10. Hong Kong, China
Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year features lion dances, parades and a grand firework display over the harbour. Food is an important part of the celebrations; it's symbolic as well as delicious; chicken and fish symbolising prosperity.
Go to Victoria Park to see the massive flower fairs where locals buy lucky peonies, narcissi and kumquat trees.
9. Carnaval de Nice – Nice, France
The Nice Carnival is one of the world's major carnival events, alongside the Brazilian Carnival and Venetian Carnival. It is held annually in February in Nice on the French Riviera.
8. Cologne Carnival, Germany
The Cologne Carnival is a carnival that takes place every year in Cologne, Germany. Traditionally, the "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. The Carnival spirit is then temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period, and picks up again in earnest after the 6 January (Biblical Magi) in the New Year.
7. Quebec Winter Carnival, Canada
The Carnival’s most famous activities are back: the popular night parades, the luxurious Ice Palace and the snow sculptures will certainly make an impression on the whole family. Sports heroes, poetic sculptors, dynamic characters, loony entertainers and energetic dancers will share the spotlight and camera flashes with the Carnival’s most famous guests… you!
6. Trinidad Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago
6. Trinidad Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago
An explosion of colour, music, revelry, and creativity, Trinidad's Carnival has spawned similar celebrations around the world; but nothing on earth can rival the abandon, euphoria and stunning spectacle of our festival.
5. Venice Carnival, Italy
The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy. The Carnival ends with Lent, forty days before Easter on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.
4. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival - Canary Islands, Spain
4. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival - Canary Islands, Spain
Carnival is celebrated in every town and village on the island, but the most spectacular carnival celebrations are to be found in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz.
The Santa Cruz festivities are almost the island carnival as it attracts so many people from all over the island. There is a very complete programme of activities drawn up by the fiestas committee of each town council.
3. Notting Hill - London, UK
3. Notting Hill - London, UK
Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival. Look out for Rosie singing as she really is great.
2. New Orleans Mardi Gras - USA
Popular practices include wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition, as it is associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.
1. Carnival in Rio - Brazil
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.
