Temperatures are set to soar in the next few weeks, though sadly not due to the weather, and perhaps even more disappointingly, not in the UK. The pre-Lent period of February will once again play host to a series of Mardi Gras festivals around the globe with the sole purpose of letting people have fun before the abstinence of Lent begins. And who doesn’t like fun?
Arguably the world’s most famous festival is Brazil’s carnival in Rio – days of colourful song, dance, parades and partying in the country’s hottest season. But you don’t have to travel that far afield to experience the fun, as there are a number of festivals a little closer to home that could be just the thing to chase those winter blues away.
The Nice Carnival has been in the history books since 1294 when Charles II, Count of Provence, packed his bags and headed for Nice for a few days of frivolity – much to the despair of the church. With masquerade balls, bonfires, jugglers and mimes the original idea was to mock everything and everyone, which seemed to mainly involve chucking eggs and flour at each other. In the late 19th Century this changed to the float parade for which the Carnival is widely known for today. 2010’s carnival runs from the 12th until the 28th of February, so there’s plenty of enjoyment to be had! Buy tickets and find more info on the event website.
The medieval market town of Limoux, in the south of France, offers a more traditional festival they call Fècos, which has been celebrated since the early 17th century and at some point merged with the Lent carnivals. The festival runs from January to March (so is great for those with stamina!) and features music, pierrots (French clowns, basically!), parades, costumes and several tons of confetti. Although there are larger festivals, the adherence to tradition and incredible theatricality on display makes it an experience not to miss for tourists in the region. Find out more on Limoux’s website (Google translation available).
As it’s February it would be remiss of us not to mention the Paris Carnival. Despite evidence of it starting in the early 15th century, the Paris Carnival was only resumed in 1993. The festival offers a great spectacle for visitors, and starts at Rue Le Vau on Valentine’s Day (the 14th – though we hope you don’t need reminding!) before winding its way through the Parisian Streets. If you’re intending to go to Paris for a romantic break then watching the carnival is highly recommended.
And if you are in the UK…
The Chinese New Year begins in February and although there will be celebrations up and down the UK, London’s event promises to be one of the most impressive. On Sunday the 21st, Leicester Square will be transformed into a celebration of Chinese culture, with Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and London Chinatown playing host to firecrackers, Chinese dragons, lions, Chinese acrobatics, a whole host of food stalls and artworks. Sounds like a lot of fun. Entry is free and the event will run from 12 until 6pm.
