The word "Carneval" is originally "Carne Vale" - directly translated "meat goodby". As early as in the Middle age it developed a tradition concerning common feasts during the days ahead of Lent. Focus was set on all the things one had to abandon during Lent ; much and fat food, a lot of drinking, erotic and love, playing and games.

Colourful, noisy parades and parties became common for these days. Today The Rio de Janeiro Carneval feast and the New York Easter Parade are probably the most famouse ones. But it was - and still is in sentral Europe - a tradition for huge Easter parades including bands, horses and carriages decorated with lots of colourful ribbons - and parties during the nights - in the time ahead of Lent.

Joyful teams went to visit friends and family - dressed in disguise. And the pre-Lent time was ended with huge parties. With just few changes, these traditions live on in most of Europe. In Norway the Carneval traditions never really got much response. It's just for the last decades Carneval has become popular in Norway - and then of course just indoors !

For one reason or another the only tradition rooted in Norway is whipping with small knots. This fenomen has a lot of different explanations of origin and is attached both to the days ahead Lent as well as to Good Friday. (One whipped oneself to remeber the sufferings of Jesus Christ)

But whipping was also a important springtime action in Antiquity as part of fertility rituals.