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Haitian women enjoying Kanaval 2015

Carnival originated as a pagan festival in the ancient Egypt, which was subsequently celebrated by the Greeks in honor of Dionysus, their god of wine and then the Roman Catholic Church later modified the feast of Saturnalia into a festival preceding the beginning of Lent.

The Carnival festival was transported to the Caribbean by the European slave traders. According to the customs, Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, and that is the reason they call the festival "Carnevale" or "to put away the meat".

However, what carnivals have evolved is a mass celebration of indulgences in dance, music, food, and drink, something which the Church never had in mind.

Read more about kanaval, kanaval-2015, Carnival or Kanaval

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