Carnival Around The World 2012

People dressed for carnival pose at the start of the Luzern-Carnival in Lucerne. MICHAEL BUHOLZER/REUTERS

A woman dressed for Weiberfastnacht (Women's Carnival) celebrates in Cologne. INA FASSBENDER/REUTERS

Revelers smile at a masquerade party during Carnival celebrations in Salvador. UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERS

A dog dressed in a sweater takes part in carnival festivities in central Bilbao. VINCENT WEST/REUTERS

Children take part in the 84th carnival parade of Aalst. SEBASTIEN PIRLET/REUTERS

A carnival reveller checks her make up at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in Duesseldorf. © Ina Fassbender / Reuters/REUTERS

Revellers participate in a masked ball during celebrations for the Carnival of All Colors in Maragojipe. UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERS

Revellers participate in a masked ball during celebrations for the Carnival of All Colors in Maragojipe. UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERS

Revelers celebrate Carnival by covering themselves with mud from mangrove swamps in Curuca. PAULO SANTOS/REUTERS

Revellers participate in a masked ball during celebrations for the Carnival of All Colors in Maragojipe. UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERS

A reveller participates in a masked ball during celebrations for the Carnival of All Colors in Maragojipe city. UESLEI MARCELINO/REUTERS

Revellers of the Unidos do Morro Carnival block take part in a parade during the traditional celebration in Obidos. STRINGER/BRAZIL/REUTERS

Revellers from the Sao Clemente samba school take part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. RICARDO MORAES/REUTERS

A reveller from the Sao Clemente samba school takes part in the parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS

The Gilles of Binche parade during the carnival event in Binche. Francois Lenoir/REUTERS

Revellers from the Salgueiro samba schooll take part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome,. RICARDO MORAES/REUTERS

A reveller from the Mangueira samba school takes part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. SERGIO MORAES/REUTERS

Revellers from the Salgueiro samba school takes part in the parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS

A reveller from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school takes part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. RICARDO MORAES/REUTERS

Carnival revellers dressed as clowns take part in the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade in Mainz. © Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters/REUTERS

A masquerader participates in the Jouvert celebrations marking the start of the Trinidad Carnival street parade in Port of Spain. ANDREA DE SILVA/REUTERS

Member of a rival team fights with oranges during an annual carnival battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea. © Stefano Rellandini / Reuters/REUTERS

Drum queen Barbosa of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school dances during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. SERGIO MORAES/REUTERS

A reveller from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school takes part in the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS

Revellers in unicorn costumes from the Grande Rio samba school participate in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS

Drum queen Ana Furtado of the Grande Rio samba school dances on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS

Gil wears a creation entitled Imperio by designer Castro before she was crowned Carnival Queen in the annual carnival queen election gala at Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife. Santiago Ferrero/REUTERS

Masquerader parades on stage at the carnival individual competition at Victoria Square. Andrea De Silva/REUTERS

Participant Kuki performs in a drag queen competition during carnival festivities in Las Palmas. BORJA SUAREZ/REUTERS

A man dressed as a vampire takes part in carnival festivities in central Bilbao. Vincent West/REUTERS

A reveller dressed as a Son de Negro applies lipstick before a carnival parade in Barranquilla. STRINGER/REUTERS

Revellers wait before their performance at a carnival parade in Barranquilla. STRINGER Colombia/REUTERS

A carnival float carrying a papier-mache figure depicting German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pictured during the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade in Mainz. Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS

Musicians take part in the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade in Mainz. Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS

A carnival float with papier-mache showing German Chancellor Merkel and French President Sarkozy is pictured at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in Duesseldorf. Ina Fassbender/REUTERS

A float with papier-mache depicting Iran's President Ahmadinejad with a dynamite in his mouth is pictured at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in Duesseldorf. Ina Fassbender/REUTERS

Member of a rival team takes oranges from the ground during an annual carnival battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea. Stefano Rellandini/REUTERS

Men in fancy costumes chat during the Carnival of Cadiz. Marcelo Del Pozo/REUTERS

Competitor Eustace wears a costume called D Midnight Messenger during the Kings of Carnival in Port of Spain. Andrea De Silva/REUTERS

Competitor St George wears a costume called Ralliez-Vous A Mon Panache Blanch during Kings of Carnival in Port of Spain. Andrea De Silva/REUTERS

Competitor Chin wears a costume called Prince Siegfried, The Story of The Swan lake during Kings of Carnival in Port of Spain. Andrea De Silva/REUTERS

Competitor Patricia Bailey wears a costume called Exotic Sunset On The Horizon during Queens of Carnival in Port of Spain. Andrea De Silva/REUTERS

A woman takes a mud bath during Jouvert celebrations marking the start of the Trinidad Carnival street parade in Port of Spain. Andrea De Silva/REUTERS

People covered in mud dance during Jouvert celebrations marking the start of the Trinidad Carnival street parade in Port of Spain. Andrea De Silva/REUTERS

Women dance during a carnival parade in Aalst. Sebastien Pirlet/REUTERS

A carnival reveller gets his make-up fixed before the start of the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade in Mainz. Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS

A carnival float with papier-mache depicting German Chancellor Merkel is pictured at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in Duesseldorf. Ina Fassbender/REUTERS

A carnival reveller sports a belt to hold little drinks during the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade in Mainz. Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS