RECENT ENTRIES |
- • Flooding in Britain - 02.14
- • Sochi 2014 Olympics: Reaching the podium - 02.13
- • The 2014 Westminster Dog Show - 02.10
- • 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Soch - 02.07

Translate into:
(Hint: Use 'j' and 'k' keys to move up and down)
February 13, 2013 |
Carnival 2013
Pre-Lenten celebrations around the globe, including Carnival and Mardi Gras, wrapped up yesterday before the marking of Ash Wednesday today. Historians say the tradition dates back to Roman times, when the newly converted Christians retained vestiges of their pagan festival, "Lupercalia," as a period of celebration before the penance during the 40 days of Lent. -- Lloyd Young ( 46 photos total)

A performer from the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on Feb. 12. Rio de Janeiro's samba schools vied for the title of the year's best in an over-the-top, all-night-long Carnival parade at the city's iconic Sambadrome. (Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press) #

Dancers take part in the Carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia on Feb. 9. Barranquilla's Carnival, a tradition created by locals at the end of the 19th century as a response and to parody the celebration held by European immigrants and aristocracy, was declared a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by the UNESCO in 2003. (Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images) #

Participants jump about during the Springerzug Carnival parade on Feb. 11 in Herbstein, Germany. The Springerzug, literally "jumping parade", is an interpretation of Carnival tradition particular to Herbstein. Niklas (l.) attend the Springerzug. Rose Monday is the highpoint of the annual Carnival in the region between Mainz, Cologne and Dusseldorf, where Carnival has been an annual tradition since 1823 and celebrates free-spirited merrymaking before the beginning of Lent. (Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) #

A reveler, dressed as a traditional Carnival character known as a Dame Lorraine, is helped into a pair of high heel shoes during J'Ouvert celebrations, or "daybreak celebrations" in the capital city Port of Spain on Feb. 11. Revelers bathe themselves in chocolate, mud, oil and paint as they depict devils, demons, monsters and imps during the celebrations, which marks the start of the two-day Trinidad Carnival street parade. (Andrea De Silva/Reuters) #

A Carnival reveler wears fancy dress and blue face-paint during the Springerzug Carnival parade on the annual Rose Monday (Rosenmontag), Feb. 11 in Herbstein, Germany. The Springerzug, literally "jumping parade", is an interpretation of Carnival tradition particular to Herbstein. Niklas (l.) attend the Springerzug. Rose Monday is the highpoint of the annual Carnival in the region between Mainz, Cologne and Dusseldorf, where Carnival has been an annual tradition since 1823 and celebrates free-spirited merrymaking before the beginning of Lent. (Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) #

A boy takes part in the Carnival parade in the streets of Fort-de-France on the French Caribbean island of Martinique on Feb. 10. The Carnival started on Feb. 9 and will run until Ash Wednesday on Feb. 13 when Vaval, a giant papier-mache figure symbolizing the king of the Carnival, is burned. (Jean-Michel Andre/AFP/Getty Images) #

A traditional "Diablo Arlequin" (Harlequin Devil) dancer take part in the second day of Carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia on Feb. 10. Barranquilla's Carnival, a tradition created by locals at the end of the 19th century as a response and to parody the celebration held by European immigrants and aristocracy, was declared a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by the UNESCO in 2003. (Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images) #

A member of a rival team collects oranges in the middle of the square during an annual Carnival battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea on Feb. 10. Dressed up as Middle Age kings' guards, a group of men ride in a horse-drawn carriage and pelt 'foot soldiers' with oranges as thousands of people gather to re-enact a Middle Age battle when the townsfolk of Ivrea overthrew an evil king. In a strange twist, instead of swords and cross bows, these days the weapons of choice are oranges. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters) #

Revelers perform during the Carnival parade in the streets of Fort-de-France on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, on Feb. 10. The Carnival started on Feb. 9 and will run until Ash Wednesday on Feb. 13 when Vaval, a giant papier-mache figure symbolizing the king of the Carnival, is burned. (Jean-Michel Andre/AFP/Getty Images) #

Italian volleyball champion team player Francesca Piccinini wears a hussar's uniform costume as he hangs from a rope during a 'Fly-in' performance from the landmark San Marco bell tower to the San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, as part of this year's Venice Carnival events on Feb. 10. The Venice Carnival officially runs until Mardi Gras on Feb. 12. (Andrea Merola/European Pressphoto Agency) #

A worker hoses down a mat on Bourbon Street in the early morning of Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, on Feb. 13. The city begins to clean up after Mardi Gras comes to a close, with Ash Wednesday ushering in the solemn season of Lent. City and tourism officials are expected to talk about the impact of successive waves of tourists that hit town, first for Super Bowl and then a week later for Mardi Gras' final days. (Gerald Herbert/Associated Press) #

An Indian Catholic Christian woman holds a rosary and prays on Ash Wednesday at Saint Mary's Basilica in Hyderabad, India, on Feb. 13. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of fasting, reflection, repentance and spiritual discipline observed by Catholics. (Mahesh Kumar A/Associated Press) #