Carnival 2012: Europe Bids 'Farewell to the Flesh' [SLIDESHOW]

Carnival is a festive event held before the Christian observance of Lent, a forty-day period of prayer and fasting before the celebration of Easter. It is commonly held in countries with sizable Catholic populations, and is celebrated with costumes, parades and feasts. The word "Carnival," roughly translated from Latin, means "farewell to meat" or "farewell to flesh." It is a term that connotes both the coming period of solemnity and restraint as well as a sort of celebratory liberation from the body and everyday life.

The float of the King of Carnival (L) passes by a float with giant figures of members of Britain's royal family during the Nice Carnival in Nice, southeastern France February 19, 2012. The carnival, which starts on February 17 and continues to March 4, celebrates "King of sport" this year.

A reveller dressed as "Peliqueiros" adjusts his headgear during a carnival in Spain's northwestern village of Laza February 21, 2012. "Peliqueiros", or ancient tax collectors, pursued villagers through the streets ringing their cowbells and hitting villagers with their sticks.

Revellers celebrate the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season.

The Gilles of Binche parade in the city hall during the carnival event in Binche February 21, 2012. The Binche carnival, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage event, is the biggest and the liveliest of such annual event in Belgium. Up to 1,000 Gilles parade in the city centre of Binche, wearing red, yellow and black medieval costumes hung with bells and decorated with fluffy lace at the neck, wrists and ankles.

Carnival revellers perform during the Ovar city parade February 19, 2012. Dozens of Portuguese cities continue their celebration of the carnival weekend, despite the government's decision to cancel the holiday due to austerity measures.

A member of a rival team fights with oranges during an annual carnival battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea February 19, 2012. Dressed up as Middle Age kings' guards, a group of men ride in a horse-drawn carriage and pelt 'foot soldiers' with oranges as thousands of people gather to re-enact a Middle Age battle when the townsfolk of Ivrea overthrew an evil king.

Revellers wearing masks play with sparklers during the traditional Buso Carnival in Mohacs, 200 km (124 miles) south of Budapest, February 19, 2012. At the Buso Carnival, which lasts for six days, locals celebrate the end of winter and party before the start of Lent. According to legend, the masks helped locals scare away the Turks in the 16th century.

Villagers dressed in costume dance during a carnival in the village of Lazy pod Makytou, some 112 miles (180 km) northeast of Bratislava February 18, 2012. Villagers wear masks during the annual carnival season called "Fasiangy" which takes place from Epiphany through Ash Wednesday in celebration of the end of winter and the coming of spring.