Carnival Trivia Questions

Rio's Carnival evolved from Entrudo, a rowdy Portuguese celebration where people threw mud and water at each other. It was later refined with parades and samba.

Most Mardi Gras beads are cheap plastic imports from China. They were never traditionally made from glass in New Orleans, despite the myth.

Carnival derives from 'carne levare' or 'carnem levare,' meaning to remove meat, referencing the Christian tradition of fasting from meat during Lent.

In Uruguay's Carnival and parts of Europe, 'Carnival King' or 'Mr. Carnival' effigies are burned to symbolize the end of revelry and start of Lent.

Old floats are often refurbished or rebuilt, but most are modern. The oldest continuously used float is the 'Rex' float from the 1870s, but many are newer.

During the Venetian Republic, masks were banned at night to prevent criminals from hiding identities. The rule was enforced with heavy fines.

The top prize for the Calypso Monarch or Panorama steelpan competition is usually cash and a trophy, not a car. That's a common rumor.

While Rio is iconic, the Guinness World Record for largest carnival goes to the Notting Hill Carnival in London, with over 2 million attendees annually.