Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A reveler from the Mangueria samba school takes part in a Carnival parade
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A float presides over a night parade in Rio's Sambadrome, where many Carnival festivities take place
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A reveler dressed like a demon prowls the parade route. Themes of ghouls, demons and "evil" beings are common in pre-Lenten celebrations.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Revelers from the Imperatriz samba school perform in the Sambadrome
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Dusseldorf, Germany: A troll-like Carnival fool invites onlookers to the Rose Monday parade. The biggest day of celebration in Germany before Ash Wednesday is on Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday.
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Dusseldorf, Germany: A float depicting German Chancellor Angela Merkel rides along in the Rose Monday parade.
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Frankfurt, Germany: It can't all be fun and games, but it can come close. A stock broker dons a delightful Carnival costume at the German stock exchange
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Binch, Belgium: The Binche Mardi Gras is the most important holiday in this small Belgian town. Here, participants dress up as traditional Gilles in a parade.
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Baranquilla, Colombia: Dancers dressed as tigers writhe in a parade Monday during Baranquilla's Carnival. It is one of the most notable Carnival celebrations in the world.
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Baranquilla, Colombia: A dancer breathes fire during a Carnival parade on Sunday
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Oruro, Bolivia: A member of the Zamponeros Hijos del Pagador performs at Oruro's Carnival on Sunday
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Oruro, Bolivia: This small mining town has a vibrant Carnival scene
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Nice, France: A woman dresses as a common French icon of indulgence, Marie Antoinette
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Nice, France: This year's carnival celebrates the 'King of Sport,' seen here as infamous French soccer star Zinedene Zidane, flanked by Barack Obama, Pope Benedict XVI and others.
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Nice, France: Performers don stilts and masks to tower above the crowd. The Nice Carnival will last past Ash Wednesay until March 4th.
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Loule, Portugal: Confetti sprays the sky on Sunday. Like many Carnivals, the events in Loule are known for their strong angle of political satire.
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Klaipeda, Lithuania: Shrovetide festivals here also celebrate the coming end of winter. Revelers don masks depicting gypsies, goblins, demons and even horses.
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Venice, Italy: The original Carnevale, the first Carnival in Venice was recorded in 1268. It continues today, like here, in the Piazza San Marco.
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Venice, Italy: Venetian masks are very famous, and are a big part of Carnival celebrations here.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is only one of the celebrations that rock the streets worldwide during the Carnival season. This time of celebration generally spans from Epiphany (January 6th, representing the arrival of the Three Kings to Bethlehem) to Ash Wednesday. It's a time to let your hair down, literally and figuratively, and indulge in all manner of wondrously bad things in preparation for the Lenten season. From Rio to Venice, you'll see fantastical masks, dancers, revelers, floats, and characters both ghoulish and grand.
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