carnival

n. [ It. carnevale, prob. for older carnelevale, prop., the putting away of meat; fr. L. caro, carnis, flesh + levare to take away, lift up, fr. levis light. ] 1. A festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Catholic countries during the week before Lent, esp. at Rome and Naples, during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove Tuesday. [ 1913 Webster ]

The carnival at Venice is everywhere talked of. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

He saw the lean dogs beneath the wall
Hold o'er the dead their carnival Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]