It was a week of carnivals around the world. We take a look at the festivities in Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Hungary and Trinidad
Dancers of Unidos da Tijuca samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012.
A reveller from the Salgueiro samba school takes part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, February 20, 2012.
A reveller from the Grande Rio samba school takes part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade.
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival, February 21, 2012.
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival.
Two masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival.
'Gilles of Binche' dance during a carnival parade in the city centre of Binche, Belgium, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. The Carnival of Binche dates back to around the 14th century, with the clown-like Gilles performing their traditional dances to ward off evil spirits.
A young 'Gille of Binche' throws an orange into the crowd during the carnival parade in Binche, Belgium, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Up to 1,000 Gilles gathered in the city centre.
The Binche carnival, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage event, is the biggest and the liveliest of such annual events in Belgium.
Masked 'Busho men' march through the town of Mohacs in southern Hungary during the annual Busho Carnival, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012.
Masked Busho men carry a coffin, symbolizing the end of winter.
The carnival tradition dates back to the 16th century, when men of the Sokac ethnic group of Mohacs dressed up in sheep fur and wooden masks in a bid to frighten off their Turkish invaders.
Competitor Roland St George wears a costume called 'Ralliez-Vous A Mon Panache Blanch' at the finals of the costume competition during Dimanche Gras at Queen's Park Savannah in Trinidad, February 19, 2012. Mr. St George won the title of carnival king for 2012.
Competitor Brian Chin wears a costume called 'Prince Siegfried, The Story of The Swan lake' at the competition. The costume is a tribute to Wayne Berkeley, deceased band leader from Trinidad.
Competitor Curtis Eustace wears a costume called 'D Midnight Messenger' at the finals of the costume competition.