Carnival
Carnival (kar"ni*val) , noun
[Italian carnevale, prob. for older carnelevale, prop., the putting away of meat; from Latin caro, carnis, flesh + levare to take away, lift up, from levis light.]
1.
A festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Catholic countries during the week before Lent, esp. at Rome and Naples, during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove Tuesday.
The carnival at Venice is everywhere talked of.
2.
Any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess. — Tennyson
He saw the lean dogs beneath the wall
Hold o'er the dead their carnival