Overview
Holidays are a time of tradition, sharing, and fun. This book explores the history, customs, and symbols of Carnival. Learn how Carnival has changed over time and how it is celebrated around the world. This beautifully illustrated history is also filled with interesting and unusual facts about the holiday such as why people eat gumbo on Carnival and how "Fat Tuesday" got its name. What You Can Do During Carnival and Where You Can Learn More About Carnival additional resources are included.Synopsis
Holidays are a time of tradition, sharing, and fun. This book explores the history, customs, and symbols of Carnival. Learn how Carnival has changed over time and how it is celebrated around the world. This beautifully illustrated history is also filled with interesting and unusual facts about the holiday such as why people eat gumbo on Carnival and how "Fat Tuesday" got its name. What You Can Do During Carnival and Where You Can Learn More About Carnival additional resources are included.
Karen Leggett - Children's Literature
Like other religious festivals, Carnival began as a seasonal celebration. Farmers welcomed the coming of spring, often parading a fat bull through villages in Europe. When Christianity became established in Europe, the time before Lent came to be called "Carnival" from the Latin words carne and vale, meaning "goodbye to meat." The last day of Carnival is known as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday in French. The book provides considerable detail about Carnival celebrations in Brazil, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, and of course, New Orleans. Because all the celebrations include dancing, parades and music, the differences from country to country often seem to melt together, as do the various spellings and pronunciations of "Carnival." The illustrations are colorful, but seem a little wooden and artificial. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish faces from masks. There is a short glossary, resources and a few activities for Carnival as it is celebrated in more and more cities around the world. The "Holidays and Festivals" series includes titles about Chinese New Year, Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, Passover, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. 2004, Compass Point Books, Ages 5 to 8.
Editorials
Children's Literature
Like other religious festivals, Carnival began as a seasonal celebration. Farmers welcomed the coming of spring, often parading a fat bull through villages in Europe. When Christianity became established in Europe, the time before Lent came to be called "Carnival" from the Latin words carne and vale, meaning "goodbye to meat." The last day of Carnival is known as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday in French. The book provides considerable detail about Carnival celebrations in Brazil, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, and of course, New Orleans. Because all the celebrations include dancing, parades and music, the differences from country to country often seem to melt together, as do the various spellings and pronunciations of "Carnival." The illustrations are colorful, but seem a little wooden and artificial. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish faces from masks. There is a short glossary, resources and a few activities for Carnival as it is celebrated in more and more cities around the world. The "Holidays and Festivals" series includes titles about Chinese New Year, Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, Passover, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. 2004, Compass Point Books, Ages 5 to 8.— Karen Leggett