Maltese Carnival

Il-Karnival ta' Malta or The Malta carnival is a Catholic religious celebration, has had an important place on the Maltese cultural calendar for just under five centuries, having been celebrated since at least the mid-15th century. The carnival traditionally serves as the last indulgence before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. In fact, the word carnival stems from carnivore, which translates to ‘meat allowed’.

The carnival is held during the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, and typically includes masked balls, fancy dress and grotesque mask competitions, lavish late-night parties, a colourful, ticker-tape parade of allegorical floats presided over by King Carnival, marching bands and costumed revellers. Today, the carnival fuses old and modern traditions and brings about a party atmosphere to Malta, as well as in Gozo.