break of dawn) and on Tuesday with Mas (short for “masquerade”).
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| Steel pan player |
Trinidad
Carnival has its own unique traditions. These include the famous steel
pan competitions held in the weeks leading up to Dimanche Gras. Other
music competitions include those in soca, calypso and rapso (the
combination of rapping with calypso). Additionally, there are
stickfighting and limbo competitions.
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| Man Feteing at Trinidad Mas |
Throughout Trinidad Carnival spectators and performers alike are encourage to fête, that is to burst into a free-form revelry of dancing, singing or whatever else may be inspired.
The Trinidad Carnival hosts numerous competitions for parades,
costumes and music. On Dimanche Gras, the Calypso King and Queen are
chosen in a costume competition. They are then the central figure in
their own special float in the following parades. J’Ouvert features
people dressing in politically-barbed satiric costumes
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| Jab Jabs |
A J’Ouvert King and Queen are likewise chosen for
the most politically astute commentary. J’Ouvert is also the day in
which one sees running through the streets the famous “Jab-Jabs” (people
dressed as red, blue and black devils with pitchforks).
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| Moko Jumbies |
Mas itself is marked by the most elaborate of
costumes, usually enhanced with body paint and intricate wire extensions
as well as “Mas boots” which are worn both as decoration and to ensure
comfort during the long marches of the parades. Among the most
distinctive traditional characters depicted for Mas are the Moko
Jumbies, stilt walkers representing protecting spirits (Moko was an
African god whose worship was brought over by slaves and "jumbie"
is Caribbean patois for ghost). Other traditional characters are the
Midnight Robber (who speaks in "Robber Talk" of exaggeratedly boastful
claims), the Bookman (a devil with a book wearing special gown with a
massive headmask with horns and a frightening stare) and various clowns
and animals. Large cash prizes are awarded to winners on the central
performance stage for best costume and music.
For more on the Trinidad celebrations, please see
India: Goa Carnival
The Indian state of Goa also has annual celebrations for Carnival (also spelled interchangeably as Carnaval) throughout the state. Goa was a Portuguese colony through 1961 and when the local cities and towns are taken over by
the rule of the legendary King Momo. The largest of these is held in
Panaji with a celebration that runs for three days and three nights.
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| Goa Carnival |
The Goa Carnaval in 2013 begins on February 9 and runs through February 12. The Goa Carnaval has taken place annually for roughly 500 years, making it arguably the oldest annual Pre-Lenten celebration outside of Europe. For most of its 500-year-old history, the Goa Carnival was celebrated primarily by Goa's large Catholic population (who make up just under 30% of state's population). In recent years, however, the Goa Carnaval has become a major draw for tourists from all over India as well as an increasing number of tourist from abroad.
The Goa Carnaval was cancelled in 2012. Sadly, in that year the Great Carnival Parade to the city of Panaji
(formerly Panjim) which was scheduled this year for Saturday February 18 was cancelled
following a terrible accident earlier in the day in which a school bus
fell into the Kalvi River killing eight people, including five children. To read more on this accident please see:
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/carnival-parade-in-panaji-called-off-after-road-mishap/20120218.htm
Other Carnival celebrations in 2012 did Goa did go on in the cities of Margoa, Ponda, Vasco and Mapusa.
The Goa Carnival parade at Goa's capitall city of Panaji is by far the largest event. The parade usually runs for three or more hours Parades and feasts are also held in most other Goan cities. All of the events feature a mix of traditional feasts (usually centered on seafood), dancing and music. Panaji and several other locations hold firework displays as well. The music and dance of the Goan Carnival is unique to the state, blending influences of pre-Portuguese and post-Portuguese influences that over the centuries have blended tabla, ghumot and mridanga drums along with oboe-like shehnai mixed with Portuguese-style mandolins and violins. Dancing too is a blend of subcontinental and European styles. Sambas are particularly part of the celebratory dances.
Angolan Carnaval
As a former Portuguese colony, Angola in southwest Africa has a well-established Carnaval tradition, with the Luanda Carnaval in the capital city dating back to 1857.
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| Luanda Carnaval |
Angola, in fact, has added much to the Portuguese traditions. This is because samba dancing, the mainstay of Brazil's Carnaval competitions, is actually taken from Angolan roots. The word samba with an "a" in Portuguese comes from the word semba with an "e" in the Angolan language of Kimbundu. Semba in Kimbundu means "to invoke the spirits of the ancestors" which was done through music and dance. The word semba itself comes from the verb masemba which means to touch bellies. Slaves taken from Angola to Brazil beginning in the early 1600's took their religious tradition with them. The semba/samba tradition evolved from there.
Cape Verde Carnaval
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| Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde |
Another former Portuguese colony with a Carnaval tradition is the West African island nation of Cape Verde (Cabo Verde in Portuguese). Three of the country's 10 islands hold an annual Carnaval.
The most dazzling of the Cape Verde Carnavals is in Mindelo on São Vicente but a strong competition exists with its main competitor in Rebeira Brava on São Nicolau. The saying goes that "São Vicente has the show while São Nicolau has the heart." That said, most attendees agree that the Carnaval de Praia in the capital is the smallest of the three.
East Timor Carnaval
East Timor was a Portuguese colony until 1975 when it was taken over by Indonesia (which owns the
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| Dili Carnaval, East Timor |
western half of the island). From 1975 until its independence from Indonesia in 2002, the Roman Catholic Portuguese tradition was suppressed by the Muslim-majority population. After independence, the country began to reach out to Brazil to rebuild its traditions. This resulted in the first state-sponsored Carnaval in 2008 in the capital Dili. The Carnaval has been growing ever since.
Poland:
Polish American Pączki Day and Polish Tłusty Czwartek
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| Pączki |
In Southeast Michigan, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Chicago and other areas with large Polish-American populations, Polish Americans celebrate “
Pączki Day” after the Polish tradition of eating filled doughnuts called
pączki. Pronounced “poonch-kee,”
pączki are
traditionally filled with prune, plum or rosehip jelly, though more
modern interpretations include strawberry, apricot, raspberry, lemon and
other jellies. A recipe for traditional
pączki can be found at:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1918,151170-232196,00.html
Incidentally,
pączki is the plural of the word, a single pastry is called a pączek
Pączki Day is a major event for many local Polish-American communities. In Evanston, Illinois, an annual
pączki-eating
contest takes place to see who can eat the most of the pastries (with
the contest held on the weekend closest to the appropriate Tuesday).
Arguably the strongest tradition of celebrating Paczki Day is in the
heavily Polish-American city of Hamtramck (a city with so strong a Polish tradition that the late Pope John Paul II even visited the city). For more on the Hamtramck
Pączki Day, please see
While Pączki Day is celebrated in southeast Michigan, Chicago and Buffalo on the same Tuesday as Mardi Gras, the Polish equivalent in Poland itself is called Tłusty Czwartek actually means Fat Thursday. This is because in Poland itself, the celebration starts on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday (February 7 for 2013) to leave enough of time to celebrate the Polish Karnawał (Carnival). Shrove Tuesday itself is marked not by eating pączki but rather herring and is sometimes called “Herring Day” or Śledzik.
Lithuania: Užgavėnės
 |
| Lašininis burnt in effigy |
The Lithuanian Pre-Lenten festival is know as Užgavėnės. The festival centers around a play battle enacted out by Lašininis (meaning "Fatso") who symbolizes winter and Kanapinis (or the Hemp Man) who stands for Spring. Kanapinis is always victorious and the battle concludes with Lašininis being burnt in effigy. Throughout the battle, people go through the crowds dressed as witches, ghosts and other characters.
 |
| Varškės spurgos |
The traditional treat for the holiday is a pancake alternately called sklindziai or
blynai. Also popular are the fried cakes known as
spurgos. Spurgos differ from their Polish
pączki counterpart in that they may be filled not only with fruit (as in Poland) or made with no fruit but a cottage cheese dough for a dough only version known varškės spurgos. A recipe for
varškės spurgos can be found at Celtnet Recipes at
http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-varskes-spurgos
Italy: Carnevale and the Battle of the Oranges
.jpg) |
| Masks are the hallmark of the Carnevale of Venice |
In Italy, the Carnevale of Venice technically begins on
the Saturday before and ends
on Tuesday before Ash
Wednesday.
In reality, the Carnevale of Venice runs for weeks. It is a major
celebration with masked parties, and is probably the oldest annual
celebration of the season, having started in 1268. Roughly 3 million
visitors descend on Venice each year for the celebration. Central to the
Venice Carnevale are its elaborate masks and ach year, a competition
takes place for the best mask.
You can read more about Carnivale on the official website at
http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4
Another famous Italian Carnival-related tradition takes place annually in the city of Ivrea with its “Battle of the Oranges.”
Since the Middle Ages, the people of Ivrea have participated in a
three-day pre-Lenten battle among its citizens. For centuries, the
combatants used beans, which changed in time to fruit and has been since
the 19th century exclusively oranges. You can read more about the Battle of the
Oranges at
http://www.carnevalediivrea.it/english/battaglia.asp
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| Ivrea Battle of the Oranges |
Belgium: Carnival of Binche
Many cities throughout Belgium
have Carnival celebrations. These include those at the Walloon cities
of La Calamine, Nivelles and Malmedy, the Flemish cities of Heist and Aalst, and the city of Eupen in the German-speaking region. By
far the most famous of these, though, is the Carnival of Binche, which
was named a UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage Masterpiece in 2010.
 |
| Gilles at the Carnival of Binche |
The Carnival of Binche dates to the 1300’s, making it among the oldest continuously held annual celebrations in Europe.
Activities begin seven weeks before Carnival week and climax with the
arrival of the Gilles on Shrove Tuesday. Roughly 1000 boys and men
parade through the streets in the costume of a Gille: linen suits in the
Belgian national colors with hunchbacks stuffed with straw, elaborate
white lace cuffs and collars, bells hanging from their belts, wooden
clogs (called sabots) and wax masks. Some also wear feathered hats. The Gilles carry ramons – special branches for warding off evil spirits. The
appearance of the Gilles begins at 4:00 AM and lasts most of the day.
In the morning they parade to the town all. In the afternoon, the Gilles
remove their masks and parade through the city carrying ramon branch baskets filled with blood oranges that they throw at the spectators.
For more on the Carnival of Binche please see
German Catholic Regions: Fasching and Karneval
Several
pre-Lenten traditions are carried on the the Catholic German-speaking
regions. Technically, what the Germans call the "silly season" (
die närrische Saison)
begins on 11-11 at 11:11 AM, the celebrations being in earnest only
after Epiphany (January 6) and intensify in the weeks leading up to Ash
Wednesday.
What's in A Name: Fasching? Karneval?
The name of the silly season's main event varies from region to region thoughout the German-speaking world.
In
much of the southern German-speaking regions, the Alemannic German
term Fasching or some variation of the word is used to denote the
Carnival season. Fasching is actually the word used in Austria, Bavaria
and Berlin. In Baden, the Alsace region of France, most of the German
cantons of Switzerland as well as the Amish and Mennonite communities in
the United States, people call the celebration Fastnacht or Fasnacht.
In Franconia as well as in the city of Mainz, people use the word Fosnat
or Fasenacht, while in Swabia people call the same holiday Fasnet. In
Luxembourg, the holiday is known as Fuesend.
In much of
the north, the Latin-based word Karneval is used. Karneval is the name
of the holiday in Cologne, which is the largest Carnival-related event
in Europe. Karneval is also the name used in the Rheinland and the
Pfalz. This is also term for the major carnival cities of Bonn,
Düsseldorf, Eschweil and Aachen.
Finally, in Brandenburg and Saxony, the names Fasching and Karneval are typically used interchangeably.
Kölner Karneval
The
Kölner Karneval or Cologne Carnival is the largest Carnival gathering
not only in Germany, but in the whole of Europe. Unlike most other
carnivals worldwide, the central culmination of the Kölner Karneval
comes not on Fat Tuesday(
Weiberfastnacht), but rather on the Monday before Ash Wednesday. This is called
Rosenmontag or Rose Monday and consists of major parades, parties and notably major stage events and performances.
 |
| Die Dreigistirn |
Each year at the Kölner Karneval, three
Dreigestirn are named. The
Dreigestirn form the Karneval royalty and are comprised of the
Jungfrau (Young Woman or Virgin and called "Her Loveliness"), the
Prinz (Prince, called "His Craziness") and the
Bauer (the Farmer, called
Seine Deftigkeit
or "His Hugeness" which refers to being hefty in size but in impolite
terms has a ribald connotation). All three people are always men,
including the
Jungfrau who is a man dressed as a woman (the only
exception being during the Nazi era, where the authorities intolerance
of homosexuality outlawed the cross-dressing).
For more on the German celebrations, see
http://www.germanpulse.com/blog/2012/02/16/fasching-or-karneval-is-there-a-difference/
http://www.carnaval.com/germany/
http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020501a.htm
Luxembourg: Fuesend and Karneval
In Luxembourg, the pre-Lenten holiday season is known as Fuesend. Throughout the Grand-Duchy, parades and parties are held on the Tuesday before Lent begins.
The commune of Pétange is the home of the Grand-Duchy's largest pre-Lenten Karneval celebration. Annually hosting a calvalcade with roughly 1200 participants and thousand of participants, the official name is Karneval Gemeng Péiteng or Kagepe (the initials in Luxembourgish are pronounced Ka, Ge and Pe).
 |
| The Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge |
The town of Remich holds a three-day-long celebration. Remich is notable for two special events in addition to its parades. The first of these is the Stréimännchen, which is the burning of a male effigy from the Remich bridge that crosses the Moselle River separating the Grand Duchy from Germany. The Stréimännchen symbolizes the burning away of winter. The other special event at the Remich Fuesend celebrations is the Buergbrennen or bonfire that closes the celebration.
Like Remich, the town of Esch-sur-Alzette also holds a three-day celebration. Other major Fuesend parades in Luxembourg are held in the towns of Diekirch and Differdange.
Greece: Greek Orthodox Celebrations
As
noted above, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Ash Wednesday is not
observed. Instead, Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Clean Monday as
the start of what is called Great Lent (the equivalent holiday but
so-named to differentiate the holiday from another observance called
Winter Lent which corresponds to the Western tradition of Advent).
Greek
Orthodox adherents began celebrating Greek Orthodox Carnival with
Triodion (which began in 2017 on February 5) and ending on Clean
Monday, February 27). The largest of the celebrations is Tsiknopempti or "Burnt Thursday" which in 2017 was on February 16 with two weekends of Carnival the Tsiknopempti Weekend (February 17-19) and the Greek Carnival Weekend February 24-26). Annually, the largest Greek Orthodox celebration of Carnival is centered at Patras, Greece’s
third largest city. The Carnival at Patras often reflects current
social themes, and is at times used as an outlet for social protest in
some years. In other years, there is no social statement at all.
 |
| Patras Children's Carnival |
In
all years, though, the Patras Carnival includes a separate “Children’s
Carnival” with thousands of costumed children on parade through the
streets.
 |
| Bourboulia domino robes and masks |
Another
unique feature of the Patras Carnival is the Bourboulia, a formal ball
in which women come in identical costumes – the so-called domino robes
and masks – and ask men, usually uncostumed, to dance with them without
their dance partner knowing who is behind the disguise. Other Greek
sites also have Carnival celebrations, including annual celebrations on
the islands of Corfu and of Crete. To learn more about Greek Carnival traditions see
For more specifically on the Patras Carnival, you can go to their official website at:
Conclusion
There
are many more Carnival-related celebrations around the world. Feel free
to share some of your own, or to add to what has been shared here.
As
for the religious aspects of Ash Wednesday and the related observances,
as always, this post is meant only to be informational. Please share
your own views, and note that this post in no way indicates a point of
view on what is or is not appropriate religious observance.
Further Reading:
For more on some of the general religious traditions, here are a few websites:
For Roman Catholic traditions, see
and
and
For Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo traditions, see
Clip Art Sources
Praying woman with ashen cross on forehead:
http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm
Lent image: Christ the King Anglican Church, Lansing, Michigan:
http://ctklansing.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lent-new.jpg
Priest placing ashen cross on worshiper's forehead: Life Assays:
http://bobritzema.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ash-wednesday.jpg
Carnival cartoon clipart: Clip Art Today:
http://www.clipartoday.com/_thumbs/022/Celebrations/annual_carnival_188328_tnb.png
Rio parade with King Kong:
http://blog.otel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rio-Carnaval.jpg
Rio Carnaval elaborate costume: Travelvivi.com
http://www.travelvivi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rio_carnival06.jpg
Samba competitors at the Anhembi Sambodrome: Sydney Morning Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/18/samba2_gallery__470x312.jpg
Trio Elétrico at the
São Paulo Carnaval: http://im.r7.com/outros/files/2C92/94A4/2E64/8A75/012E/7830/7A6E/725D/carna%201-tl-201100302.jpg
Juliana Ribeiro with Amor e Paixão's Carnival Trio: http://www.bahia-online.net/Carnival.htm
Afoxé: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afoxé
Alfaias: http://www.brasilcultura.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/afoxes10.jpg
Frevo dancer: Está com tudo blogsite: http://estacomtudo.blogspot.com/2010/11/frevo_12.html
Maracatu de nação percussionists: Oficina do Barulho: http://www.oficinadobarulho.com/images/camale_o.jpg
Meeting of the Giant Puppets, Olinda: http://laprensa-sandiego.org/featured/brazilian-northeast-celebrates-carnival-the-old-fashioned-way/
Steel drum player:
http://serturista.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Theaterspektakel_2010_2010-09-04_19-02-50.jpg
Man Feteing in Trinidad: Feteing in Trindad, How to Play Mas: http://www.rishisankar.com/Parties/Trinidad-Carnival-2005/Carnival-Tuesday-2005-23rd/S3600163/202578866_XhHuH-XL.jpg
Jab Jabs: http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html
Moko Jumbies: http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html
Map of Goa: http://www.jigneshbapna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/goa-map.gif
Goa Carnival:
http://www.carnivalgoa.com/
Carnaval de São Vicente, Cape Verde: http://www.caboverdesite.com/city/sao-vicente/sobre-a-ilha/ilha-de-sao-vicente/
Dili Carnaval, East Timor: http://noticias.sapo.tl/portugues/foto/1299406/
Lašininis burnt in effigy: http://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/uzgavenes/
Varškės spurgos: http://laisvalaikisvirtuveje.blogspot.com/2012/01/varskes-spurgos-su-obuoliu-idaru.html
Venice Carnevale masks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venice_Carnival_-_Masked_Lovers_(2010).jpg
Ivrea Battle of the Oranges: The World's Dirtiest Festivals: http://jetsetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Battle-of-the-Oranges-Ivrea-Italy.jpg
Gilles at the Carnival of Binche: Photograph by Marie-Claire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Binche_-_Les_Gilles.jpg
Die Dreigistirn:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dreigestirn_72.jpg
The Stréimännchen over the Remich Bridge: http://www.lequotidien.lu/le-pays/42292.html
Patras Children's Carnival: http://www.1000lonelyplaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/childrens-carnival1.jpg
Bourboulia domino robes and masks: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/el/7/79/Bourboulia_6.jpg
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