Brazilian revelers gather during Carnival celebrations along Ipanema beach on February 18, 2012 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations culminating on Fat Tuesday before the start of the Catholic season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. Police strikes in Salvador and Rio de Janiero in recent weeks threatened Carnival and raised questions about the country's preparedness to host the upcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)