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Carnival, the riotous and bawdy festival celebrated across Europe and in the Southern region of the United States, has been in existence almost since the beginning of civilization itself.

Over five thousand years ago, Ovid, a poet of ancient Rome,  wrote verse about a spring festival that was celebrated to ensure greener pastures and the forgiveness of sins.  Greek priests would sacrifice a goat, cut its skin into whips and use them to lash the naked revelers as they danced.

This festival, known as the Lupercalia, evolved throughtout the centuries and spread from Greece to Rome and France, where the festivities became a bit more pleasant, yet still full of lewdness, debauchery and occasional violence.  Many revelers, in order to conceal their true identities while behaving in an uncivilized manner, wore masks.

When Christianity took hold, around the the year 600, the Church was appalled at such displays of lewdness and impiety...


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