Bird’s Eye: This week marked the start of Lenten penitence, which meant that last week was the occasion for a spate of carnivals world wide. We start with a single photo from the most bizarre and pointless carnival custom you may have ever seen, in that centre of world carnival madness, Warwickshire. Then we go into two In Focus Carnival features (the first is mostly Brazil; the second is mostly not.) Big Picture’s Carnival feature has a few overlaps, but also some glorious different shots. (None of Quebec anywhere, Bonhomme was sad to note.)

* Warwickshire, UK Eyewitness

* Carnival 2012  In Focus

* More From Carnival 2012   In Focus

* Carnival 2012   The Big Picture