The gentlemen were famous for the colorful stockings they wore. Today, Carnival in Venice lasts two weeks. The nights beckon with masked balls and sumptuous parties, and costumed revelers crowd the narrow streets, bridges and squares, while the sounds of trumpets, firecrackers, drums and shouts fill the air. Street musicians, flame and sword-swallowers, jugglers, mimes and magicians entertain passersby on every corner. But no matter how much fun is had, it all ends at midnight on Shrove Tuesday, when an effigy of Carnival is burned to signal the end of the festival.
Some locals save their money all year to buy costumes for the grand parades.
The popularity of samba music is largely responsible for Rio's carnival success. Samba schools spend months rehearsing songs and dances, and fill Rio's Sambadrome with costumes and lyrics that reflect Brazilian history and the current political climate. The Lenten Carnival of Binche is a local source of pride, with preparations beginning six weeks before the festivities begin. Fat Tuesday is the big day for Binche, as social groups rise early to dress up as traditional carnival characters. The most notable are the gilles, whose numbers are comprised of Binche men.