The best Carnival celebrations around the world

Among many regions of the world February marks a month of party, debauchery and costumes. With its origins in the Catholic faith, Carnival is celebrated right before the Lent period and the celebrations include street parades and masquerades.

Obligatory during an Erasmus semester abroad is to not only discover the city you chose to go to, but also to travel and discover the surrounding areas. The Carnival season offers the first opportunity in the new year to plan a short trip or a weekend away. And with one of the apartments from Only-apartments you can be right where all the fun happens!

Here are some of the most emblematic Carnival celebrations that you can’t miss out on:

Venice

Apart from canals and Casanova, Venice is famous for the carnival. If you have never been to Venice, this is the perfect time to visit. The elaborate costumes and distinctive masks are what the carnival stands out for in comparison to the celebrations in other regions. The combinations of the masquerades along the canals and narrow streets give this carnival a more mysterious atmosphere. The center stage of the city during Carnival is the Grand Theater of Piazza San Marco where various shows take place. Among the main events are different mask competitions. As each mask has an own costume style and there are many different shapes, sizes and styles the competitions are a true spectacle on their own. The festivities reach their high point on Fat Tuesday (Martedì Grasso) and end with a silent procession of gondolas from the Rialto Bridge along the Bacine di San Marco to the Grand Canal (La Vogata del Silenzio).

Sitges

Just a hop skip and a jump away from Barcelona, Sitges is famous for beautiful beaches and its decadent carnival celebrations. The official opening of the Carnival is marked by the Carnestoltes, the Carnival’s King. In a parade he makes his way to city hall to give an opening speech and nominate his queen. Another highlight of the carnival is the Rua Disbauxa, a street parade full of artistic creativity, imagination and originality. Shrove Tuesday is the day of the Rua Extermini. Drag queens will put on their most elaborate costumes. The Carnival ends on Ash Wednesday with the burial of the Sardine on the beach, as well as the symbolic death of the Carnestoltes. Besides the different street parades there are many other events such as concerts and fireworks. Also be sure to taste xatonades, a traditional dish of the local cuisine.

Cologne

The carnival in Cologne is also known as the “5th season of the year” and is internationally known. It famously opens every year on November 11th at exactly 11. 11 Am. During the Christmas time the celebrations are suspended and everything picks up again right before lent during the so called “Crazy days”. On Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) women cut the ties of men, as a symbol of control over them. On Shrove Monday (Rosenmontag) the traditional costume parade takes place, where candy is being thrown from the floats. Throughout the entire “crazy week” people wear costumes. The most important characters during the carnival are the Virgin, the Prince and the Farmer, the Kölner Dreigestirn. An essential phrase to know is “Kölle Alaaf! ” which can be translated as ‘Cologne above all’.

Gather some friends for a trip, enter in Only-apartments, book your apartment to feel like a local and be in the middle of the part and most importantly think of an original costume!

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