Karnawaowa

Karnawaowa is a term used in Polish-language writing to describe things relating to the carnival season. The standard feminine form is karnawałowa; masculine is karnawałowy and neuter/plural forms are karnawałowe. The non-diacritic spelling 'karnawaowa' sometimes appears in texts without Polish diacritics, but it is not the preferred standard in Polish.

It derives from karnawał (carnival), which itself comes from Latin carnivalis, via Polish usage. In Polish, the adjective karnawałowa is used to modify feminine nouns, as in impreza karnawałowa (carnival party) or sukienka karnawałowa (carnival dress). For masculine nouns one says kostium karnawałowy, and for neuter nouns something like wydarzenie karnawałowe.

Carnival in Poland is a season of festivity that precedes Lent and is characterized by masquerade balls, parades, and festive foods. The term karnawałowa commonly appears in the names and descriptions of events, costumes, music, and decorations tied to this season; it also describes carnival-themed media and fashion.

Historically, carnival traditions in Poland date to medieval times and have been influenced by Catholic liturgy and broader European practice. Today many towns host bal karnawałowy (carnival balls) and street processions during the last weeks before Ash Wednesday, known as Ostatki.

Related terms include karnawał, bal karnawałowy, Ostatki, Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek), Mardi Gras, and the Czech and Slovak Masopust, which reflect similar carnival customs in Europe.