In pictures: World's carnival festivities
- Published
In Haiti, fire-throwers, dancers and music bands paraded through the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Some revellers had their bodies painted with a mixture of cane sugar syrup and coal and wore skulls to depict the devil.
Bright costumes were on display during Haiti's three-day festivities, that also saw rum-fuelled parties across the country.
In Spain, revellers wore horns and had dresses stained with blood to represent Momotxorro - a mythical half-man and half-bull.
In Switzerland, masked music bands paraded on the streets of Lucerne.
This reveller covered himself with mud during festivities in Redinha, north-eastern Brazil.
Meanwhile, in Rio de Janeiro it was a fierce competition of different samba schools at the city's Sambadrome.
In the US, the city of New Orleans saw striking processions during the celebrations of Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.
In Belgium, carnival participants - known as Gilles - wore traditional costumes and hats made of ostrich feathers