Lake of the Ozarks Mardi Gras Pub Crawl: Mardi Gras celebrations around the world

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Famous Celebrations around the World for Mardi Gras

The Lake of the Ozarks Mardi Gras Pub Crawl is hoping to create a Mardi Gras atmosphere as well-known as New Orleans. New Orleans is known in the United States as the best Mardi Gras celebration in the country. This well-known holiday is celebrated all over the world with lavish parties and costumes. In this week’s blog, we will highlight some of the best celebrations in the world.

Cologne, Germany

We all think New Orleans has the longest Mardi Gras celebration, but in Cologne, the party starts November 11th and runs to Fat Tuesday. The kickoff starts with a “Women’s Carnival” which is an unofficial holiday where women dress up in costumes and rule the day with harmless fun. You can also expect a rose parade and the burning of straw figures. Street vendors serve traditional German food like brats and pretzels along with hot spiced wine.

Venice, Italy

One of the oldest festivals held Venice is the Carnival of Venice. The extravagant costumes, the lavish balls, and the elaborate masks that are worn have made the festival world-famous. There are many dances, carnivals, fireworks, and concerts throughout the city. The famous Festa Veneziana brings the celebration to the water, by rowing down the canal in costume. People gather along the canal to enjoy the show.

Rio de Janeiro

This celebration is labeled as the world's biggest Carnival. According to the calendar, their events last for 5 days, but the parties can begin months before that! It takes place in the peak of summer in South America with wildly elaborate balls, uninhibited dancing, flashy costumes, and huge, glittery parades. Dozens of samba schools compete in a famous competition consisting of costumes, choreography, and percussion. Rio Carnival is the favorite holiday celebration in Rio.

Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz, Spain is known for its satire and music during their Mardi Gras celebration. It is the oldest celebration on the mainland. There is a singing competition three weeks before the opening day of the carnival. The competition is full of satire and entertainment down the streets. They also have parades and fireworks for people to enjoy.

Quebec City, Canada

A giant snowman with a red cap named Bonhomme happens to be the official mascot for the festivities. You can expect all kinds of sporty events at the Quebec City carnival. Guests will enjoy canoe races and dogsled races just to name a couple. It’s not your normal Mardi Gras celebration with costumes and parades. In Quebec City, you will see ice and snow sculptures along with a snow bath where people with celebrating indoors in swimsuits.

Nice, France

The Nice Carnival is held on the French Riviera, is one of the world’s largest Mardi Gras events. The event lasts 15 days and is full of flowers. By flowers we truly mean, they have a parade where the floats are made from flowers and flowers are thrown to the spectators.

As you can see, Mardi Gras is a special time of year for people all over the world. For those who can’t travel to a different country to enjoy the holiday, the Lake of the Ozarks Mardi Gras parade will not disappoint. Dress up in your favorite Mardi Gras costume, buy a wristband, and ride the bus for a place to place to enjoy a night of fun at the Lake of the Ozarks. For more information about the Lake Pub Crawl, visit our website, follow our social media, or text LAKEPUBCRAWL to 71441.

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Friday, November 23, 2018

Mardi Gras Celebrations Around The World

The Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans are probably the most famous in the United States (although the Lake of the Ozarks Mardi Gras Pub Crawl is doing our best to gain on their popularity!) This fantastic holiday is also celebrated all around the world. Here is a look at some of the different things you could expect to see if you travel outside of the country during Mardi Gras.

Rio de Janiero, Brazil
This celebration is labeled as the world's biggest Carnival. According to the calendar, their events last for 5 days, but the parties can begin months before that! It takes place in the peak of summer in South America with wildly elaborate balls, uninhibited dancing, flashy costumes, and huge, glittery parades. Dozens of samba schools compete in a famous competition consisting of costumes, choreography, and percussion.

Venice, Italy
The Carnevale di Venezia has old roots with the first one taking place in the year 1162. Fancy costumes are worn, huge balls are thrown, and they are extremely well-known for the elaborate masks that are worn. There are also many carnivals, street plays, fireworks, concerts, and dances all over. A water procession with rowers wearing masks in decorated boats takes place on the Grand Canal. The "official" end to the celebration happens on Shrove Tuesday.

Cadiz, Spain
This town imported many of its traditions surrounding this holiday from Venice. Carnival was abolished at many different times during the history of Spain, but it has always thrived in Cadiz. The locals roast prohibitions and politicians, and huge groups of people roam the streets singing songs mocking current events and prominent figures. They are renowned for the papier mache figurines and satirical songs common at the events.

Binche, Belgium
All of Belgium observes Fat Tuesday, but the most famous of these celebrations take place in Binche. Rather than throwing beads to parade spectators, masked performers throw oranges into the crowds as a symbol of spring. Red costumes and wooden clogs are worn and people dance with brooms to chase away evil spirits. A pre-festival tradition is a breakfast of oysters and champagne.

Nice, France
This 15-day festival is built around blossoms. There are flower battles and parades with floats made only of flowers. People in the parade wear costumes and have been known to throw flowers like mimosas, gerberas, and lilies to the parade watchers.

Oruro, Bolivia
This is an obscure carnival celebration that has survived since pre-colonial days. It was originally based on a ceremony of giving thanks to Pachamama (Mother Earth) but eventually integrated with traditional Catholic carnival traditions. It takes place throughout the 8 days preceding Ash Wednesday. There is a procession with 2 figures dressed as a condor and a bear along with masked dancers in red cloaks with horns, bulging eyes, and fangs portraying devils following figures of Satan and Lucifer. This parade leads to a football stadium where 2 medieval plays are enacted. The first is about the brutal Spanish conquistadores and the second portrays the archangel Michael defeating the devils and the 7 deadly sins.

Cologne, Germany
Some celebrations last days, others a few weeks, but here they begin on November 11 and keep the parties going all the way to Fat Tuesday! It is referred to as "crazy days." Some highlights include the burning of a straw figure, a rose parade, and lots of drinking. As a matter of fact, during this time the closing times for pubs and bars are suspended.

Quebec, Canada
The official mascot for this carnival is Bonhomme who happens to be a giant snowman. There are lots of sporty competitions including dog sled races. Lots of ice and snow sculptures are made everywhere. It doesn't contain the flashy costumes of most Mardi Gras celebrations, but there is a snow bath where people can celebrate indoors in their swimsuits.

Mardi Gras in the U.S.A.
Mardi Gras is celebrated all across the United States. A lot of the parties are similar in nature, but a few have their own special characteristics that make them stand apart from the rest. Next week's blog will take a closer look at some of the most interesting celebrations, including the world's largest pub crawl that takes place in mid-Missouri at the Lake of the Ozarks!

The 2019 Lake Pub Crawl is happening on Saturday, February 16. A $10 wristband gets you into every participating venue, each featuring their own live music. You also get a safe, sober ride on all of the pub crawl buses from 4:00 pm in the afternoon until 2:30 am the next morning.

We'll get into more detail about that next week. In the meantime, sign up for our newsletter at www.LakePubCrawl.com and text "LAKEPUBCRAWL" to 71441 to receive information sent directly to your phone. It's the biggest party at the Lake of the Ozarks and you definitely do not want to miss it!