it is this relation with lent that might account for the name of the event - while there's still some debate surrounding the origin of the word carnival, it probably is related to the italian word for meat ('carne') and other words meaning the abandonment of it (either 'vale' - farewell - or 'levare' - remove).

widespread parades and masquerades would be an invention of medieval europe - in particular, the italian take on these celebrations would become very popular in france, spain and portugal.

specifically in portugal, a form of carnival-related diversion, the 'entrudo', became very popular, and it was exactly this tradition that was firstly carried to brazil after its discovery and colonization in the 16th century.