Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 24, 2009

Revelers Celebrate Mardi Gras
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=227DC5D:A6F02AD83191E160E1ECFB7AB800649670AD7039DCD7B7E4&
 
In southern US city of New Orleans, crowds line streets to catch beads,
tokens tossed by costumed people on parade floats 
Revelers are wrapping up weeks of Carnival festivities with massive
celebrations that include parades, live music and sometimes bawdy
street parties. Brazil's world-famous Carnival celebrations in Rio de
Janeiro are complete with samba parades and extravagant floats. Rider in
Thoth parade holds beads before throwing them into crowd during New
Orleans Mardi Gras parade, 22 Feb 2009And,
in the southern U.S. city of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mardi Gras crowds
will line the streets to catch beads, tokens and even painted coconuts
tossed by costumed people on parade floats. There are similar
festivities in other parts of Latin America and Europe. Mardi Gras,
which is French for "Fat Tuesday," marks the end of the Carnival season
and lasts until midnight. Carnival's
fun and frivolity precedes the Christian religious observance of Lent,
a period of repentance and prayer, that begins Wednesday.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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