Michael Buholzer / Reuters
People in costume pose for photographers at the start of the Luzern-Carnival in Lucerne in the early morning hours Feb. 16.
The history of Lucerne's carnival can be traced back over more than 600 years and is best known for its individually hand-crafted masks and costumes paraded in the town's streets and squares by thousands of revellers during the three-day carnival festival.
Manuel Silvestri / Reuters
The traditional Columbine descends from Saint Mark's tower bell on an iron cable during the Venetian Carnival in Venice, Italy, Feb. 12.
...the most famous event of the carnival was the "Flight of the Angel" or "Flight of the Turkish" or even "Flight of Columbine". An acrobat from a boat went along the ropes until the belfry of the St. Mark's Bell Tower, then descended on the Loggia Foscari of Doge's Palace where he offered a floral tribute to the Doge of Venice in person. Actually this event takes place in total safety and with a reduced route. It runs at noon the first Sunday of Carnival and marks the official opening of the event. During the two weekends of Venice Carnival arrive more than 100,000 visitors.
Altaf Qadri / AP
An Indian woman performs in a "Well of Death" at a carnival in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. In the Well of Death, stuntmen on motorbikes and cars drive in circles around the vertical walls of a circular shaped well.
A combo of photos obtained on May 6, 2011 shows a horse leaping over a fence and plunging into the crowd at a popular carnival, injuring seven people who were taken to hospital, in Warrnambool on May 5, 2011.
According to AFP-Getty Images: The riderless horse Banna Strand veered off course and jumped into watching spectators at the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool in Victoria state. The incident in the eight horse race, in which only two finished with their riders still onboard, came with the sport under close scrutiny with every horse injury pointed to as an example of cruelty. It followed a horse having to be put down after falling in the first hurdle race of the day at Warrnambool.
Seven people were hospitalized after the horse, which lost its jockey, jumped into a spectator area during a race in Australia. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.
Patrick Semansky / AP
Mardi Gras reveler Mike Turpin, whose night still isn't over, reacts as a front loader collects beads and other debris left behind by revelers on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, early Wednesday, March 9. Ash Wednesday marks the end of Mardi Gras festivities and the beginning of the Lenten season for Catholics.
Patrick Semansky / AP
A man runs for shelter as rain pours down on a nearly deserted Bourbon Street.
Patrick Semansky / AP
Workers use front loaders to clean up beads and other debris left behind by Mardi Gras revelers on Bourbon Street.
These morning-after images give a pretty good idea of just how hard they partied in New Orleans over the past few days. See more images from celebrations around the world here.
Rafael Marchante / Reuters
A child waits to take part in a samba parade during a carnival in Sesimbra village March 8.
This is one of the few images I've seen from Carnival that just doesn't look like much fun. See more images from celebrations around the world here.
Gerald Herbert / AP
Rex, the King of Carnival rides in the Krewe of Rex as he arrives at Canal St. along St. Charles Ave. on Mardi Gras day in New Orleans on Tuesday, March 8.
Patrick Semansky / AP
Members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club point to revelers as they ride on a float down Jackson Avenue in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day.
Gerald Herbert / AP
A marching group arrives at Canal Street as it marches ahead of the Krewe of Zulu on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans on Tuesday.
Bill Haber / AP
Lenny Detrinis wears an ostrich costume during Mardi Gras celebrations in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Tuesday.
Patrick Semansky / AP
Revelers reach out for items thrown by riders on a float in the Rex parade as it makes its way down St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day.
Patrick Semansky / AP
Lee Chance laughs as he shows off his collection of beads that he caught during the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade Tuesday on Mardi Gras day in New Orleans.
Patrick Semansky / AP
A reveler takes a sip of bourbon as he sits next to a sleeping man on a couch during the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day.
Full story here.
More carnival images on PhotoBlog here.
Lisi Niesner / Reuters
A person dressed as traditional 'Flinserl' participates in a carnival parade in Bad Aussee in the Austrian province of Styria March 8.
Lisi Niesner / Reuters
A woman dressed as traditional Flinserl is surrounded by children as she throws nuts during a carnival parade in Bad Aussee in the Austrian province of Styria on March 8.
Lisi Niesner / Reuters
A man dressed as traditional Flinserl for a carnival parade in Bad Aussee in the Austrian province of Styria on March 8.
See more photos of Carnival celebrations around the world here.
Francois Lenoir / Reuters
The Gilles of Binche parade in the early morning of the carnival event in Binche, Belgium on March 8. The Binche carnival, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage event, is the biggest and the liveliest such annual event in Belgium. Up to 1,000 Gilles parade in the city centre of Binche, wearing red, yellow and black medieval costumes hung with bells and decorated with fluffy lace at the neck, wrists and ankles.
Read more about the Binche Carnival on the Brussels Life travel website.
Rodrigo Abd / AP
Members of Uniao da Ilha samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, March 7, 2011.
See more great carnival images from around the world from here.
Jose Manuel Ribeiro / Reuters
Revellers dressed as clowns and a man watch the carnival parade in Sesimbra village, Portugal on March 7. The clown parade in Sesimbra village became a tradition after a world record for the biggest clown march was set in 2004.
See more carnival coverage in our slideshow.
Luca Bruno / AP
People wearing protection helmets and costumes throw oranges as part of Carnival celebrations in the northern Italian Piedmont town of Ivrea on Monday, March 7. The traditional Battle of the Oranges has its roots in the middle of the 19th century.
Olivier Morin / AFP - Getty Images
Teams throw oranges at each other during the traditional Battle of the Oranges on Monday. The event marks the rebellion of the people against tyrannical lords who ruled the town in the Middle Ages, with the revellers on carts representing guards of the tyrant, those on foot the townsfolk.
Olivier Morin / AFP - Getty Images
Teams throw oranges at each other during the traditional Battle of the Oranges on Monday.
Olivier Morin / AFP - Getty Images
Oanges lay on the ground after the traditional Battle of the Oranges on Monday.
See more photos from Carnival celebrations around the world here.
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