Lent excess before Lent begins. Some of the most famous are the Carnival of Barranquilla, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Carnival of Venice, Cologne Carnival, the New Orleans Mardi Gras, the Rio de Janeiro carnival, and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. The day immediately preceding Lent is variously called Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"), Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. Sometimes, it is the peak of the pre-Lenten festival, while sometimes it is largely occupied with preparations for Lent. The observances vary from culture to culture, and even from town to town. Originally, in Lebanon and Syria, the last Thursday
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),