Carnival

Carnival: Originally, carnival was a celebration and feast prior to Lent. This has been extended through usage and metaphor to any festival or celebration. Traveling amusements with rides, side shows and arcade can be called carnivals. City and schools have Winter Carnivals. Carnival has come to be a good time and there is even a cruise line named Carnival.

[Mardi Gras] is related to celebrations elsewhere, called carnivals, from the Latin words carne and vale, meat and farewell, meaning a farewell to meat before the abstinence of Lent.