A reveller celebrates the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season.REUTERS/Ina Fassbender
A reveller celebrates the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season.REUTERS/Ina FassbenderA carnival float with papier-mache depicting German Chancellor Angela Merkel with text on the dress 'Emergency parachute' is pictured at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season.REUTERS/Ina FassbenderRevellers from the Grande Rio samba school participate in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 21, 2012.REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesThe Gilles of Binche parade during the carnival event in Binche February 21, 2012. The Binche carnival, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage event, is the biggest and the liveliest of such annual event in Belgium. Up to 1,000 Gilles parade in the city centre of Binche, wearing red, yellow and black medieval costumes hung with bells and decorated with fluffy lace at the neck, wrists and ankles.REUTERS/Francois LenoirWomen dressed for "Weiberfastnacht" (Women's Carnival) celebrate in front of Cologne's cathedral February 16, 2012. Women's Carnival marks the start of a week of street festivals that reach a high point with mass processions on Rose Monday.REUTERS/Ina FassbenderWomen dance during the 84th carnival parade of Aalst February 19, 2012.REUTERS/Sebastien PirletA member of a rival team is hit by an orange during an annual carnival battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea February 19, 2012. 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.REUTERS/Stefano RellandiniA masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice February 12, 2012.REUTERS/Manuel SilvestriA float with a giant figure representing a devil is paraded during the Nice Carnival in Nice, southeastern France February 19, 2012. The carnival, which starts on February 17 and continues to March 4, celebrates "King of sport" this year.REUTERS/Eric GaillardPeople covered in mud dance during Jouvert celebrations, a revellery of mas, music, mud and paint which marks the start of the two-day Trinidad Carnival street parade, in the capital city Port of Spain February 20, 2012.REUTERS/Andrea De SilvaMasqueraders dance on stage on the final day of the carnival at Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain February 21, 2012.REUTERS/Andrea De SilvaCompetitor Kay Mason wears a costume called "Amethyst Rising" at the finals of the costume competition Queens of Carnival, during Dimanche Gras at Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain February 19, 2012.REUTERS/Andrea De SilvaMusicians dressed for carnival perform at the Luzern-Carnival in Lucerne February 16, 2012. The history of Lucerne's carnival can be traced back over more than 600 years and is best known for its individually hand-crafted masks and costumes paraded in the town's streets and squares by thousands of revellers during the three-day carnival festival.REUTERS/Michael BuholzerMasked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice February 5, 2012.REUTERS/Tony GentileRevellers from the Mangueira samba school take part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, February 21, 2012.REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesSinger Cyndi Lauper throws beads to spectators during the Orpheus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, LouisianaREUTERS/Lee CelanoMembers of the Muff-A-Lotta's performance troupe dance with pizza pans during the Orpheus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana February 20, 2012.REUTERSRio Carnival 2012ReutersA couple costumed in horse masks dance on Bourbon Street as part of the Mardi Gras celebration in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LouisianaREUTERS/Lee CelanoA villager dressed in a mime costume serves donuts to others during a carnival in the village of Lazy pod Makytou, some 112 miles (180 km) northeast of Bratislava February 18, 2012. Villagers wear masks during the annual carnival season called "Fasiangy" which takes place from Epiphany through Ash Wednesday in celebration of the end of winter and the coming of spring.REUTERS/Radovan StoklasaA float at the Brazil Carnival.ReutersRevellers from the Grande Rio samba school participate in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 21, 2012.REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesRevellers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school participate in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome February 21, 2012.REUTERS/Nacho DoceA boy wearing a uniform similar to usually worn by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavas, and two girls, play during a carnival parade in Caracas February 21, 2012.REUTERS/Jorge SilvaRevellers dressed as "Peliqueiros" run through a street during a carnival in Spain's northwestern village of Laza February 21, 2012. "Peliqueiros", or ancient tax collectors, pursued villagers through the streets ringing their cowbells and hitting villagers with their sticks.REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
The month of February brings with it a carnival season. Celebrations take place all around the world and people party, eat rich food and have fun, all before the season of Lent begins.
From the world's biggest and most popular carnival, in Rio de Janeiro, to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans and from Belgium's Binche carnival to those in Venice and Nice, take a look at all the best photographs of carnival frenzy from all around the world.
Click the "slideshow" button above to start viewing the photos...
