It’s time to put on your most beautiful mask! The Nice carnival is back after two years of absence. Placed under the theme of the king of animals, it takes place until February 27. On the program, parades in the streets of the city with decorated and animated floats, flower battles and confetti throws galore.
The Nice carnival is the result of a tradition that dates back to the 13th century. Since then, the event has grown to become the largest carnival in the world at the end of the 19th century. It even inspired the one in Rio!
To discover its history and all its secrets, Sidonie Bonnec receives Annie Sidro. She is a historian and president of the association Carnival without borders.
He inspired the Rio carnival
At the end of the 19th century, the Nice carnival was the most important in the world. Kings and princes from all over the world come to spend the winter in Nice to attend it. Among them, Pedro II, the Emperor of Brazil.
In 1888, a year before his abdication, he twice came to admire the carnival and the battle of flowers which takes place on the Promenade des Anglais. His family accompanies him, including his daughter, Princess Isabelle.
On her return to Rio, the latter suggests doing a parade with flower cars in Flamengo, a chic neighborhood of the time. A carnival used to take place there, but without a real structure and without a float.