Actor and comedian Will Ferrell tosses beads and doubloons to fans as he reigns as King of Bacchus in the 2012 Krewe of Bacchus Parade, on February 19, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. #

A couple costumed in horse masks dance on Bourbon Street as part of the Mardi Gras celebrations in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 20, 2012. #

The Rex Parade moves through the central business district of New Orleans, on February 21, 2012. This is the last day of the Mardi Gras celebration ending at midnight, after a day long celebration of parades, marching groups and people in costumes. #

People throw talcum powder at one another as they take part in the carnival "Los Indianos" (the Indians) in Santa Cruz de la Palma, on the Spanish Canary island of Las Palma, on February 20, 2012. #

A child blows a kiss during the carnival parade in Torres Vedras, Portugal, on February 21, 2012. The Portuguese government's attempt to make people work more by scrapping the traditional Carnival holiday has flopped as most companies and public services shut down despite an economic crisis. #

"Gilles" in traditional costume parade during the carnival in the streets of Binche, Belgium, on February 21, 2012, during Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras). The Binche Carnival tradition is one of the most ancient and as representative of Wallonia, was inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. #

Musicians dressed for carnival perform at the Luzern-Carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland, on February 16, 2012. The history of Lucerne's carnival can be traced back over more than 600 years and is best known for its individually hand-crafted masks and costumes paraded in the town's streets and squares by thousands of revellers during the three-day carnival festival. #

Ben wears a "King Frog" costume as he attends the traditional Rose Monday street carnival parade in Mainz, Germany, on February 20, 2012. The Rose Monday parades in Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf are the highlight of the German street carnival season. #

A masquerader participates in the Jouvert celebrations, a revellery of music, mud and paint which marks the start of the two-day Trinidad Carnival street parade, in the capital city Port of Spain, on February 20, 2012. #

A member of Mohacs Busok (Mask-people from Mohacs town) steps out from their local base on February 21, 2012 prior to their carnival masquerade. The Busojaras (Hungarian, meaning "Buso-walking") is an annual celebration of the Sokci (Croatians) living in the town of Mohacs, Hungary, held at the end of the Carnival season and ending the day before Ash Wednesday. The celebration features Busos and includes folk music, masquerading, parades and dancing. #

A reveler wearing sheepfur costume with horns and a mask stands by a bonfire as revelers burn a coffin symbolizing winter during the traditional carnival parade of the town of Mohacs, on February 19, 2012. #

A masked reveller participates in the traditional Buso Carnival in Mohacs, on February 19, 2012. The carnival parade of busos dressed in similar costumes and frightening wooden masks, using various noisy wooden rattlers is traditionally held on the seventh weekend before Easter to drive away winter, and is a revival of a legend, which says the ethnic Croats crossed the river to ambush the Osmanli Turkish troops, who escaped in panic seeing the terrifying figures during the Turkish occupation of Hungary. #

A reveller from the Sao Clemente samba school takes part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 20, 2012. #

Members of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school dressed as birds perform on a float during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 21, 2012. #

Dancers from the Salgueiro samba school take part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, on February 20, 2012. #

Revelers cheer at the Beatles-themed street party, "Sargento Pimenta," Portuguese for "Sergeant Pepper," at the Aterro do Flamengo urban park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 20, 2012. The group that organizes the party gives the Beatles repertoire a Brazilian tweak, adapting "All My Loving" to the peppy beat of a traditional Carnival "marchinha," or march, and infusing "Hard Day's Night" with a Rio funk sound. #

A dancer from the Sao Clemente samba school smiles after parading during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, on February 20, 2012. The processions were held before a stadium crowd of 70,000 and an international broadcast audience. #