History of Carnival The pre-Lenten festivities known as carnival
began in Italy in the 1400s, where pagan rituals related to
fertility were adapted to the predominant Catholic tradition.
Thanks to its obvious merits (fun, food, and celebration, for
starters), the tradition spread quickly among Catholic countries
in Europe and was eventually adopted in the Americas, taking
hold most notably in the devoutly Catholic nation of Brazil.
From doughnuts and rich cakes to grilled meats and cheesy
pastries, get to know the edible indulgences associated with
carnival-loving countries around the world. We've determined it
takes a lot of calories to party Mardi Gras-style.