The time when any conventions lose their force,When the holiday is felt in the air, when the rules become something insignificant, and the heart of the planet starts beating in a single rhythm with the hearts of millions of people - this is the time of carnivals. These days, everyday life and the dull grayness of everyday life are prohibited by law. And how can you think about something, if your heart echoes the rhythms of samba, the blood in your veins crackles in unison bursts of firecrackers, and your eyes run away from bright colors similar to works of art masks and costumes! And everything that you have ever dreamed of, thinking about a real holiday, a holiday without borders, becomes real. I want to plunge into all the carnivals of the world at once, in this riot of colors and sounds, for a few days to become part of the unrestrained fun, one with the people of different countries, rejoicing now the same as you, with the immediacy of the child. It so happened that almost all carnivals are held at the same time, the last week before the Great Lent. Their dates change, depending on the time of the onset of Easter, but the heart of the planet begins to beat faster in one day. There involuntarily come to mind the idea that our planet is alive. And it is from her desires and well-being that the behavior of whole nations depends. Otherwise, how to explain the simultaneity of holidays and the following posts. And how I would like to go everywhere: in Venice at the most romantic carnival, in Spain on the most unusual, and in Havana on the most enchanting holiday. Let's imagine that today you have such an opportunity - to visit different points of the huge globe at once. You are ready? Then forward to the carnival!
Gallop on the carnivals of Europe
Restrained and prudent Germans and in relation tocarnivals showed wit. It is in Germany that the longest carnival takes place. It lasts for three months. True, the main festive processions take place in the last week before the Post - traditions have traditions. But small performances and bright colorful parades are rolled all over Germany long before the start of the main holiday. On the streets of Düsseldorf, on weekends, crowds of fancifully dressed musicians, street performers, ready to share with all the townspeople a good mood. But this is only a preparation for the main action. And for him to go to Cologne. Usually reserved burghers dress up in bright costumes, paint faces, draw grimaces on them or hide faces under masks on a dirty Thursday. On this day, everything gets upside down. Women in this day can do anything. They choose the most outspoken outfits and cut off neckties for all men on the way. And no one dares to object to them. Such a local matriarchy for one day. No rules of propriety, away from housekeeping, women get what they want on that day. And on a clean Monday cobbled streets of Cologne turn into Piazza del Polo and Sambadrome in one bottle. Masks, fireworks, stunning costumes and confetti. Incendiary rhythms of samba in cool Europe and frank suits, consisting of sequins and feathers. A mix of European romance and Brazilian passion. And how else to explain that on this day adultery - not a reason for scandal and divorce? Only by the fact that the carnival turned the Germans head. Then comes the ashen environment, when the forehead of the participants in the carnival decorate with the ashes of the redeemable scarecrow and all sins are released. After all, like other peoples, the burning of the carnival effigy is redemptive. And ashes mark everyone who has redeemed their sins and can fast with a calm conscience. 
Carnival with French accent
Even the best carnivals of the world can notTo compete in pedigree with this aristocrat among carnivals. Carnival in Nice, the beautiful pearl of the azure coast of France, has a long history and truly royal origin. In 1294 the Duke of Anjou (and you remember that he was the brother of the King of France), having come to rest, decided to brighten up his stay in the province with colorful balls and masquerades. And along the streets of Nice, like a fire, there were a lot of festivities and festive processions with fireworks. As always, the carnival erased all boundaries and differences, mixing in a crowd of celebrating aristocrats and ordinary people. The princes of the blood went out into the streets and, forgetting about etiquette, ate not the noble sorts of cheese, drinking simple food with sour, cheap wine, flirting with commoners and dancing folk dances. True, the tradition of the presence at the festival of the king with his entourage, even the king of carnival, is preserved. Every year it is chosen from among the celebrities of France. And since every year the holiday has its own theme, then the kings each year are titled in different ways. That his majesty the King of dance, his majesty the King of the kitchen, his majesty the King of laughter. Gigantic dolls, carnival costumes and carts, decorated with flowers, run along the streets of the city. It is worth noting that the costumes on this carnival are created with a truly French elegance and a sense of style. And beautiful girls on flower chariots appear in the image of fairy-tale flower fairies, which give crowds of celebrating bouquets of flowers. Or rather, throw them with flowers. It's like the most beautiful and sophisticated fight in the world.
The most satisfying carnival
The true gourmets seem to be the Spaniards, judgingabout them for their carnival. Not only that the main acting "face" of carnival is sardine, so also on the carnival itself a competition is organized, who have the most delicious tortillas. And not only: Spanish sausages and wines, seafood dishes have become an integral part of this holiday. After all, only the best representatives are allowed to participate in the carnival. But not only is this famous carnival in Spain. Imagine sultry beauty, temperament and openness of feelings and emotions of this people, and you can get a remote idea of what is happening on the streets of cities of Spain in the days of the carnival. Here everything was mixed: men in women's dresses, women in men's outfits. Funny funeral procession, following the fake sardine. In the role of inconsolable mourners, of course, disguised men. Behind them in procession there are monks-mummers, to all participants of a carnival poured chalks are poured that the sardine rests with the world. Closing the procession people in suits of pigs, which by tradition should be fed and sung to them a lullaby. All this will inevitably bring abundance and happiness to the participants of the carnival. But the most important and colorful show is arranged by professional troupes of artists. And as for Spanish dances, you can talk endlessly. Although they themselves will tell about themselves, and not only about themselves. Here and there in the squares of cities in rhythms of pasodoble, flamenco and fandango whole stories from life are told. Dance battles of bulls, romantic love stories and tragic stories about forbidden passion.
Who is where, and we are in Tenerife
You can imagine that a holiday is possiblecombine with a first-class holiday? Or stand with one foot in Spain, and the second in Brazil? If not, then you urgently need the Canaries. Or rather, the Canary Carnival, which absorbed the traditions of the Spanish carnival and carnival in Rio de Janeiro. More precisely, here, as in Spain, it is customary to bury a sardine, but the passion for dance pas, costumes and unrestrained joy are truly Brazilian. The Canarian carnival is the most peaceful, if I may say so. No competitions, no, even comic, battle scenes and no spectators. Full democracy. And it does not matter if you are a native, whether you have a suit or a colorful mask. If you were in the days of the carnival in Tenerife, you are part of it. You can only fight confetti. And dance, giving himself to the mercy of hot music and the warm sun. In the days of the carnival it seems that everyone at once forgot to walk and speak in words. Only dance na become a universal language of people. And the main thing in this language is that it becomes equally native, both for local residents, and for numerous guests from different countries of the world.
Not all cat Venice
About the Venice Carnival has not yet writtenthe laziest. But in Italy these days there is another, no less colorful carnival. And if the Venetian carnival can be called the most romantic, then the carnival in Putyatto rightfully bears the name of the longest in Italy. He did not last long until the German, just a month. And lasts from Christmas to Lent. And this carnival is associated with the Knights of the Order of Malta. In the distant 1394, the Maltese knights transported to the city the relics of St. Stephen, who became Patunyato's patron. And today the holiday begins with the passing of a symbolic burning candle to the king of the ball. This is a kind of request for forgiveness for the future sins and excesses that carnival participants can afford. And at the same time an indulgence, since in the last days before the fasting you need to celebrate with all your heart. This carnival in Italy is of a somewhat revolutionary nature. Most of the figures in the carnival depict local or world politicians, so that it is easy to understand the political preferences in the country by the figures. And poems and songs sometimes very cruelly ridicule government policy. Read them in the local dialect directly from festively decorated platforms. Peculiar days of full publicity. In the last days of the carnival, comic processions in clerical clothes release sins to all who wish. However, do not be surprised if you are forced to dance half-naked or portray a chicken for their dismissal. This is a joke. And here, too, there was a funeral funeral. Only bury at the end of the feast of the Lord Carnival. And his widow receives condolences; of course, if it is convincing enough to depict the universal "grief". 
Carnival with Russian roots?
Where only did not notice ourcompatriots! Here in the history of the carnival Mardi Gras in New Orleans "inherited". Initially, the holiday, like all others like him, had a purely religious nature. And they did not hear about Russians there either. All is orderly and noble. Celebrated the planters a week before the fast, even the creole slaves were allowed to quietly and quietly celebrate the rambling week. Of course, the temperamental Creoles brought their pagan dances to this holiday, and therefore, at the behest of the church authorities, the carnival was banned. But not everything is so simple. It should be taken into account that the adventurers, pirates and convicts began to settle in America, and with them jokes are bad. In whatever clothes they do not change, no matter what titles for a modest fee is not overgrown, but freedom-loving character and violent temperament so simply do not go anywhere. And the authorities, grinding their teeth, under pressure had to return the carnival to the masses. But beforehand a plaque was given to a certain nobility and royalty. Here in the history our compatriots appear. In 1872, the honorary king of the ball appointed Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich, and the colors of the Mardi Gras in Orleans became the colors of the Romanov emperor's house. This circumstance is associated with a small scandal in the imperial family. Alexey Romanov did not become the king of the ball, because he received an urgent dispatch from the emperor, that such clownishness casts a shadow on the Romanovs' house. But he was allowed to be an honored guest, which means that it was possible to consider a certain appearance of the involvement of a member of the royal family in carnival. Even such insignificant participation of the regal person in Mardi Gras put his stamp on the carnival and gave him a truly Russian swing and daring. Firstly, they go for a month and a half at a holiday, and secondly, they use sweets, dried fruits, toys and small souvenirs instead of confetti. It is wasteful compared to modest paper rounds. Yes, and thanks for this confetti is taken in Russian, bare to the waist, regardless of sex. Of course, no one will force you, but it would be nice to keep traditions.
Argentine tango
Argentine carnival will have to taste likeadults, and children. For the first here a lot of colorful carnival processions and dances, and for the second - the most delicious Argentine ice cream and special children's processions of fairy-tale and cartoon characters. So, if you are going to the carnival in Argentina, you can take your family with you. True, the evening carnival processions and the main parade are a sight, not childly hot. All of Argentina lives in the rhythm of Latin American dances. Slender dancers and dancers, sequins, feathers and with nothing comparable desire. It seems that the carnival is intended for those couples that are looking for opportunities to add pepper to their relationship. Sparkling festive festivities, contagious dance movements make the overall emotional background take off, mixing crowds of participants and guests. It is not important to be able to dance, the main thing is to be able to feel the rhythm, to give oneself to the holiday, to have fun, to pick up the mood of the crowd, and forget about the short moments of the dance about the limits and boundaries. Here it is, the true Argentinean carnival! Burlit in the blood. And what strikes on this carnival most of all, is the lack of finesse and some artificiality. Not a single false note. In the even order of the carnival procession, a person from a crowd of guests can join and, adjusting to the rhythm, to give out na not worse than professionals. Within a week the world lives in the rhythm of multilingual and discordant melodies. The streets of cities where the most famous carnivals of the world pass, either turn into a fair, or into an animated scenery to a pompous or deliberately simple performance. People forget about their differences and everyday worries. What do you prefer: passion and unrestrained fun, romance and mystery, and maybe refinement and subtle entertainment? In the world there are so many different carnivals that you just have to choose the one that will suit you, take part in it and allow your heart to huddle in the single festive rhythm of the planet.
