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And the Answer is..


The carnival is now a celebration of parties, the name of a cruise ship line, and an annual event at every school.  Where did that delightful term carnival come from?

And the answer is... 

In fact, many suggest it comes from the Italian (carnevale) derived from the Latin carnem (meat) and levare (remove), corresponding to English "carnival".  Carnivals are usually celebrated just before Lent, where the Lenten sacrifice was to give up meat consumption.  (In the olden days most of the peasants sacrificed meat as a way of life because they couldn't afford it.)

Now we go to the carnival, celebrating the moment with ribs and steak,  exotic costumes, hot music, wild sex, and of course delightful drink.  Sacrifice is for whom again?

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