Vintage Mardi Gras Madness Around the World (Photos)
In honor of Fat Tuesday, here's a look back at the masks, beads, and elaborate costumes of Mardi Gras festivities past around the world.
GERARD JULIEN/Getty
Each year, millions of tourists flock to major cities all over the world for a weekend-long celebration leading up to Fat Tuesday, or “Mardi Gras.” Donning masks, beads, and elaborate costumes, revelers have joined the festivities—and participated in the unique traditions of each country—for over 500 years. From Venice to Rio de Janeiro and, of course, New Orleans, The Daily Beast takes a look back at the history of Mardi Gras around the globe. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Here, entertainer Orson Welles films the Rio de Janeiro Carnival celebration in Brazil.
Hart Preston/Getty
Dating back to 1723, Carnival in Brazil is the country’s biggest celebration. It is singlehandedly responsible for the vast majority of Brazil’s annual tourism, bringing over 2 million tourists to the city of Rio de Janeiro. The festival is known for its “samba schools,” where groups of Carnival attendees from the same neighborhoods work together on floats, costumes, and dance routines to compete in Sambradrome, the climax of the festival.
Florence/Alinari/Getty
While the Samba Schools compete and the various balls are underway, many locals and visitors take to the streets of Rio de Janeiro for street festivals, where music and dancing is abundant.
Pictorial Parade/Getty
Brazilian beauty Ana Bentes stands on float under the extra weight of the costume that won the top award during the 1951 festivities.
Leonard McCombe/Getty
Haiti’s largest Carnival celebration takes place in its capital city of Port-au-Prince. The celebration begins in January and lasts until Fat Tuesday, which typically occurs in late February or early March. Just like celebrations throughout the rest of the world, the Haitian “karnaval” includes wild costumes, elaborate floats, and plenty of music and dancing.
Harvey Meston/Getty Images
The U.S. celebrations date back to 1699 when French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville was sent to claim French territory in what is now Louisiana. Realizing it was the eve of the holiday, Bienville named the spot 60 miles south of what is now New Orleans “Pointe du Mardi Gras.” While the local traditions began in Mobile, Alabama, three years later—krewes were created and parades were organized—the major celebrations of Carnival today happen in New Orleans. Along with the elaborate floats, traditions also include masks, formal balls, and some pretty raunchy bead exchanges.
A general view of “Rex,” king of the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, leads the way through thousands of revelers packed in the streets in 1946.
AP Photo
A scene from the street as a float passes by in 1970.
David Redfern/Getty
A float carries a cannon and a sign reading “Hurrah! The War is Over” during a 1973 parade.
Tim Boxer/Getty Images
People watch a Mardi Gras parade from behind a barrier in 1978.
Ernst Haas/Getty
Floats make their way down crowded Canal Street.
James L. Stanfield/National Geographic/Getty
Figures on a float look down at the crowd during a Mardi Gras procession in 1961.
Ernst Haas/Getty
The queen of the ball greets guests at one of the many galas held during Mardi Gras season.
James L. Stanfield/National Geographic/Getty
An elaborately costumed & made-up couple enjoy the celebrations.
Mitchel Osborne/Getty
The king, queen, and their court of Mystic, New Orleans's oldest krewe, take their places during the 1948 Mardi Gras ball.
AP Photo
Felt fedoras, red shirts, and rosettes are part of their costume for these 1979 Mardi Gras participants.
Ernst Haas/Getty
A woman smiles during Mardi Gras 1978.
Ernst Haas/Getty
In a stunning display of the elaborate costumes, a man wears a magnificent feathered headdress in orange and yellow while playing a tambourine during the 1979 celebration.
Ernst Haas/Getty
During the 1979 festivities, “Mame” appears “naked” to the waist with the aid of a rubber torso.
Ernst Haas/Getty
Six Mardi Gras princesses ride a parade float in their formal gowns.
Bradley Smith/CORBIS
The previous year’s Mardi Gras queen waves to the crowds from her perch on a float in March 1951.
Leonard McCombe/Getty
Dating back to 1162, Martedí Grasso in Venice is one of the oldest Carnival celebrations in the world, bringing in over 3 million tourists to the city each year. Particularly known for the elaborate masks attendees wear, the festival’s biggest event is the contest for la maschera più bella, or “the most beautiful mask,” which includes a judging panel of international costume and fashion designers.
Here, a colorful mask with a feathered bird atop its head stops to pose for a photo in Piazza San Marco.
Getty
A couple of Venice Carnival participants pose in Piazza San Marco.
GERARD JULIEN/Getty
Revelers dressed in white float down a canal in Venice.
Francois LE DIASCORN/RAPHO
Women in blue-and-black costumes and disguised by white masks participate in the Venice Carnival.
Francois LE DIASCORN/RAPHO
Carnival attendees in full costume fill the streets in front of the Florian Café.
Francois LE DIASCORN/RAPHO
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.