Carnival-Nice TB

I maintain records on my trackables. They have the goal to circulate more than five years and to be moved by at least 25 cachers. That is a target rate of five drops per year for five years, or a drop every 73 days. The average drop rate of my trackables in the US is 124 days, in Europe it is 71 days. As of 15-Apr-24 this trackable had survived for 3.7 years and had been moved by 7 cachers, for an average drop every 194 days, or 1.9 drops per year. Please keep it moving, then drop it in a safe place!

No permission is needed to leave the U.S. While in the U.S., please drop it at an event, in a Premium Member only OR a rural cache near a busy trail or road. Do not place it in an urban, non-premium cache. Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean and dry, protects the number and prevents tangling with other items. Otherwise, take the trackable anywhere you wish.

 Carnival, the merrymaking and festivity that takes place in many countries with a Roman Catholic presence. It is typically associated with the last days and hours before the Lenten season. The derivation of the word is uncertain, though it possibly can be traced to the medieval Latin carnem levare or carnelevarium, which means to take away or remove meat. This coincides with the fact that Carnival is the final festivity before the commencement of the austere 40 days of Lent, during which Roman Catholics in earlier times fasted, abstained from eating meat, and followed other ascetic practices.

The historical origin of Carnival is obscure. It possibly has its roots in a pagan festival honouring the beginning of the new year and the rebirth of nature, though it is also possible that the beginnings of Carnival in Italy may be linked to the pagan Saturnalian festival of ancient Rome.

The trackables in this series are named (in their own language) for cities in which Carnival, or a derivative event, is celebrated on a grand scale. The celebration at most of these places includes the wearing of costumes or masks.  The default photo was taken by the writer at a booth in Venice.