Carnaval NouvelleOrléans

The ancestor of the carnival is the Feast of Fools During the Middle Ages between Christmas and Epiphany everything was turned topsyturvy The poor could mock the rich the humble could deride the powerful A fools pope was elected and one could disguised himself as a bull a cow a deer or other pagan divinities In New Orleans the carnival has preserved this sense of liberty Suddenly everything is permitted even the most absurd extravagance