The wild and colorful costumes and masquerades that precede the Christian season of Lent have created popular festival traditions in Spain and Portugal.
One of Portugal’s most famous Carnival events takes place in the northcentral town of Lazarin, with its pagan ‘careto’ ritual of young men in colored woolen quilts donning brass, leather or wooden masks as they dance and chase people — especially young women — through the streets, trying to scare them by making lots of noise and jingling bells.
In Spain’s central town of Luzon, men covered in oil and soot wear bull horns and cowbells to represent the devil. Records of Luzon’s Carnival date as far back as the 14th century, although it is believed to be much older.
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A reveler wearing a costume poses for a picture during a traditional carnival celebration in the small village of Luzon, Spain, Feb. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
A man dressed in local Carnival traditional costume runs as he parades with others during Carnival festivities in Lazarim, northeastern Portugal, Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Joaldunaks take part on the Carnival between of the Pyrenees villages of Ituren and Zubieta, northern Spain, Jan. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
