ent of conceptions in 18th century France show a peak around February. Carnivalwas also a festival of aggression, destruction and desecration. It was the ideal time toinsult or pester people who had wronged someone, often in the form of a mock battle of afootball match. A time for paying off old grudges. Serious violence was not avoided andin most areas the rates of serious crimes and killings went up during Carnival. It was alsoa time of opposition, in more than one way. It opposed the ecclesiastical ritual of Lent.Lent was a period of fasting and abstinence of all things enjoyed by the people, not justfood and drink but also sex and recreation. The elements that were taken out of lifeduring Lent were emphasised during Carnival. All that was portrayed by the figures of'Carnival' and 'Lent' (fat versus thin).Carnival was polysemous, meaning different things to different people in different areas.In different regions, different heroes were celebrated. Sometimes elements were takenover from other regions. Carnival did not have the same importance all over Europe. Inthe north of Europe (Britain, Scandinavia) it was less important than in the rest ofEurope. This was probably partly due to the climate which discouraged an elaboratestreet festival at that time of the year. In these regions, people preferred to elaborate the festivities during the Midsummerfestival (St. John's Eve). Two reasons for this are the pagan survivals that were strongerin these regions, partly because they were isolated from the rest of Europe due togeographical obstacles, causing a lesser ecclesiastical influence, and the climaticsituation as mentioned above.Carnival was a festival in extremis, but elements of Carnival can be found in everyfestival that was celebrated in Early Modern Europe. During the harvest season, all overEurope festivals and rituals were held. The harvest was celebrated, again , with elaboratedrinking and eating, although in a more moderate way ...
