Nice, France holds one of the largest Carnival celebration in the world and perhaps the oldest. Back in 1294 The Count of Provence, Charles d’Anjou relished the “joyous days of Carnival” he spent in Nice.
For over 2 weeks the city is alive with lively and colorful displays, events and parades. On the final day they hold the Bataille de Fleurs or Battle of the Flowers parade during the day followed by a lighted parade that evening.
It was a cold and blustery day on the Promenade Des Anglais, which winds along the Mediterranean Sea, but the festive floats rolled on and riders in fanciful costumes threw bunches of mimosas to the crowds.
When they ran out of mimosas, a yellow fluffy flower that grows wild in the South of France this time of year,
they pulled flowers from the float and kept tossing and circling the parade route until the floats were nearly bare.
The first procession for Carnival was in 1830, prior to that the celebrations were exclusive private masked balls.
In 1872 they first started throwing things to the crowds from the elaborately decorated floats that rolled by…. typically confetti, flowers and eggs. Today loud confetti bombs shower the crowds with paper confetti and air guns shoot out streams of colorful tinsel that hang from the palm trees that run down the center of The Promenade des Anglais, much like the Mardi Gras beads hanging from the trees in New Orleans.
These traditions are what inspired Jean Baptiste Moyne Sieur de Bienville to form the secret Boeuf Gras Society in what is now Mobile, Alabama in 1710, the origins of what is now the world famous Mardi Gras {Fat Tuesday} celebration we enjoy in New Orleans each year.
The name Carnival comes from Carne Levare or “away with meat”, it is the period to indulge and practice excessive merriment before the beginning of the Lent.
In addition to the floats “puppets” on stilts amaze the crowds {especially on this windy and rainy day}.
Grosses Tetes, or masked, big headed puppets are a tradition. The masks allowed the people to poke fun at the church or politics without being recognized.
This is not just a time to indulge in food and drink it is a time do dress up in fantastic and fanciful costumes. I loved this beautiful troop that strutted by.
It’s impressive they were able to stand tall against the gusts.
The theme for 2016 was The King of Media, and the more surreal and bizarre the better, this troop was very impressive, beginning with their fire breathing dragon,
and a futuristic look
that was beautiful and eerie at once.
With a wild marching band, Very Insolent Percussions, as turbulent as the weather, put on an amazing show.
Though there’s a theme there’s definitely an “anything goes” attitude to this celebration. This plump chicken drifted and dived into the crowd.
I am thinking this may have been a salute to the Seattle Seahawks???
Beautiful horses were ridden by women in traditional Provençal costumes.
And troops from around the world marched, danced and entertained the crowd along the Baie de Anges {Bay of Angels}.
This vivid tower of giraffes rolled down the Promanade, I was so impressed with the construction, each one really looked and moved in such a realistic way. The most impressive athletes were the pairs in these giraffe costumes, one person in front is holding onto the head (can you see the arms?) another is in the rear of the animal, but the creatures are on wheels.
Thankfully, they had red suited escorts to help to keep them rolling forward even as the gusts pushed them back.
The heads of les girafe rouge, truly a work of art, bobbed and dove in the wind, holding onto a mouthful of mimosas.
All the while the accompying opera singer was belting out dramatic anthems over the howling winds.
After the parade onlooker fled to the restaurants and bistros that line the Cours Saleya, where they sorted out and shared their flower collection {some people had garbage bags full}.
I was too busy taking pictures to catch any bouquets, but thankfully the flower market in the Cours was still going on, so I just bought a bunch for 4 euros.
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