The origin of Carnival

"El origen de Carnaval"
Spanish C1 writing exercise

Discover the origins and evolution of Carnival.

Pay attention to the hints!

Some vocabulary you may want to look up before or during this exercise: "pagan", "Christianity", "Lent", "fasting" and "freely".

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How the test works

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Did you know that Carnival has incredibly ancient origins? It began in pagan celebrations of ancient times, in which the end of winter was celebrated. In these festivities, fertility and life played a central role. Over time, Carnival became linked to Christianity, since it is celebrated before the start of Lent. Lent was a period of fasting and restriction, so Carnival allowed for certain pre-Lent indulgences. During those days, people ate, drank and danced. Costumes and masks were also worn. Furthermore, social norms were relaxed. Thus, everyone could laugh and joke freely. Later, Carnival spread throughout Europe. Later, it reached the Americas. There, each region developed its own Carnival. Today, it is a cultural and popular festival all over the world.

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