From Latin 'carnem levare' (to remove meat) — the final feast before Lent's meatless fast still echoes in every carnival.
A public festival, usually occurring before Lent, involving processions, music, dancing, and the wearing of costumes; also, a traveling amusement show.
From Italian 'carnevale,' from Medieval Latin 'carnelevārium,' derived from 'carnem levāre' meaning 'to remove meat' -- a reference to the Christian practice of abstaining from meat during Lent. The festival of carnival was the last opportunity to feast on meat and indulge before the 40-day period of fasting began on Ash Wednesday. An older folk etymology derived it from 'carne vale' ('farewell to meat'), which captures
The world's most famous carnivals -- Rio de Janeiro, Venice, New Orleans Mardi Gras -- all exist for the same etymological reason: they are the last chance to eat meat and indulge before Lent. The word literally means 'remove the meat,' making every carnival parade and costume a distant echo of a medieval dietary restriction.