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Venice, Italy -

This is the Grand Canal on the day the annual Venice Carnival was due to begin in 2021, versus Venetians rowing during the masquerade parade in 2020.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

Reveler Anilson Costa walks in stilts along the Santa Teresa neighborhood where the annual block party "Ceu na Terra" used to be celebrated, holding a sign which translates to: "Wear a mask, wash your hands, share love."

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

Pictured above is the famed Sambadrome, empty in 2021, and below is the scene from 2019, AKA what it's supposed to look like around this time of year, packed with revelers and samba schools.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

Instead of delivering the key to the city to the Carnival King as part of the opening ceremonies at the Sambadrome, this year Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes delivered the key to health workers.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

All glammed up with nowhere to go, actress Dandara Machado Abreu brought Carnival to her couch!

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Cologne, Germany -

Since in-person parades weren't possible, people celebrated in their cars with a drive-in Carnival.

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Cologne, Germany -

The Carnival Prince of Cologne, Sven Oleff, reigns over the drive-in Carnival.

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New Orleans, USA -

Mardi Gras became Yardi Gras this year, as residents of New Orleans were encouraged to tour the outside of homes while practicing social distancing. Pictured is a circus-themed "house float."

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New Orleans, USA -

This "Kraken" house float surely takes the cake in its imaginative solution to the problem of a socially -istanced celebration.

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New Orleans, USA -

Another one of the hundreds of homes decorated in celebration of Mardi Gras, pictured is the "DinoGras on the Avenue" house float located on St. Charles Avenue.

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Cologne, Germany -

Since the traditional parade was canceled, a miniature version was recreated to broadcast on TV using wooden figures depicting Carnival revelers and scaled-down Carnival floats.

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Venice, Italy -

Even though Venice's Carnival was canceled,  people still donned their costumes and masks and kept a distance from one another.

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Venice, Italy -

Though the police probably weren't too happy about these people here gathering in St. Mark's Square.

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São Paulo, Brazil -

The phrase "All For Vaccines" replaces the crowds of people in São Paulo's Sambadrome this year.

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Pasto, Colombia -

Costumed artists perform at the Carnival in Pasto, which was held without the public as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

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Pasto, Colombia -

Masks became an essential addition to every costume this year.

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Podence, Portugal -

People dressed in traditional costumes mark the Shrovetide Sunday festival on an unusually empty street.

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Venice, Italy -

Luckily this unlikely cat and bird couple could keep the spirit alive while still wearing full masks!

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Viareggio, Italy -

In the Tuscan town famed for its Carnival, floats of Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson will have to stay in their warehouse this year.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

Even those working from home are getting in the Carnival spirit, though it does look a little less fun than the street celebrations...

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

One of the best parts about Carnival is the chance to wear crazy costumes, and it looks like some people aren't going to pass up the opportunity, even if it's just for a night in.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome also became a drive-through vaccination station for senior citizens in lieu of Carnival celebrations.

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Barranquilla, Colombia -

The 2021 Barranquilla Carnival parade, which usually attracts thousands of tourists every year, was recorded and broadcast on TV this year.

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Barranquilla, Colombia -

Masked dancers perform during the recording of the Carnival parade, which is unfortunately how most shows will have to reach the public in 2021.

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Dallgow-Doeberitz, Germany -

Carnival enthusiasts celebrated the traditional Rosenmontag ("Rose Monday") with a float at home.

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Düsseldorf, Germany -

Pictured above is a Carnival float from 2020, with the coronavirus battling it out with the "Carnival virus." Below is an updated version of the float for 2021, with a sad, deflated-looking Carnival virus.

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Cologne, Germany -

Masked revelers take to the streets with confetti after Carnival festivities were canceled.

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New Orleans, USA -

This "house float" is decorated in the theme of "Battling the Leviathan." The idea is that instead of floats moving through the packed street, people safely pass through socially-distanced streets to see the "floats."

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New Orleans, USA -

The owners of this "Taste the Rainbow" house float should consider leaving their home like this all the time!

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New Orleans, USA -

Mardi Gras this year might not be anything close to what it is normally, but watching the community rally together to celebrate in whatever way they safely can is positively heartwarming.

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Marcelji, Croatia -

Bell ringers, or "Zvoncari," had some COVID-appropriate headgear for their Carnival parade.

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Valletta, Malta -

The floats meant for the parade were turned into coronavirus-themed Carnival street art in Valletta.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -

"Bate-bola" revelers perform in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro to keep some of the tradition alive despite Carnival celebrations being canceled.

See also: Spectacular photos of Carnival 2020 around the world

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