<strong>Carnival 2019:</strong> It's Carnival season around the world! People are celebrating and making merry before the more austere, solemn weeks of Lent. In the Pyrenees village of Lantz in northern Spain, people prepare to take part in an ancient rural Carnival on Sunday, March 3. Click through the gallery for more photos of Carnival celebrations around the globe in 2019:
Carnival 2019: It's Carnival season around the world! People are celebrating and making merry before the more austere, solemn weeks of Lent. In the Pyrenees village of Lantz in northern Spain, people prepare to take part in an ancient rural Carnival on Sunday, March 3. Click through the gallery for more photos of Carnival celebrations around the globe in 2019:
Alvaro Barrientos/AP
<strong>Belo Horizonte, Brazil:</strong> It's not just Catholics or even Christians who participate in Carnival-style festivities. Here, a member of the "Pena de Pavao de Krishna" traditional carnival group celebrates Indian deities on Sunday, March 3.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil: It's not just Catholics or even Christians who participate in Carnival-style festivities. Here, a member of the "Pena de Pavao de Krishna" traditional carnival group celebrates Indian deities on Sunday, March 3.
Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Evolene, Switzerland:</strong> Men dressed with traditional "straw man" costumes and devil or sorcerer masks parade in their village on Sunday, March 3. The straw men represent the spirits of ancestors believed to haunt the region.
Evolene, Switzerland: Men dressed with traditional "straw man" costumes and devil or sorcerer masks parade in their village on Sunday, March 3. The straw men represent the spirits of ancestors believed to haunt the region.
Valentin Flauraud/AP
<strong>Oruro, Bolivia:</strong> Women perform in the traditional "Morenada" dance during Carnival on Saturday, March 2. The festival features spectacular folk dances, extravagant costumes, beautiful crafts, lively music and up to 20 hours of continuous partying with lots of tourists.
Oruro, Bolivia: Women perform in the traditional "Morenada" dance during Carnival on Saturday, March 2. The festival features spectacular folk dances, extravagant costumes, beautiful crafts, lively music and up to 20 hours of continuous partying with lots of tourists.
Juan Karita/AP
<strong>Nice, France:</strong> The king's float makes for a dazzling display on Saturday, February 16. The Nice Carnival parade is known for its floats festooned with flowers and dancers from all over the world.
Nice, France: The king's float makes for a dazzling display on Saturday, February 16. The Nice Carnival parade is known for its floats festooned with flowers and dancers from all over the world.
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:</strong> A reveler in costume performs during the "Cordao do Boitata" street party on Sunday, February 24. It's one of the many warm-up events before the official start of Carnival on Friday, March 1, in Rio.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A reveler in costume performs during the "Cordao do Boitata" street party on Sunday, February 24. It's one of the many warm-up events before the official start of Carnival on Friday, March 1, in Rio.
Leo Correa/AP
<strong>Venice, Italy:</strong> Boats form a memorable water parade on Sunday, February 17. The Venice Carnival in the historical lagoon city attracts people from around the world despite the sometimes chilly, damp weather during winter.
Venice, Italy: Boats form a memorable water parade on Sunday, February 17. The Venice Carnival in the historical lagoon city attracts people from around the world despite the sometimes chilly, damp weather during winter.
Antonio Calanni/AP
<strong>Encarnación, Paraguay:</strong> A dancer performs on Saturday, February 9, atop a float during a Carnival parade in Encarnación. The city, which describes itself as the "Carnival Capital of Paraguay," sits on the Paraná River across from Argentina and is known for its nearby Jesuit missions.
Encarnación, Paraguay: A dancer performs on Saturday, February 9, atop a float during a Carnival parade in Encarnación. The city, which describes itself as the "Carnival Capital of Paraguay," sits on the Paraná River across from Argentina and is known for its nearby Jesuit missions.
Norberto Duarte/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Lucerne, Switzerland:</strong> Masked revelers parade through the streets in Lucerne on Thursday, February 28. In the central part of the mountainous nation, Lucerne's lovely lakeside setting and medieval buildings make it a popular destination.
Lucerne, Switzerland: Masked revelers parade through the streets in Lucerne on Thursday, February 28. In the central part of the mountainous nation, Lucerne's lovely lakeside setting and medieval buildings make it a popular destination.
Urs Flueeler/Keystone/AP
<strong>Tenerife, Canary Islands:</strong> Priscila Medina celebrates on Wednesday, February 27, after being chosen queen of Tenerife's Carnival. How much do they love their Carnival there? When Spanish dictator Francisco Franco <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tenerifetravelsecrets.com%2Fcarnival-canary-islands.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">banned Carnival</a> back in the 20th century, these faraway islands just renamed it and went right on with the parties.
Tenerife, Canary Islands: Priscila Medina celebrates on Wednesday, February 27, after being chosen queen of Tenerife's Carnival. How much do they love their Carnival there? When Spanish dictator Francisco Franco banned Carnival back in the 20th century, these faraway islands just renamed it and went right on with the parties.
Cristobal Garcia/EPA
<strong>Montevideo, Uruguay:</strong> Dancers and drummers forming part of a group known as a comparsa compete by dancing to the rhythm of the traditional candombe music on Friday, February 8. Candombe music has its origins from African slaves and is strongly rooted in Uruguayan culture.
Montevideo, Uruguay: Dancers and drummers forming part of a group known as a comparsa compete by dancing to the rhythm of the traditional candombe music on Friday, February 8. Candombe music has its origins from African slaves and is strongly rooted in Uruguayan culture.
Pablo Porciuncula Brune/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Cologne, Germany:</strong> Two revelers kiss in Cologne's city center on Thursday, February 28, to celebrate the start of the "Crazy Days." Technically, Cologne starts its Carnival on November 11, but it's the six "Crazy" days before Ash Wednesday when things ramp up.
Cologne, Germany: Two revelers kiss in Cologne's city center on Thursday, February 28, to celebrate the start of the "Crazy Days." Technically, Cologne starts its Carnival on November 11, but it's the six "Crazy" days before Ash Wednesday when things ramp up.
Martin Meissner/AP