Mardi Gras and Carnival celebrations fill the streets — see the most spectacular costumes of 2024

1. U. S .
Mardi Gras and Carnival celebrations ll the streets
— see the most spectacular costumes of 2024
February 13, 2024 / 8:59 PM EST / CBS/AP
Carnival season culminated Tuesday with Mardi Gras parades, street parties
and what amounted to a massive outdoor costume festival around the bars and
restaurants of New Orleans' French Quarter.
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2. Revelers in capes, wigs, spandex and feathers danced in front of St. Louis
Cathedral at Jackson Square while Latin music blared.
Outside the narrow streets of the quarter, two tradition-rich parades rolled on
a route that took them through the city's Uptown neighborhood and onto
Canal Street in the business district. First came the Zulu Social Aid and
Pleasure Club, with marchers and riders in African-inspired garb handing out
the century-old club's signature gift — hand-decorated coconuts.
Members of the Monogram Hunters Black Masking Indians parade on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, February
13, 2024.
M AT T H E W H I N TO N / A P
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3. What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras — or Fat Tuesday — is a secular holiday, but it's tied to Christian and
Roman Catholic traditions. It always falls the day before Ash Wednesday and is
seen as a nal day of feasting and revelry before the solemnity of Lent.
"I was raised Catholic, so tomorrow's for repenting but today is for partying,"
Bethany Kraft, a regular visitor from Mobile, Alabama, said as she waited for
parades with her husband Alex.
John Menge Eastman reigns as Rex 2024, King of Carnival, during Mardi Gras celebrations on February 13, 2024
in New Orleans, Louisiana.
E R I K A G O L D R I N G / G E T T Y I M AG E S

4. New Orleans has the nation's largest and best known Carnival celebration,
replete with traditions beloved by locals. It's also a vital boost to the city's
tourist-driven economy — always evident in the French Quarter.
"No strangers down here," visitor Renitta Haynes of Chattanooga, Tennessee,
said as she watched costumed revelers on Bourbon Street over the weekend.
"Everybody is very friendly and approachable. I love that."
The Mondo Kayo marching club performs as the Krewe of Zulu make their way down St. Charles Avenue on
Mardi Gras Day with their 44- oat parade on February 13, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
M I C H A E L D E M O C K E R / G E T T Y I M AG E S
A rider hands out a coconut as the Krewe of Zulu make their way down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day
with their 44- oat parade on February 13, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
M I C H A E L D E M O C K E R / G E T T Y I M AG E S

5. The festivities started earlier in the month, with a series of parades and
festivities culminating on Mardi Gras Day.
Revelers dance and take sel es in Jackson Square in New Orleans during Mardi Gras celebrations, Tuesday,
February 13, 2024.
K E V I N M C G I L L / A P
The Krewe of Baby Doll Ladies performs as the Krewe of Zulu parade makes its way down St. Charles Avenue on
Mardi Gras Day on February 13, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
M I C H A E L D E M O C K E R / G E T T Y I M AG E S

6. Singer Harry Connick Jr. aboard a Krewe of Orpheus oat in New Orleans during Lundi Gras, or "Fat Monday," the
day before Mardi Gras, February 12, 2024.
C H R I S G R A N G E R / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E / T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E V Í A A P
A young paradegoer wears the purple, green and gold colors of New Orleans during the Oshun Mardi Gras

7. New Orleans is not alone in going big on Mardi Gras. Mobile, Alabama, where
six parades were scheduled Tuesday, lays claim to the nation's oldest Mardi
Gras celebration.
Other lavish Carnival celebrations in Brazil, the Caribbean and Europe are
world renowned.
Carnival in Brazil
Carnival has a long and colorful history in Brazil. A typical Carnival day there
starts around 7 a.m., when the rst blocos — as the free street parties are
known — start their loud and colorful musical journey down the city's streets.
Drummers, stilt walkers, trumpet players and other performers, all dressed up
and lacquered in glitter, attract thousands of followers.
A young paradegoer wears the purple, green and gold colors of New Orleans during the Oshun Mardi Gras
parade in Uptown New Orleans on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.
A M Y H A R R I S / I N V I S I O N / A P
A costumed performer participates in the second day of the Samba Schools Parade within the Rio Carnival at the
Sambodromo da Sapucai in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 12, 2024.
FA B I O T E I X E I R A / A N A D O LU V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S

8. Blocos are thematic, inspiring the costumes and songs of their followers. In Rio
alone, the city authorized 500 street parties this year.
Revellers from Viradouro samba school perform during the night of the Carnival parade at the Sambadrome, in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 13, 2024.
R I C A R D O M O R A E S / R E U T E R S
Members of Vila Isabel samba school perform during the last night of the Carnival parade at the Marques de
Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 13, 2024.
PA B LO P O R C I U N C U L A / A F P V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S

9. From the di erent street parties, which usually end in the evening, some
revelers move onto the Sambadrome, where samba schools parade and
compete to win the annual title.
Revellers prepare ahead of the second night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
February 12, 2024.
P I L A R O L I VA R E S / R E U T E R S
Costumed participants march in the Samba Schools Parade within the Rio Carnival at the Sambodromo da
Sapucai in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 12, 2024.
FA B I O T E I X E I R A / A N A D O LU V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S

10. Carnival dancers in Rio de Janeiro this year paid tribute to Brazil's largest
Indigenous group and pressured President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to deliver
on promises to eradicate illegal mining.
Carnival has long been a platform for samba schools to protest. Percussionists
had "Miners out" written across the skins of their drums as participants
marched through the Sambadrome on Sunday evening, delivering their
message to more than 70,000 revelers and millions watching live on television.
Revellers from Viradouro samba school perform during the night of the Carnival parade at the Sambadrome, in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 13, 2024.
R I C A R D O M O R A E S / R E U T E R S

11. Each city has its unique Carnival customs. Revelers in traditional costumes
lled the streets of Sao Paulo for what's known as the Galo da Madrugada, or
Dawn Rooster, parade.
People wearing costumes perform as thousands watch the event during the second day of the Samba Schools
Parade within the Rio Carnival at the Sambodromo da Sapucai in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 12, 2024.
FA B I O T E I X E I R A / A N A D O LU V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S
Revelers take part in the traditional Galo da Madrugada (Dawn Rooster) carnival parade along the streets of Sao
Paulo, Brazil, on February 13, 2024.
N E L S O N A L M E I DA / A F P V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S

12. Musicians perform during the traditional Galo da Madrugada (Dawn Rooster) carnival parade along the streets of
Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 13, 2024.
N E L S O N A L M E I DA / A F P V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S
Revelers take part in the traditional Galo da Madrugada (Dawn Rooster) carnival parade along the streets of Sao
Paulo, Brazil, on February 13, 2024.
N E L S O N A L M E I DA / A F P V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S
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