Mardi Gras

Get ready to party. follow the links in this article and plan your visit for Mardi Gras, Ati-Atihan, carnaval and the Venice Carnival 2007.

Although the Americans might argue that their carnival season starts at the beginning of January and culminates on Fat Tuesday, the Filipino Mardi Gras, Ati-Atihan, seems to be the first of the true Mardi Gras parties to kick off; taking place the 3rd weekend in January. Check out Bill and Lorna Collings web site for a great description of this fun-filled festival.

In Australia, the 2007 Sydney Mardi Gras opens February 2 and they will continue to party until March 3, with the world famous gay parade through the streets of Sydney and the Mardi Gras party.

Incredibly, despite Katrina, Mardi Gras 2006 rolled out in New Orleans! and the parties and parades will roll again throughout February 2007, Fat Tuesday occurs on 20 February, 2007. NOLA has comprehensive information about New Orleans, including details about the Mardi Gras festivities and parades, together with a full listing of events in and around New Orleans and some special helpful links for visitors. Another site worth visiting for inside information is Blaine Kern’s mardigrasworld.com.

The exuberance of the Brazilian carnival bursts out of the ipanema.com Ipanema Carnaval site; 2007 dates are February 17, 18, 19, 20.

While not benefiting from Fat Tuesday falling in their mid-summer, the Europeans still take advantage of the Mardi Gras season to let their hair down, dress in costume and party. The most famous of Europe’s Mardi Gras celebrations is probably the Venice carnival, Friday, February 9 through Tuesday, February 20, 2007. Roberto Delpiano provides a wonderful photographic and historic record of the carnival, famous for its masked balls and games of seduction.

Cologne`s Tollen Tage or "Crazy Days" festival, Thursday, 15 February through Tuesday, 20 February 2007, is another wild time for party lovers. The starting signal for the ”Crazy Days” is given in the old market square. Then the ”Crazy Women” (Weiberfastnacht) roam the city, cutting in half the necktie of any formally dressed Male!! Festivities continue until the highlight of the crazy activities with the Rose Parade; motto: ”Laach doch ens - et weed widder wäde ” (Put a smile on your face - things can only get better)
and then, Tuesday's carnival parades in the suburbs.

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