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Roi du Carnaval de Nice (King of Carnival in Nice) |
Nice Carnival hadn't come up on my radar until I began this series on the Carnivals of the World - the theme chosen for Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in 2021 - but it's the largest carnival in France, held annually in Nice on the French Riviera. The first records for it appear in 1294, which, they claim, may make it the original carnival celebration.
CORSO CARNAVALESQUE ILLUMINÉ / NICE CARNIVAL 2020
Organised by the municipality since 1873, each year Nice Carnival draws over a million visitors, but was interrupted by the first and second world wars, as well as the Gulf War in 1991. The planned dates for Nice Carnival in 2021 are from 13th to 27th February.
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The « corso illuminé » (illuminated parade) of Nice Carnival 2009 (France) debs-eye photostream / CC BY |
There will be no Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2021, although the City Council is working with the Carnival groups in the design of some activities that can maintain the spirit of the festivities during the weeks in which it should have been celebrated.