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Young World
On the Riviera
Photo: AFP
Carnival characters: For the floats,
A most important winter event on the French Riviera is the Nice Carnival. The whole city comes alive and there are processions, flower parades, prestige soirées, concerts and fireworks. The carnival attracts over a million spectators. All around you is the sound of music and huge papier mâché characters with giant heads parade through the city - some on floats, some dancing with the crowds on the streets. The 2008 theme is "King of Bats, Cats, Rats And Other
Legendary Creatures" (Roi des Ratapignatas, Raminagrobis et autres ramassis de Rats masqués). Spectacular processions take place along the seafront Promenade des Anglais and include the Bataille des Fleurs, a huge parade of flowers accompanied by marching bands and twirling majorettes. The culmination of the carnival sees the papier mâché giants dance their last dance as their carnival king is taken down to the beach on his throne and ceremonially set alight, bringing the event to a close among a flurry of fireworks.
COMPLIED BY NIMI KURIAN
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