The month of February has kick started the 2012 Carnival Season with various festivals happening across the world.
From Venice Carnival and Brazil Carnival to the exuberant parades of Mardi Gras, here's a slideshow presenting a glimpse of all those carnivals from across the world.
Click on Start to view the pictures of Carnival Season 2012.
A dancer of the "Fraternidad La Diablada" group performs during the Carnival parade in Oruro, some 200 km (124 miles) south of La Paz, Feb. 18, 2012. The three-day Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia, which started on Saturday with much fanfare and feasts, is marked by folk dances, parades and more cultural and religious activities.REUTERS/David MercadoA masked reveler poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb. 12.ReutersRevellers from the Salgueiro samba school take part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, Feb. 20, 2012. The Brazilian Carnival, which is held 46 days before Easter, is marked by samba parades on the streets of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.The Carnival, the most famous holiday event in Brazil, is happened from Feb. 17 to 21. Brazil receives about 70 percent of its annual visitors during the Carnival, according to officials.ReutersMembers of the Sirens of New Orleans performance troupe dance in the Orpheus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana February 20, 2012. On Mardi Gras Day , also known as Fat Tuesday, people indulge in the practice of eating fatty foods on the last night before the first day of Lenten season (also known as Ash Wednesday).REUTERSCompetitor Kay Mason wears a costume called "Amethyst Rising" at the finals of the costume competition Queens of Carnival, during Dimanche Gras at Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain Feb. 19, 2012. REUTERS/Andrea De SilvaCompetitor Shane Phillip wears a costume called "The Tree of Life" at the finals of the costume competition Kings of Carnival, during Dimanche Gras at Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain Feb. 19, 2012. REUTERS/Andrea De SilvaBrazilians got just .08% of the vote.PAA carnival float with papier-mache depicting German Chancellor Angela Merkel with text on the dress 'Emergency parachute' is pictured at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season.ReutersA float with papier-mache showing German Chancellor Angela Merkel and a skeleton showing the Free Democratic Party (FDP) on a bicycle is pictured at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season. ReutersTrump Had a 'Very Good Call' With Putin And Congratulated Him On His Electoral Victory
