Carnival Around the World

A dancer from Mocidade samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 20, 2012 (AP Photo)

Sabrina Sato, Queen of Vila Isabel samba school, participates in the parade at the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 20, 2012. (AP Photo)

Performers from the Unidos da Vila Isabel samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 20, 2012. (AP Photo)

Devil dancers prepare for the start of Carnival celebrations in Oruro, Bolivia, February 18, 2012. (AP Photo)

Dancers perform during carnival celebrations in Barranquilla, Colombia, February 19, 2012. (AP Photo)

A person in costume performs during carnival celebrates in Barranquilla, Colombia, February 19, 2012. (AP Photo)

Carnival revelers wearing huge papier-mache heads called the 'Schwellkoepp' (swollen heads) march at the beginning of the annual carnival parade in Mainz, western Germany, (AP Photo)

Disguised revelers participate in a carnival procession through southwestern Macedonia's village of Vevcani (AP Photo)

The King of the Nice Carnival 2012's float parades during the 128th edition of the Nice Carnival, February 18, 2012, in Nice, southern France. (AP Photo )

A performer swallows fire during a Carnival parade in Panama City, Panama (AP Photo)

A member of the band Maroon 5 throws beads to Mardi Gras revelers before the start of the Krewe of Endymion parade in New Orleans, February 20, 2012. (AP Photo)