French Riviera Tourism -The Carnival of Nice

The ancient city of Nice on the French Riviera, sandwiched between Cannes and Antibes to the west and the principality of Monaco to the east, is a year-round resort and thriving commercial center. It is a city famous for many things, perhaps the most illustrious being the carnival that has taken place in February each year since the Middle Ages. The most widely-believed origin of the word "carnival" is from the old Italian "carne levare", meaning "away with meat". By the Middle Ages, the people of Nice, before fasting forty days, as appropriate for the Catholic tradition of Lent, enjoyed rich and plentiful dining. To enjoy this time of festivity even more, every excess was permitted. It was also a time for making fun of everything and everybody at everyone's expense. This involved the elaborate charade of concealment behind masks and disguises until Mardi Gras. The first reference to a carnival in Nice in the history books dates back to 1294 when Charles d'Anjou, Count of Provence, mentions having spent "some joyous days of carnival" in the city. But In the 17th century excesses were brought under control by the "Abb