They celebrate the death of winter and the rebirth of nature, ultimately recommitting the individual to the spiritual and social codes of the culture. Ancient fertility rites, with their sacrifices to the gods, exemplify this commitment, as do the Christian Shrovetide plays. On the other hand, carnivals allow parody of, and offer temporary release from, social and religious constraints. In North America the term carnival often means a traveling show that includes rides, games of skill, and sideshows. They appear as part of state and county fairs or independently at resorts or in the parking lots of shopping malls.
Fairs are exhibition markets held at regular intervals, which often include entertainment.
They serve important social, political, and economic functions. Fairs in ancient Rome included the reading of public announcements. By the 15th century, as shipping developed and feudalism declined, fairs had become less important to trade, although they continued as centers for entertainment. There are, nonetheless, some modern fairs that function as important trade exhibitions and markets, a notable example being the annual international book fair held in Frankfurt, West Germany. Fairs and carnivals in North America have been combined.