Carnival

The Athens district of Mets is holding its fifth annual Carnival party and parade, organized by the Arditros cultural center and the area's elementary school PTA. The parade - marching to the tunes of the Batuca Latin music band and with support from the dancers of Arte Brasileira Atenas - will start on Harvouri Street at 11.30 a.m.

Thousands of people, many dressed for a traditional masked ball, crowded into Saint Mark's Square on Feb. 16 to witness "the flight of the angel", the opening event of the annual Venice Carnival.    

The Vevcani carnival began on Monday in the village of Vevcani in the west of North Macedonia, with more traditional participants wearing masks depicting ghouls, goblins and devils, in accordance with the ancient belief that the noise and chaos they create will scare away evil spirits.

Revelers will spill into the streets of Adana, the largest province of southern Turkey by population, for the "Orange Blossom Carnival" between April 3 and 7.

Sunday, the last day before Lent, according to the Christian Orthodox calendar, saw the culmination of Carnival celebrations across Greece.

Helped by the sunny weather, many thousands took part in the processions and other celebrations of Carnival.

Costumes are encouraged at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center on the main day of the Greek Carnival, on Sunday, March 10, as the celebrations at the SNFCC will include live music, displays by dance professionals and DJ sets.

Some 800 participants from all over the country are expected at the 21st Festival of Masquerade Games in Stara Zagora on March 9, the Municipality said. The organisers expect the arrival of 19 companies, including six of children. Each company will present a custom typical of its hometown before a four-member jury.

Faymonville, Belgium's famous "Turkish village" with no Turkish residents, hosted its annual carnival on March 5, which is notable for its Turkish flags and motifs.

A cultural association from Skyros showcases carnival customs of the central Aegean island in an event at central Syntagma Square in Athens on Saturday. With carnival season officially under way, the Athens municipal authority, among others, has organized free events drawing on Greece's diverse local traditions.

Nearly two-week celebrations attract millions of tourists each year.

Among the participants could be seen suits of superheroes or cartoon characters, but also traditional Venetian costumes.

The carnival in the Italian city is also known for the special masks that the participants bring. It was first held in the 11th century in the period before the 40-day fast for Easter.