Welcome back to The Velvet Runway, and our guide to Mardi Gras Around the World: How Different Cultures Celebrate.
Mardi Gras has many names worldwide—Carnival in Italy and Brazil, Fasching in Germany, or Pancake Day in the UK. Whatever the name, it’s all about one last big celebration before the start of Lent.
It’s a festival rooted in Christian tradition, where communities around the globe indulge in one last grand feast, music, dancing, and colourful parades before the season of fasting begins. Though its origins trace back to medieval Europe, Mardi Gras has evolved into vibrant, culturally unique celebrations across the world.
This guide takes you on a journey from North America to Europe, South America, and beyond, showing how different cultures celebrate this lively tradition.
Mardi Gras Around the World: How Different Cultures Celebrate
Mardi Gras Celebrations in North America
New Orleans, USA
New Orleans hosts the most famous Mardi Gras in the United States, and it’s easy to see why. For two weeks before Ash Wednesday, the city comes alive with colourful parades organised by Krewes, local social clubs. These carnival clubs, which are non-profit organizations, represent various groups that celebrate the season through elaborate parades and balls. Each krewe has its own unique history, traditions, and membership structure – some are exclusively men’s or women’s organizations, while others welcome everyone. Many families have belonged to their krewes for generations.
Since 1837, these floats have rolled through the streets, with Krewe members tossing beads and trinkets, making the celebration fun for everyone.
Costumes are another highlight. Both parade-goers and participants go all out, with masks and outfits that tap into the festival’s deep roots in French tradition. Some of the most memorable sights each year are the iconic Mardi Gras outfits worn throughout the celebrations. The dressing up is infectious; you’ll find everyone from toddlers to grandparents in quirky or classic get-up.
Food is absolutely part of the fun. New Orleans shows off its culinary heritage with must-try classics like gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and jambalaya—warm, spicy, and comforting in equal measure. And it wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without king cake. This iconic treat, decorated in purple, green, and gold, usually hides a tiny figurine inside. Find it in your slice and you’re handed the honour (or perhaps challenge) of providing the next cake.
The festival mixes lively tradition with a strong sense of community, making Mardi Gras in New Orleans a true celebration of the city’s spirit.
Pro Tip: : If visiting New Orleans make sure to take some time to attend a live jazz event
Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City adds a frosty flair to Mardi Gras with its Quebec Winter Carnival, a celebration shaped by time-honoured French traditions and a healthy dose of snow. The city comes alive, its frosty streets buzzing with festivities even in the depths of winter.
One highlight is ice canoeing, where brave teams race across the freezing waters of the St. Lawrence River. It might sound like madness, but it showcases the grit and determination locals are known for.
If you’re a fan of art, you’ll be treated to towering snow sculptures, carved with skill and patience to create a temporary open-air gallery. These iced masterpieces, along with the carnival’s joyful atmosphere, attract people from all over, keen to dive into something out of the ordinary.
Quebec’s answer to Mardi Gras is less about flower parades and more about celebrating what winter can offer. Instead of petals and pastels, you’ll see snow, ice, and pure creativity, reminding everyone that even the coldest places know how to throw a party.
Pro Tip: Dress in layers for the Quebec Carnival and plan for outdoor activities like snow sculpture walks and ice skating to fully embrace the winter magic.
Mardi Gras in Europe
Venice, Italy
The Carnevale di Venezia is famous for its striking masks and centuries-old traditions. The festival started back in the 1100s and grew to a lavish, two-month extravaganza until the late 1700s, when masks and the festivities were banned by Francis II, Emperor of Austria. It wasn’t until 1979 that the Italian government breathed new life into the carnival, bringing feathers and ornate disguises back to the city.
The heart of the celebration is the masquerade balls, where both locals and visitors slip into character behind magnificent masks. These events are a chance to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy a bit of mystery, and step into Venice’s colourful past. Mardi Gras marks the grand finale, with a spectacular parade as everyone joins in.
From the winding alleys to packed piazzas, the carnival puts craftsmanship front and centre. Each mask on display is a piece of art, blending historical flair with imagination. It’s easy to see why the city still treasures this tradition, a highlight on the Venetian calendar every year.
Pro Tip: Book tickets for at least one masked ball in advance and consider a guided mask-making workshop to take a piece of Venice home with you.
Nice, France
The Carnival of Nice is a sensory delight on the French Riviera, and its Flower Parades are a real showstopper. Imagine towering floats lavishly decorated with spring’s finest petals, turning the streets into a moving garden. These lively processions, introduced in 1876, put the spotlight on the region’s creative spirit and rich horticulture, drawing crowds of flower lovers from around the globe.
Flower floats aren’t the only highlight here, though. The festival buzzes with other captivating parades, too, including Lou Queernaval—France’s very first gay carnival. This event brings a wonderful burst of pride and openness, celebrating diversity in style.
When the sun goes down, the Carnival Parade of Lights amps up the magic with glowing floats and sparkling displays against the night sky. Nice’s Mardi Gras combines tradition, diversity, and French elegance in a way few festivals can match.
In 2023, Nice went all out with its 150th Anniversary Parade, a giant nod to the carnival’s vibrant story and lasting popularity—proof that some parties truly do get better with age.
Pro Tip: Plan a Riviera trip around the Carnival of Nice to combine festive celebrations with luxury travel and French coastal culture.
Mardi Gras Highlights in South America
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is huge, attracting about two million visitors each year. It’s a street celebration unlike any other, overflowing with colour, music, and nonstop energy. The highlight is the Samba Parade, where dancers in stunning costumes perform alongside glittering floats as samba schools compete with impressive routines and creative themes. It’s a mix of lively music, dazzling sights, and pure joy.
But Carnival isn’t all about sequins and dance-offs. The smell of street food fills the air, as vendors offer up comforting local favourites: think feijoada, pastéis, and sizzling churrasco. These dishes do more than just fuel the crowd—they’re an open invitation for everyone to savour the country’s rich traditions in every bite.
This festival brings far more than a temporary party vibe. It gives the city’s tourism a huge lift and brings significant income for local businesses. As Rio marks the 300th anniversary of its Carnival this year, expectations are running higher than ever, with plans for grander parades and even more spectacular displays. For anyone with a taste for celebration, Rio’s Carnival sits firmly at the top of South America’s Mardi Gras experiences.
Pro Tip: Book a guided city tour to see behind-the-scenes of Rio Carnival for an authentic insider perspective.
Unique Mardi Gras Traditions
Binche, Belgium
Binche’s Carnival is famous for one thing above all: the Gilles. Each year, local men step into matching red and orange costumes, complete with clogs and almost theatrical masks. Every detail matches perfectly, right down to the outlandish feathered hats, showcasing just how much pride the community has in their shared tradition.
The real spectacle comes when the Gilles stomp through Binche’s historic streets. Drums rumble in the background, and suddenly, the Gilles start lobbing bright oranges into the crowd. If you’re lucky enough to catch one, or even if one bounces off your head, take it as a sign of good luck. Just don’t make the mistake of tossing it back—locals frown upon that!
This focus on identical costumes isn’t just about looking good for photos. It’s a way for Binche to keep its unique heritage alive and well, showing the world what sets it apart in Belgium’s lineup of Carnival celebrations.
Pro Tip: Attend early in the morning for the best views of the Gilles’ procession and capture unique photos without the crowds.
Maslenitsa in Russia
Maslenitsa in Russia mixes old pagan traditions with Orthodox Christian beliefs, creating a festival full of character. It marks the end of winter and celebrates the return of the sun while also preparing people for Lent. In the Orthodox calendar, Lent starts on a Monday, making Maslenitsa the final week to enjoy dairy products. That’s why it’s often called “Butter Week” or “Cheese Week.”
The festival features blini—thin golden pancakes, made with eggs, butter, and milk— symbolizing the sun—and outdoor activities like sledging, ice skating, and snowball fights.
The week ends on a dramatic note with the burning of a straw figure called Lady Maslenitsa. Lighting up this effigy is a crowd-pleasing way for everyone to say goodbye to winter and hope for an easy transition into spring.
Although Maslenitsa celebrations were toned down during Soviet times and kept within the family, they’ve made a lively comeback and are now a proud fixture in Russia’s cultural calendar.
Pro Tip: Join a local Maslenitsa event for an immersive cultural experience, and try traditional blini-making to connect with the culinary side of the festival.
Final words on Mardi Gras Around the World:
The Global Diversity of Mardi Gras Celebrations
Mardi Gras looks different around the world, showing how each place adds its own culture and history to the celebration. In Brazil, huge Samba parades fill the streets with colour and music, drawing massive crowds. In Granville, France, the festival is so meaningful that UNESCO recognises it as part of the area’s cultural heritage.
In Venice, the masked Carnevale began long before Christianity and later blended old and new customs into a mysterious, elegant festival. In Trinidad and Tobago, steel drums and Calypso music bring the energy of African heritage into the celebrations.
Even with diverse traditions, all Mardi Gras celebrations share music, dancing, food, and communal joy—a reminder that life’s greatest festivals bring people together, wherever they are.
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