Postby Teacherangele » February 26th, 2009 6:41 pm
Masks & Costumes in February & March 2009!
February is the month of Carnival, associated with the Christian feast of the famous Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) in many countries, and France doesn't make any exception.
The word carnival is Italian in origin: carnevale, made up of carn (“flesh or meat”) and levare (“to take away”), because people traditionally ate lots of meat to make up for what they would have to give up during Lent.
Carnival is generally a time when French people in a town or village can dress up with masks or makeup, and come together to sing and dance in the streets, throw confetti, and watch a parade. According to the religious calendar, carnival begins with Epiphany (January 6), which marks the end of the Christmas holidays, and it ends on Mardi Gras, before the Lent.
So what happens in France for Carnival?
Carnaval de Paris with Pimprenelle
It was for many centuries one of the most celebrations important in the world and was an important celebration in the 16th century, replacing the Feast of Fools. The star of the parade is a Limousine breed cow named Pimprenelle, who embodies the fatted calf.
Every year, the Carnival of Paris' parade grows, including more groups both from Paris organizations and from outside the city, not to mention from other towns in France such as Cherbourg, Annecy, and Toulouse (near to Céline).
The theme of the 2009 parade is: Cosmic Carnival, Astronauts and Extraterrestrials taking place Sunday February 22, 2009
Carnaval de Nice: France's Top Carnival
2009 will be the 125th year that the celebration is held from February 13 to March 1, 2009, with the key moments of the illuminated corsi carnavalesques and the famous battles of flowers. The entertaining and pretty parades include the papier maché or “flower floats,” street performers, and musical groups. It attracts more than 1,200,000 visitors from all over the world. Since the end of the 19th century, this popular festival has gained international renown for the quality of its performances and the bold choice and originality of its fantasy and burlesque events.
Twenty floats decorated according to a theme and about 150 "large heads" make up the procession. It turns into a colorful parade of dazzling colors into which blend the street artists and groups of musicians from around the world. In the evening, all the floats are illuminated and the procession lights up the whole of Nice.
The theme for 2009 conjures up "the art of masquerading in all its senses;" the wearing of masks, of course, changing one's appearance and putting on a performance, in short, the art of deception. From simple dressing up to cosmetic surgery, carnival is no longer the only kingdom of cross-dressing and trickery in all its possible guises, obviously in a modern and delirious fantasy setting.
Carnaval d'Annecy: Venice in France?
Annecy, nicknamed for a long time "Venice of The Alps" with its water canals in the historic part of town, brings more proof of its nickname during the two and half days when the Venetian carnival takes place.
During the end of February and the beginning of March, more than 250 beautifully disguised individuals walk slowly in the old streets of Annecy, pause for people to take pictures, and then they gather in podiums. No one knows whom these people are who hide behind their masks and sumptuous and strange costumes that the color of the old walls of the city highlight so well.
This year the 2009 festivities will run March 6 through March 8 with the one and one half hour long parade on the second day, followed by the free wandering of each of the disguised people in the old city until the evening.
