NICE!

CARNIVA
L!

SNAPPY FACT!!
The main winter event on the Riviera is one of the
largest carnivals in the world, offering a
programme of unforgettable entertainment
from 13th February to 1st March 2015.

MAIN DETAILS!!
The carnival processions, comprising 18 floats work their way up to a
crescendo of gigantic decorations on the Place Massna.
These giant, colourful parades take place day and night, with
entertainment provided by over 1,000 musicians and dancers from
across the world.
In a unique setting, on the Promenade des Anglais, the elegant "flower
battles" are part of the carnival not to be missed. On floats decorated
with the most stunning floral compositions, extravagantly dressed
characters throw out mimosas, gerberas, and lilies into the public
For over 15 days, the city hums to the rhythm of this genuine, fairytale event get a passport for the celebration and let the magic do
its work come and forget the dullness of winter and take in the sun
on the French Riviera!
The Carnival "King of Music"will show his fans that he has more
than one string to his bow and to his guitar!

HISTORY!!!
The most widely accepted etymology for the word "Carnival" is
"carne levare" ("away with meat"). By the Middle Ages, the
people of Nice, before fasting forty days according to the
Catholic tradition of Lent, enjoyed rich, plentiful cuisine.
The better to celebrate this time of merriment, all excesses
were authorized. It was also a time for mocking everything
and everybody at everyone's expense, behind masks,
protected by disguises until Mardi Gras.
The earliest mention of Carnival merrymaking in Nice goes
back to 1294, when the Count of Provence Charles d'Anjou
spent the "the joyous days of Carnival" in Nice.

Until the 18th century, Carnival was punctuated by masked balls

and frenzied farandoles in the streets of what is now Old Nice.
Any excesses were soon controlled by the "Abbs des Fous"
(Fools' abbots), entrusted by the clergy with supervising the
people's revelry.
Under the influence of the Carnival of Venice, a Carnival in Salons
and "Veglioni" (private masked balls) developed in the course of
the 18th century at the expense of the attractions in the street.

During the major political and military

upheavals caused by the French Revolution
and the First Napoleonic Empire, Carnival
festivities were suspended.
In 1830, a first cortge was organized in
honour of King Charles-Felix and Queen
Marie-Christine, rulers of Piedmont-Sardinia.
Some thirty carriages paraded in front of the
monarchs, announcing the future form of
Carnival.

Until 1872, the fun was in the streets of Nice. According to

individual inspiration: the crowd wore disguises and
threw plaster confetti, flour and eggs at each other.
In 1873, His Majesty King Carnival I entered his city: the
modern Carnival was born.
Until 1971, Alexis Mossa, then his son Gustav-Adolf,
brought their special touch, a stunning grotesque
mythical particularism in designing the most spectacular
floats that ever paraded in Nice.
On February 14, 1882, His Majesty "Triboulet", as he was
dubbed, made a triumphal entrance into the City. This
modest straw and rag puppet who had been content with
simply watching the cortge go by on Place de la
Prfecture participated for the first time in the parade,
enthroned on the "Royal Float" as we know it today.
the detail of the designs by our prestigious press
cartoonists.
To mark the beginning of the century, great care was
taken over the choice of themes and cartoonists and the
creation of floats. The Carnavaliers have also integrated

HERE ARE
SOME
PHOTOS!!

THANK YOU
FOR
WATCHING!!
By Diana Rzayeva 7Test!!