Members of a carnival club pose for a photo before the start of the carnival parade in the eastern German city of Cottbus on February 22, 2009. Carnival is a tradition stemming from Catholic regions in the west and south of Germany, but it has increasingly been adopted by cities in the north and east.
An unidentified photographer offers her services to revelers during carnival celebrations in Oruro, Bolivia, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. In Oruro, the country's most folkloric city, during carnival photographers set a background with the honored saint, shot digital snapshots and print them on mini, portable digital printers, for about USD 1,30 a print
Photographer Beatriz Iraisos, right, stands as a couple poses for a photograph during carnival celebrations in Oruro, Bolivia, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. In Oruro, the country's most folkloric city, during carnival photographers set a background with the honored saint, shot digital snapshots and print them on mini, portable digital printers, for about USD 1,30 a print.
Photographer Beatriz Iraisos prints a picture during carnival celebrations in Oruro, Bolivia, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. In Oruro, the country's most folkloric city, during carnival photographers set a background with the honored saint, shot digital snapshots and print them on mini, portable digital printers, for about USD1,30 a print.
A boy waits for a photo to be printed during carnival celebrations in Oruro, Bolivia, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. In Oruro, the country's most folkloric city, during carnival photographers set a background with the honored saint, shot digital snapshots and print them on mini, portable digital printers, for about USD 1,30 a print.
Masked Busho men march through the crowd on the main square of Mohacs, 190 km, 120 miles south of Budapest, Hungary during the annual Busho Festival on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Sunday's end of winter carnival tradition dates back to the 16th century to Hungary's Ottoman occupation when citizens of Mohacs dressed up in sheep fur and wooden masks in a bid to frighten off their Turkish invaders
A giant carnival figure representing US President Barack Obama is carried during the annual parade of carnival of Viareggio, in the Tuscany region, central Italy, Sunday Feb. 22, 2009. The Viareggio Carnival dates back to 1873 with a procession of decorated floats parading through the main street of the city. (AP Photo/Paolo Lazzeroni)
A man personifying a Sartiglia Knight rides during a reenactment of the game Sartiglia in Oristano, west Sardinia on February 22, 2009 at the end of the 544th Carnival of Sardinia. Sartiglia, an equestrian game of ancient origins, where masked knights on horseback joust for a star hung along a track at man height. Contenders try to pass the star onto their sword as they ride along.
A masked person attends International carnival festival in the Croatian northern Adriatic port of Rijeka, on February 22, 2009. Rijeka’s carnival festival is one of the biggest in Europe and this year more than 100,000 people gathered to watch a procession of around 10.000 masked participants
Participants take part in a carnival procession in the coastal town of Rijeka, Croatia, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.
People dance as they participate at the International carnival festival in the Croatian northern Adriatic port of Rijeka, on February 22, 2009. Rijeka’s festival is one of the biggest ones in Europe and this year more than 100,000 people gathered to watch the procession of around 10,000 masked participants.
A man finishes with his make up before a carnival parade at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.
A woman waits for the beginning of Sunday's carnival parade, next to a Grande Rio samba school float, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
Brazilian painter Beto Almeida puts the final touches on the body of Michele before performing down the Sambodrome on the first night of the famous Samba School Parade in Rio de Janiero, Brazil on February 22, 2009. Carnival is the biggest and most popular celebration in Brazil and runs throughout the country until February 24
Imperio Serrano samba school's queen of drums Quiteria Borges performs alongside drummers down the Sambodrome on the first night of the samba schools' carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 22, 2009.
Imperio Serrano samba school's queen of drums Quiteria Borges performs alongside drummers down the Sambodrome on the first night of the Carnival samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 22, 2009. Carnival is the biggest and most popular celebration in Brazil and runs throughout the country until February 24.
Imperio Serrano samba school's queen of drums Quiteria Borges performs alongside drummers down the Sambodrome on the first night of the Carnival samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 22, 2009. Carnival is the biggest and most popular celebration in Brazil and runs throughout the country until February 24.
Quiteria Chagas, queen of the drums' section of Imperio Serrano samba school, dances during at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.
Quiteria Chagas, queen of the drums' section of Imperio Serrano samba school, dances at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Brazil's carnival celebrations are being held Feb. 21-24
A dancer performs on an Imperio Serrano samba school float at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Brazil's carnival celebrations are being held Feb. 21-24
An Imperio Serrano samba school dancer performs down the Sambodrome on the first night of the Carnival samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 22, 2009. Carnival is the biggest and most popular celebration in Brazil and runs throughout the country until February 24.
A dancer performs on an Imperio Serrano samba school float at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Brazil's carnival celebrations are being held Feb. 21-24.
Brazilian super model, Gisele Bundchen (R), watches as Imperio Serrano samba school members perform down the Sambodrome on the first night of the Carnival samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 22, 2009. Carnival is the biggest and most popular celebration in Brazil and runs throughout the country until February 24
Revelers dance during a carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
Revelers of the Cipote Garabato dancing group perform during a carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
Brazilian super model, Gisele Bundchen watches as Imperio Serrano samba school members perform down the Sambodrome on the first night of the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 22, 2009. Carnival is the biggest and most popular celebration in Brazil and runs throughout the country until February 24
Revelers dance during a carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen (C) waves as Imperio Serrano samba school members perform down the Sambodrome on the first night of the Carnival samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 22, 2009. Carnival is the biggest and most popular celebration in Brazil and runs throughout the country until February 24.
Dancers participate in the contest of "Comparsa", a dance group of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on February 22, 2009. The annual carnival is celebrated over several days with festival-goers parading in brightly coloured costumes flooding the streets to create a festive atmosphere.
Dancers participate in the contest of "Comparsa", a dance group of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on February 22, 2009. The annual carnival is celebrated over several days with festival-goers parading in brightly coloured costumes flooding the streets to create a festive atmosphere
Imperio Serrano samba school dancers perform at the Sabodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Brazil's carnival celebrations are being held Feb. 21-24
A dancer of Imperio Serrano samba school performs at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Brazil's carnival celebrations are being held Feb. 21-24.(
Dancers participate in the contest of "Comparsa", a dance group of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on February 22, 2009. The annual carnival is celebrated over several days with festival-goers parading in brightly coloured costumes flooding the streets to create a festive atmosphere
Dancers participate in the contest of "Comparsa", a dance group of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on February 22, 2009. The annual carnival is celebrated over several days with festival-goers parading in brightly coloured costumes flooding the streets to create a festive atmosphere.
Dancers participate in the contest of "Comparsa", a dance group of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on February 22, 2009. The annual carnival is celebrated over several days with festival-goers parading in brightly coloured costumes flooding the streets to create a festive atmosphere.
Dancers participate in the contest of "Comparsa", a dance group of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on February 22, 2009. The annual carnival is celebrated over several days with festival-goers parading in brightly coloured costumes flooding the streets to create a festive atmosphere.
A reveler spits fire during a carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Barranquilla's carnival was declared "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity", in 2003 by the UNESCO.
