We are Now two days into Lent, the Catholic festival of fasting and renunciation, so I thought now might be a good time to look at some of the beautiful, colourful photos people have taken of of the Carnival celebrations that ended on (shrove) Tuesday.
This post does not really relate to Canvas art prints or fine art Prints, but i though it might be interesting to do a little history on a holiday that has inspired thousands of art pieces through the ages, and today generates millions of photographs a year.
For all of those not familiar with this festival, Lent is the time between shrove Tuesday and Easter, which is 40 days (excluding Sundays). The 40 days represent the time that Jesus is said to have fasted in the desert before starting his ministry. Lent ends on holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. During Lent, it is traditional to fast and abstain from indulgence.
The period before Lent begins was traditionally a time of confession and repentance, but it developed over time into a celebration of excess and of indulgence in pleasure, all of the things that would have to be given up for the next month. Around the world in countries with Catholic traditions, festivals are organized to showcase the exuberance and creativity of the people. It is a time of colour, costume, art and beauty, as well as the consumption of fatty foods.
Photo by rcstanley
The period before Lent begins was traditionally a time of confession and repentance, but it developed over time into a celebration of excess and of indulgence in pleasure, all of the things that would have to be given up for the next month. Around the world in countries with catholic traditions, festivals are organized to showcase the exuberance and creativity of the people. It is a time of colour, costume, art and beauty, as well as the consumption of traditional fatty foods.
These celebrations are called by different names in different places. In New Orleans they Celebrate Mardi Gras, french for “Fat Tuesday” on this day the streets of the french quarter become a canvas painted with the riotous colours of costumes and floats. People bring their cameras along and capture photos of the living artwork on display. There is dancing, revelry, and one might even say debauchery, until the stroke of midnight, when the streets are cleared, and lent begins.
Photo by Martin Gautron
Another celebration that takes place at this time is Carnival. This word literal means “to remove meat” and it refers to the catholic tradition of eating no meat during the days of lent. It is celebrated all over Europe and in north and South America. On of the most famous carnivals takes place in Venice, where it is traditionally seen as a time of “misrule” and masks are worn so that people can go through the city without being recognized. Carnival can explore the dark side of human nature, Edgar Allan Poe's very creepy tale “the Cask Of Amontillado” was set in Venice during carnival.
Another celebration that takes place at this time is Carnival. This word literal means “to remove meat” and it refers to the catholic tradition of eating no meat during the days of lent. It is celebrated all over Europe and in north and South America. On of the most famous carnivals takes place in Venice, where it is traditionally seen as a time of “misrule” and masks are worn so that people can go through the city without being recognized. Carnival can explore the dark side of human nature, Edgar Allan Poe's very creepy tale “the Cask Of Amontillado” was set in Venice during carnival.
photo by Nemodus
Photo by Flawka
It is a wild and beautiful world out there, full of creative people. thanks to all the photographers who capture it and bring it back to us!
