Most Nudity: Las Palmas Carnival
Second only to Rio, and like nothing else this side of the Atlantic, get ready for weeks of non-stop Latin rhythms and drunken revelry. Costumes are intricate works of art fitted to expose maximum skin. The highlight of the carnival is the crowing of the carnival queens, both drag and beauty. The drag queen competition is so competitive judges have to pre-screen contestants prior to the carnival and select only the top competitors. The things these people can do in 30 inch platform shoes is astounding. The carnival ends with the ceremonial Burial of the Sardine at sea.
Most Mysterious: Venice Carnival
An intoxicating cocktail of tradition, spectacle, history and transgression all hidden behind an intricate mask. The masked carnival is code for adopting an alter ego so this is your chance to be the daring, darling, mysterious, sexy, forward hero you are, and strangers will gasp with glee. There’s something going on 24-hours a day during the season, including acrobats, magicians and ballroom dancing.
Best Floats: Putignano Carnival
Towering papier-mache floats up to 20 meters high weighing upwards of 40 tons transform the village of Putignano into carnival central. The carnival has a medieval pedigree, but you’d never guess it by the 21st century political and social themes represented in the floats. From Barack Obama to Madonna, you can never predict who will be immortalized in the over-sized procession.
Most Gay: Sitges Carnival
Gays from the four corners of the world descend on Sitges, sometimes numbering more than 300,000 party-goers. The ensuing parties make the peak months of July and August look boring. The Gay Carnival takes place four days prior to the main Sitges Carnival but gay-themed events abound throughout. From underground parties to “bitch-battling” drag performers, Sitges Carnival is among the wildest parties on earth.
Most Pagan: Buso Winter Carnival
Village men knows as “Buso” dress in sheepskin costumes and frightening horned wooden masks are tasked with scarring away the winter cold. They usually carry large wooden noisemakers or cowbells to assist in their work. But it’s not just about the cold weather. The Buso and young boys jankele also chase and harass the village women in a tradition with ties to ancient fertility rites. The celebrations wind down at nightfall with a huge bonfire in the main square.
Most Drunken: Dusseldorf Carnival
A Rhineland specialty, the “fifth season” in Germany transforms Düsseldorf from a buzzing economic epicenter into a beer-soaked fool’s paradise during Carnival. The tradition of Altweiberfastnacht entails women running all over the city on their way they steal sips off beer from men until they receive a kiss. Afterward, men parade in woman’s clothing during the Tutenlauf. And all this occurs before people get really tipsy during the barhopping and dancing later that night at parties that last well into Fat Tuesday.
Most Undiscovered: Rijeka Carnival
About a century ago, Rijeka hosted Austrian and Hungarian aristocrats, Russian princesses, German barons, earls and countesses from all over Europe. The rebirth of the Rijeka Carnival started in 1982 and the concerts, exhibitions, parties, and performances have grown each year. Hundreds of floats, thousands of masks and streets crowded with over 100,000 spectators make the Rijeka Carnival one of the biggest (and least known) in Europe.
Most Anti-Catholic: Basel Fasnacht
The festivities start on the Monday after Mardi Gras, leading some to say this is a Protestant tongue-in-cheek snub of the Catholics for doing something as silly as Lent. Basel’s Carnival has also been called the only Protestant carnival in the world. It features three days of dancing, singing, drinking and dressing up like a clown that go on while many in Europe have already renounced chocolate and alcohol for a month over. Keep an eye out for rebellious Catholics who couldn’t bear the depravity of Lent.
