Mardi Gras midnight before Ash Wednesday. In earlier times, parades were held on New Year's Day. Other cities famous for Mardi Gras celebrations include Rio de Janeiro; Barranquilla, Colombia; George Town, Cayman Islands; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; and Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Carnival is an important celebration in Anglican and Catholic European nations. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the week before Ash Wednesday is called "Shrovetide", ending on Shrove Tuesday. It has its popular celebratory aspects, as well. Pancakes are a traditional food. Pancakes and related fried breads or pastries made with sugar, fat, and eggs
LGBT rights in Rio de Janeiro (state) for the district to decide if they agree. If they don't agree, the marriage cannot proceed. LGBT rights in Rio de Janeiro (state) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil enjoy many of the same legal protections available to non-LGBT people. Homosexuality is legal in the state. On 17 April 2013, The "General Magistrate of Justice" of Rio de Janeiro, Judge Valmir de Oliveira Silva, published a legal ruling authorizing same-sex marriage in the state if local judges agree. Same sex weddings are poised to begin in the coming days. According to the ruling (25/2013),