The story of Carnival for children

Why is Carnival celebrated ? What is commemorated on this important date? Sometimes, in the eagerness to celebrate this fun party, we forget the true meaning of the celebration of carnivals around the world, a party of international character. In Guiainfantil.com you will find the history of Carniva

Why is Carnival celebrated? What is commemorated on this important date? Sometimes, in the eagerness to celebrate this fun party, we forget the true meaning of the celebration of carnivals around the world, a party of international character. In Guiainfantil.com you will find the history of Carnival so you can tell your children.

And it is that the Carnival has become one of the most international festivals, because they have spread easily throughout the planet, conquering the hearts of the people for generations. Its common characteristic is that of being a period of permissiveness and a certain lack of control.

Brief history of the Carnival to tell the children

Illusion, costumes, colors, paintings, masks, dances, songs, lots of fun and, above all, theCarnival parades. All this marks the character of the party, but why do people dress up during the carnival?Guiainfantilgoes back to the origins of Carnival to clear all kinds of doubts about this fun party.

Carnival is associated mainly with Catholicism and to a lesser extent with Eastern Orthodox Christians; Protestant cultures do not usually celebrate carnival or have modified traditions, such as the Danish carnival.

The origins of Carnival in the world

The true origins of Carnival are still unknown. There is no way to scientifically checkwhere and when the Carnival was born.

The studies estimate that the first celebrations that later would take the name of Carnival, were made years before the birth of Christ and have their origin in the celebrations related to agriculture. It seems that the peasants met in the summer with masked faces and bodies completely painted, around a bonfire, to celebrate the fertility and productivity of the soil, or to ward off the evil spirits of the harvest.

The first carnival celebration is located inEgypt. The party was nothing more than dance, chants, and the participants wore masks and costumes as a symbol of the absence of social classes.

Then the tradition spread toGreece. Back in the 6th century BC C., there was a custom of walking a ship with wheels (carrus navalis) where people danced all kinds of dances.

InRome, numerous pagan festivals were held around the god Bacchus, the god of wine, who have more than 5,000 years of antiquity.

Both ceremonies had one point in common. They were associated withspiritual phenomena, astronomicaland natural cycles. They also manifested themselves through expressions such as dance, chants, satire, masks and disorder. In a society with so many social differences, the festivities supplied the need for freedom for all. Rich and poor mixed during the carnival, without recognizing themselves under the cloth and masks of disguise.

The Carnival, the most international party

Quickly, the carnival reachedVenice, and from there, it spread throughout the world. Little by little, it was shaping its characteristics, depending on the customs of each country. Each city was incorporating the habits of its culture. But, in general, the carnival is defined throughmasks, costumes, floats, parades and dances, which is common in all celebrations, regardless of the place where the Carnival celebration takes place.

In fact, at the moment the carnival of Venice is one of the most known at European level. The tradition began when the nobility began to disguise to leave to mix with the town. The masks are the most important element of this characteristic carnival.

Since then, this tradition that has been expanding throughout Europe, and later in Latin America thanks to Spanish and Portuguese navigators, has continued since the 15th century.

One of the places in the world where the Carnival is most famous isBrazil, where all the cities take to the streets to pay homage to the Carnival to the rhythm of samba. It is one of the most spectacular parades that are organized worldwide. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest carnival celebration in the world is that of Rio de Janeiro. Other internationally famous carnivals are those of Barranquilla in Colombia, Oruro in Bolivia, Venice in Italy, Veracruz and Mazatlán in Mexico, and Cádiz and Tenerife in Spain.

First of all, carnivals are fun ... lots of fun!