Design Inspiration from Carnivals Around the World

 

When you hear about carnivals around the world, you inevitably make numerous associations in your head. These contain merrymaking, festivities, and colorful design flourishes meant to go away a long-lasting impression. Revelers forget who they're for the nonce and throw themselves into the communal party environment.

The roots of those events are interesting, too. Traditionally a Western Christian season of celebration that precedes Lent, carnivals usually occur in February or March (think Mardi Gras), though ones in other parts of the planet can run later within the spring, summer, or fall. Activities typically include public street parties, parades, mask-wearing, food fights, mocking authority figures, social satire, and other elements of an almost circus-like atmosphere.

As a graphic designer, you stand to also gain a robust sense of inspiration from taking within the sights of those carnivals. Among the flowery costumes and colors are textures and aesthetics which will serve you well on your next design project.

Right within the midst of carnival season, we took a listing of all the wildest carnivals around the world and present them to you here.

Mardi Gras Carnival

Mardi Gras (also referred to as Mardi Gras within the United Kingdom) is kind of a catch-all term for a series of celebrations that happen within the U.S. and Western Europe. Of course, the foremost famous Mardi Gras is New Orleans’ version, which may begin on any Tuesday in early February or March and runs for about a fortnight.

Two of the most important highlights during this two-week reverie are the parades and balls (sometimes, masquerade balls) in various parts of the town. Social clubs called krewes are the organizers behind the parades, and so-called super krewes are even known to carry huge events additionally to the parades. Usually, the parade route begins within the Mid-City and Uptown districts then snakes its thanks to Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue. Bourbon Street is another famous location for festivities, learn today graphic designing through the best institution which has the best graphic designing course in Delhi.



















If you’re within the crowd when a parade during this city makes its way through, expect to be bombarded with throws, which are small items that parade riders toss into the gang. They normally include:

• Cheap toys
• Moon pies
• Lingerie
• Plastic cups
• Doubloons
• Beads

As far as carnivals around the world go, the parades and floats here are extremely colorful, bursting with character, and elaborately designed. The costumes of both parade riders and other people within the crowd are only limited by their imagination and, some would say, sense of modesty.

Check out these carnival-inspired assets to enliven your creative projects:











The Carnival of Venice

Here’s a statistic you'll find hard to believe: The Venetian carnival attracts approximately 3 million tourists annually. A centuries-long tradition that dates back all the thanks to 1162, after a big military victory in favor of the Venetian Republic, the carnival is probably most famous for the assortment of untamed and surreal masks that revelers don. the fashionable incarnation was officially inaugurated in 1979.

Some of the more famous (or even infamous) masks include the beaked plague-doctor masks, which feature the bird-inspired nose and round eyeholes that have crystal discs, and therefore the volto or larva masks, which are usually an excellent white with gilded decorations and worn alongside a cloak and tricorn (an 18th-century sort of hat).












The famous masks themselves have a stimulating backstory. Initially, they were forbidden to be worn, alongside extravagant clothing, by those of low social station (read: almost everyone not of the nobility), during medieval times. However, when carnival season hit even some time past, these draconian laws were suspended, also allowing commoners to don silk and velvet, alongside the now-famous masks that kept their identities anonymous.

The fancy nature of those Venetian masks definitely sets this event aside from other carnivals around the world. The masks here are flamboyant, bedazzling, and heavily decorated with rich colors and detailed patterns. They’re usually made from porcelain or leather and are generally handcrafted so that even feathers and gems are often added to the combination.

Rio Carnival

Hands down, the claim to fame of the world-famous Rio Carnival is that it’s the most important of its kind on Earth, with an approximate 2 million people per day on its streets for the length of this festival. Usually held in Rio de Janeiro in late February, the event goes back to 1723 when the primary carnival happened.














Besides the sheer magnitude of this festival, there are two other attributes to remember: the floats of the parade and samba, an active flavor of music that’s rooted within the African-Brazilian sort of dance and drumming.

In this carnival, the performances, floats, and full parades are placed on by the respective samba schools in an almost ritualistic sequence. Every samba school starts out with a so-called front commission that is the intro for the precise school and establishes the design of the parade presentation to follow. Then comes the school’s first float, followed then by the Master of Ceremonies also because the Flag Bearer, both meant to steer the school’s dancers. Rounding out the rear of those gigantic processions are the musicians, like the drum lines, guitar section, and brass.

Carnivals around the world take note: For its absolute pageantry and bombast, you can’t top the Rio Carnival.

Nice Carnival

Located in France, the town of Nice can today boast that it features one among the more spectacular carnivals on the earth. That’s quite a feat once you consider that European carnival histories first originated in Venice then only later radiated outward to other locales on the continent.

Here, too, giant floats are the most attractions of this boisterous carnival affair, because the citizen's prep for months to create these showstoppers. The way they are doing things in Nice may be a bit different, though: When you’re within the crowd and taking within the spectacle of those floats, search for their defining feature. Huge, papier-mache puppets, which they call “Grosse states” or “big heads,” typically adorn these floats, giving them another, gaudy appearance.

What’s notable is that the intricate detail and handcrafting that goes into each of those “big heads” on the floats. Enormous color contrast, vivid colors, and a particular caricature vibe are present in these giant creations.









Also, search for a humongous sculpture referred to as “The King of Carnival,” which ceremoniously presides over the festivities.

Finally, if you continue to have energy after taking within the spectacle of the floats and therefore the “gross states,” stick around for the so-called Bataille de Fleurs–translated to “Battle of the Flowers.” Not really a war, it’s when costumed revelers on each float begin to chuck flowers into the throngs of individuals stretched along the parade route.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife mainly referred to as just Santa Cruz, is that the capital of the most important island of Spain’s Canary Islands. It’s also significant because it’s the yearly scene of the Carnival of Santa Cruz, which attracts a plethora of individuals. It’s considered the second-most popular carnival, as far as carnivals around the world go, right after the Rio Carnival. It takes place fortnight before Ash Wednesday, in February.














What makes this carnival stand out is that it’s essentially composed of two distinct entities. First, you've got the so-called official carnival. this is often characterized by the participation of upwards of 100 groups, all of which are rooted in music:

1. Murgas – a musical group that puts on performances within the streets
2. Comparsas – a set of dancers, singers, and musicians that performs during carnivals
3. Randall as – a gaggle of musicians that performs with stringed instruments
4. The second is that the street carnival, which is more unplanned. Here, it’s mostly comprised of individuals who spontaneously take in the streets for the festivities.

The street performances can get very showy; consider a number of the performances related to Las Vegas, as an example. It’s not uncommon to ascertain flamboyant performers wearing vibrant colors and elaborate costumes throughout the night’s entertainment.

Here are some more carnival-inspired digital assets to inspire your next creative projects:
















Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is held yearly on either Monday or Tuesday right before Ash Wednesday. It’s characterized by very vibrant costumes and passionate celebrations within the streets, alongside other carnivals around the world. Music, as well, plays an enormous part during this carnival, particularly calypso music (quite African-Caribbean music), though in additional recent years, Soca music (a mixture of African, calypso, and East Indian flavors) has jumped to the forefront in these festivities.

Historically, this carnival came to flow from the emancipation from the slavery of the island’s inhabitants. Former slaves rejoiced in their freedom by celebrating Canboulay, a vacation that commemorated a pre-emancipation uprising. Mask wearing, the carrying of burning sugar canes, and singing and drumming were common even some time past.

There’s typically an assortment of activities happening at the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, such as:

• Stick fighting
• Limbo contests
• Costumes or mas

In this carnival, perhaps more so than in others, the musical component stands out the foremost. That’s because musical competitions comprise a big chunk of the program during this carnival. for instance, Calypso Monarch is one such competition that’s held during this event. Being named Calypso Monarch is among the country’s greatest honors. Besides the title, a cash prize, a vehicle, and other contracts and endorsements are a part of the deal.

















At this carnival, warmer and louder colors donned by the myriad of street performers—such as reds, oranges, and yellows—are very fashionable. you'll also expect to ascertain flourishes of exaggeration (such as feathers), for effect, on these costumes.

Carnaval de Ponce

Puerto Rico’s Carnaval de Ponce takes place annually in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Going strong for one week, it concludes right before Ash Wednesday . one among the earliest carnivals within the occident, its origins return to 1858. Interestingly, the Carnaval de Ponce takes place around the same time because of the aforementioned New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, the Rio Carnival, and therefore the Carnival of Venice. A smaller celebration, its attendance is roughly within the 100,000-people range.












One of the unique aspects of this carnival is that the presence of so-called “vigilantes,” characters from Puerto Rican folklore that are popular during carnival season. Colors like red, black, yellow, and green are traditionally related to these characters, although today’s vigilante costumes display brighter colors in their elaborate masks. These costumes, and therefore the performers wearing them, represent evil: They carry around blown cow bladders for noise making and even “hit” carnival attendees all throughout the festivities.

Another noteworthy tradition during this colorful carnival is that the crowning of the Carnaval queen and child queen, which may be a tradition that’s been happening since 1959 and 1973, respectively.

The Haitian Carnival

Leading up to Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday, the Haitian Carnival runs for several weeks within the winter. Held in Haiti’s biggest and capital city, Port-au-Prince, this event goes by the name of “Kye Marn”; it's held in conjunction with many other Mardi Gras carnivals around the world.

One of the most important carnivals within the Americas, Port-au-Prince’s carnival runs through February, although its so-called pre-carnival actually starts in January. The city’s main carnival is defined by performances and presentations like:

• Parades
• Musical concerts

The parades feature floats, including children participating in the presentations. Unique to the present interpretation of carnival is that the putting on of comedy plays by the carnival’s participants. Of course, like other carnivals around the world, celebrants wear masks and costumes with ornate decorations and vivid colors. The procession of floats and song and dance snake their way through the city’s streets, culminating at the Champ de Mars, the city’s large, public plaza.

As with other events of this sort, the music here is integral to the celebrations. If you’re ever attending the Haitian Carnival, you’ll absorb the sounds of zouk (an Afro-Caribbean French creole sort of music and dance), Compas (Haiti’s modern Meringue dance music), and mizik rasin.

The Carnival of Barranquilla

Regarded as one of the most important carnivals around the world, the Carnival of Barranquilla takes place annually in February in Colombia. Hosting the carnival in Colombia’s fourth-largest city has its benefits, like the massive influx of tourists (both national and foreign) that congregate here before the beginning of the festivities.

This city really loves its carnival season since the pre-carnival begins right after New Year’s Eve. Therefore, in effect, the Carnival of Barranquilla runs for several weeks annually.














There are numerous events that, together, structure the pre-carnival. They include:

1. Reading the Carnival Proclamation
2. The Carnival Queen’s Crowning
3. The Children’s Parade
4. La Guacherna (an interesting, nocturnal parade featuring candles and lanterns)

Once February rolls around, the “real” carnival begins and runs for the whole four days before Ash Wednesday. the most carnival has its own multitude of events, running from Saturday to Tuesday, which includes:

• Battle of Flowers (parade of floats)
• The Great Parade (on the second day)
• The Great Fantasy Parade

• Orchestras Festival (concert involving tons of national and international musicians)
• Joselito Carnaval

The costumes at this event are wild, too. search for the Marimondas, which are hooded characters that have long noses, vivid vests and trousers, and floppy ears.

Carnivals Around the World: Get Inspired

Carnivals enjoy a reputation for partying, social gatherings, and, in some cases, debauchery. People gather, sing, dance, and absorb the epic assortment of parades and floats. In short, they’re experiences you’ll definitely remember for the remainder of your life.

That’s the tourist’s interpretation, anyway.

If you’re a graphic designer, though, you'll likely have a way different appreciation for these festivals. faraway from debauchery and nonstop partying, they're a designer’s dream. Whether it’s the off-the-wall colors that appear to smack you right in your face, the amazing visual textures, and patterns, or the flowery masks and costumes, there are tons to marvel at from a pure, aesthetic point of view.

We hope that this rundown of a number of the world’s best and literally brightest carnivals will serve you well as you search for inspiration for your next design project.