Make merry and masquerade

With our very own carnival just around the corner, Jo Caruana looks further afield to discover the colour, tradition and fun of so many other carnivals – all of which make for great getaways.

We’re pretty well versed when it comes to our own, organised carnival: a family-friendly affair awash with children in brightly-coloured outfits and vibrant floats wafting down the main streets of Floriana, Valletta and Victoria. As well as a much-loved tradition it is a tourist attraction in its own right, and one that charms numerous visitors every year.

At its core, carnival is a Christian festival that takes place just before the start of Lent. Celebrated all over the world, it is epitomised by bubbly public parades combining costumes, masks and an unabashed party atmosphere.

Here, we take a look at some of the best carnivals in the world, and offer hints and tips on how best to enjoy them.

Brazil

The mac-daddy of them all, the Rio de Janeiro carnival is the biggest in the world and nicknamed the ‘most popular party on the planet’ by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Events kick off four days before Ash Wednesday and you’re unlikely to ever witness anything more extravagant or over-the-top in your life.

The carnival in Montevideo is more than 40 days long

This carnival has been famous since the 1930s, with parades, parties, balls and street dances becoming larger and more impressive year on year.

The Sambodromo, where hundreds of samba schools compete for first place, is one of the best places to get in on the action. Visitors are more than welcome to join in with the mayhem; in fact it’s encouraged.

Get ready for lots of late nights, drinking a good few caipirinhas (a drink made from the liquor cachaca with crushed lime, sugar and ice) and have those party shoes at the ready, too.

Top tip: Plan well ahead as prices can go through the roof during carnival time. Book hotels well in advance and sort out your tickets for the carnival parade. Also bear in mind that most hotels have a minimum-stay rule of four to five nights at this time of year.

Netherlands

Also held just before Ash Wednesday, this is when the Netherlands goes a bit nuts.

Most Dutch towns will host parades that feature strange, grotesque, papier-mâché figures, huge floats and people dressed in really outrageous outfits.

You will be able to join the impromptu conga lines that sometimes breakout of nowhere and your beer belly will probably get topped up too.

If you’re planning a trip, base yourself in Maastricht in Limburg or south Brabant, both near the Belgian border. Things tend to happen indoors there, but celebrations are just as exciting.

Top tip: Have a lie-in so that you’ll be ready to party late into the night. Most bars will stay open 24 hours a day throughout the festivities.

Southern France

Nice combines the best of both worlds – carnival, and the opportunity to still enjoy a fantastic, stress-free holiday as you watch the yachts drift across the Baie des Anges.

The carnival itself, which is held from February 18 to March 8, is centred around Place Masséna.

Highlights include massive floats and lively ­processions, with troupes of musicians and lots of street art.

The battle of flowers, on the Promenade des Anglais, is a parade that definitely shouldn’t be missed. Meanwhile, make time to enjoy the rest of what Nice has to offer, including its Old Town markets and quaint backstreets.

Top tip: Watch the parades for free at the corner of the Promenade des Anglais and the Avenue de Verdun or, even better, access the standing area for free if you’re in costume.

Trinidad and Tobago

If you’d like to follow carnival further afield, then this may be the one for you.

One of the best-kept secrets of its sort and dubbed the granddaddy of all Caribbean carnivals, it hosts thousands of people from all over the world, all there to have a wonderful time.

Soca music blares through speakers and steel pan orchestras wow the crowds.

You can expect a similar atmosphere to that of London’s Notting Hill Carnival, although this is, arguably, the real thing.

It is truly one of the best ways to get to know the heart and soul of the Caribbean – the perfect reflection of its fun-filled approach to life.

Top tip: Planning ahead is also vital for this trip, as hotels are already receiving carnival bookings for 2018!

Uruguay

And for something altogether a little different, why not head to Montevideo in Uruguay? This boasts the longest carnival in the world – more than 40 days long in fact, throughout much of January, February and March.

As with most carnivals it combines colour, music and tradition, but there’s also the election of the carnival queen to look forward to and parades to the beat of the incredible candombe drum.

Top tip: Look out for the lubolos, which sees white men dress up as black men as a public apology for the country’s historic savagery and genocide.