World Party

Gracyanne Barbosa, queen of the drums' section of Mangueira samba school, performs at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. Rio, host of one of the world's more flamboyant Carnival celebrations, was wrapping up its famed parades in the early hours of Tuesday.

A dancer performs on a Viradouro samba school float during carnival parade at the Sambodrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. Dancing beauties wearing little more than strategically placed sequins and broad smiles led choreographed troupes and elaborate floats from the city's samba schools past 70,000 people in Rio's purpose-built Sambodrome stadium.

Dancers perform on a Viradouro samba school float during carnival parade at the Sambodrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. The event marked the climax of four days of pre-Lent celebrations.

Dancers perform on a Unidos da Tijuca samba school float during carnival parade at the sambodrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Juliane Almeida, queen of the drums' section of Viradouro samba school dances during carnival parade at the sambodrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

A dancer performs on a Viradouro samba school float during carnival parade at the sambodrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

Dancers perform on a Viradouro samba school float during carnival parade at the sambodrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

Portela samba school dancers parade at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

Portela samba school performs at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

An Imperatriz samba school dancer parades at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

Salgueiro samba school dancers parade at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Poland

A pair dances during the Bill Haley Rock 'n Roll Marathon in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. The event, during which competitors must dance nonstop for one hour, takes place every year on the last Monday of the carnival.

Switzerland

A reveler in a fanciful Barbie-style costume participates in the carnival procession in downtown Lucerne, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Germany

A carnival float showing a flying U.S. President Barack Obama followed by a flying Europe, is seen prior to the traditional carnival parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, Feb.23, 2009. Street spectacles in the carnival strongholds of Duesseldorf, Mainz and Cologne are watched by hundreds of thousands of revelers, marking the highlight of Germany's carnival season.

Clowning Around — AP Photo/Hermann J. Knippertz

People dressed up as clowns march through the streets, during the traditional Rose-Monday Parade in Cologne, Germany, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Colorful painted papier-mache clown figures are carried through the streets, during the traditional Rose-Monday-Parade in Cologne, western Germany, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Belgium

Traditional 'Gilles' dance in their colorful costumes and wooden clogs, during the Mardi Gras festival in Binche, Belgium, Tuesday Feb. 24, 2009. Each Gille hides beneath a wax mask, which symbolizes equality and can only be sold or worn in Binche, as they are carefully protected by the European Patent Office. The celebration, which heralds the return of spring, is said to date back to 1549.