Once more, it is Carnival Season in many countries around the world with a Roman Catholic heritage.
Celebrations and parades are put on just prior to the observance of Lent. Over the past few weeks,
parades and celebrations have taken place throughout Europe, the Caribbean and South America.
An estimated 730,000 foreign tourists, many fleeing snowy conditions in Europe and the United States,
traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for this year's celebrations. Collected here are a handful of images
from some of the elaborate celebrations of this spectacular annual Carnival season. --
[39 photos total]
A masked reveller poses in Piazza San Marco during the Venetian Carnival in Venice, Italy on February 6, 2010. (REUTERS/Max Rossi)
A costumed reveller enjoys his cappuccino in a bar next to Piazza San Marco during the Venetian Carnival in Venice, Italy on February 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Max Rossi)
Alicia San Juan McNulty, wearing a creation called "In Wonderland", reacts after being elected Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife,
in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife, late February 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Santiago Ferrero)
A reveller rubs herself with mud at the Bloco da Lama carnival in Paraty near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 13, 2010. (REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes)
Masked carnival-goers pose for pictures during the traditional carnival of Barranquilla, Colombia, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/ Christian Escobar Mora)
A dancer dressed up as an angel performs in the carnival parade in Oruro, some 400 kms from La Paz, Bolivia on February 13, 2010. The Carnival of Oruro is
one of Bolivia's largest cultural events, and in 2001 was declared by UNESCO as one of mankind's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
(AIZAR RALDES/AFP/Getty Images)
A costumed dancer of Viradouro samba school performs during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Feb.15, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Skiing Batmen ride aboard a Unidos da Tijuca samba school float during the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, February 14, 2010.
(REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes)
Carnival revellers dressed as "peliqueiros" run through a street in Spain's northwestern village of Laza on February 14, 2010. "Peliqueiros" or ancient tax
collectors, used to pursue villagers through the streets during their tax collection, ringing cowbells and hitting villagers with their sticks. (REUTERS/Miguel Vidal)
A member of the band "Sweet Trinbago" participates in the National Junior Parade as part of Carnival celebrations at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago on February 13, 2010. (REUTERS/Andrea De Silva)
Carnival-goers pass through the centre of Maastricht, Netherlands on February 14, 2010. (VALERIE KUYPERS/AFP/Getty Images)