Venice Carnival
The Venice Carnival is one of the world’s most famous and prestigious carnivals, with a tradition going back more than 1 000 years. They parade through the city’s canals and palaces in masks and elegantly decorated baroque costumes, and there are dances and ballroom dancing to make the experience unforgettable. The celebrations begin at St Mark’s Cathedral with the so-called flight of the dove. The paper bird will be lowered from the bell tower in a shower of confetti, marking the start of the two weeks of fun and games. One of the most special events is the water parade, where colourfully decorated gondolas, boats and ships parade in carnival costumes. The procession is traditionally led by a giant rat. As soon as the water parade comes to an end, the paper rat bursts and colourful balloons and ribbons fly up. On the final day, the straw doll symbolizing the Prince of Carnival is thrown on the bonfire, bidding farewell to winter and all that is negative.
The Carnival of Rijeka
Rijeka, on the Croatian coast, is another stunning carnival venue, combining local traditions with Mediterranean fun in a winter celebration. The biggest attraction is the “Zvončari” – traditional masked figures with noisy bells to ward off the winter. The costumes include mythological, historical, modern-day themes, some humorous, but also folk art elements. The masqueraders compete with each others, there is a special prize for the most humorous creation and the most original costume. Groups of up to 10,000 people in costume, accompanied by music and dance choreography, sometimes with confetti and pyrotechnics, march along the carnival route. After the parade, Pust’s puppet is burnt in the port of Rijeka.
Photo: https://utazom.com/utazas/rijekai-karneval
Busójárás in Mohács
Busójárás is the best known and biggest traditional celebration of Mohács, which impresses visitors every year with its colourful masquerades, loud music and special rituals. The festival, which takes place in February during the carnival season, aims to ward off winter and welcome spring, with busó-s in fur coats and scary masks parading through the city’s main streets. The programme includes the famous busó parade, a handicraft market, activities for children and gastronomic experiences. At the end of the festival, busó-s light a huge fire, stand around it and perform rituals designed to ward off winter and ensure a good harvest for the coming year. Also have a look at our more detailed blog article about busójárás!
Photo: https://www.mohacsibusojaras.hu/