Though perhaps the most famous place for holding Carnival, Brazil cannot actually take credit for its invention.  Rooted in a solemn kind of history, Carnival arose because of the period of Lent, as defined by the Christian calendar.   Lent comes before Easter and is traditionally a period of abstaining from rich foods, such as meats and sugar.  Therefore, communities would try to consume these delicacies before Lent.  These focused gatherings of feasting is thought to be the origin of Carnival.  In time, Carnival emerged mainly in areas with large Catholic populations, including places like Venice, where the use of masquerade ...