: the festivities begin! 
M ardi Gras is a Catholic festival. It is celebrated on the eve of Ash Wednesday, first day of Lent which lasts 40 days. During this period any greasy food is excluded, so .... must make reservations! worldwide, in Rio, Nice, Venice, Dunkirk, Madrid, Mardi Gras is a day of joy and good food! Waffles, bugnes , pancakes, donuts are the party! Coming, soon, a delicious recipe for waffles to please everyone for Mardi Gras!
FYI, this year's Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 11.
Carnival of Venice: Pantalone and Colombina L th Carnival of Venice is symbolized by its masks. Of all colors, all expressions, caricatures or sorcerers, and masks of Carnival of Venice are full of mystery. traditional masks of Venice are characters Pantalone and Colombina . 
Pantalone is a character in the Commedia dell'arte , it is a miserly old merchant, credulous and libertine. Its name comes from Pantalone Pianta Leone, the lion plant, referring to the flag that Saint Marc possible on all the land he wanted to conquer Venice. Pantalone
complains incessantly, it is rich but does not spend his fortune and prefers to enjoy his money.
He is wearing a long black coat, pants-colant red, yellow shoes, a hat and a mask long hooked nose over half of the face. 
Colombina , meanwhile, is a mischievous maid betrothed to Arlequin, it often leads by the nose and is often the object of lustful situations compiled by Pantalone, very jealous of Harlequin. It
be found represented by various names, such as Franceschina, Betta, Marinetti, Violetta or Arlecchini. Colombina wearing a dress, but never to mask not to hide her beauty.
Carnival Masks Carnival 
A Venice or elsewhere, the masks are kings in all Italian carnivals. Masks of the Commedia dell'arte represent the characteristics of human life: the vices and virtues of all kinds characters: wild, greedy, generous, servants, patrons, buffoons, and jealous lovers interact in a game Perpetual jonglont constantly between fiction and reality.
Performances best known :
- The beffa del servo : a kind of revenge on his boss's servant. The most famous are probably Harlequin and Brighella, always friendly and funny.
- The character of Old : The best known are Pantalone and the Doctor, Doctor Balanzone and Dr. Graziano.
- Captain: Captain Spaventa, or swaggering Captain Captain Matamoros soldiers are violent, especially this deri which could refer to the English soldier who spread terror in throughout Italy.
L a Carnival period is approaching. With it's festive atmosphere, the joy of children, the disguises of all kinds ... I really appreciate this time of year again where everyone feels toddler!
Some carnivals are detached and have always faced a huge success. It must be said that the Venice Carnival and festival masks are enough to make us dream.
Carnival is a festival particularly symbolic: it represents the transition from winter to spring, from death to life, symbolizes the renewal, fantasy.
Carnival itself also allows an escape from everyday life, the time a few days, beneath the masks we can overcome the social and moral constraints, it circumvents the rules of all kinds. An opportunity for everyone to adopt a role, to change his life, character.
in Basel, Zurich, Munich, Nice and the Carnival of Venice the magic deploys and allows young and old have fun.
And you? You shall keep it where the Carnival this year?
