Carnival

Carnival, also known as Shrovetide in certain localities, is a festive season that occurs at the close of the Christian pre-Lenten period. It involves public celebrations, including parades, public street parties, and other entertainments, combining elements of a circus, and allows people to indulge in excessive consumption of alcohol, meat, and other foods before Lent. Traditionally, Christians would consume their stock of dairy and animal products during Shrovetide to reduce waste, and would make Lenten sacrifices during the upcoming period, giving up certain objects of desire and donating the money to the church as alms for the poor.learn more on wikipedia