Carnival celebrations in Venezuela influenced by cultures from around world

In a small mining town in southeastern Venezuela, El Callao, the Carnival traditions started at midnight Saturday. Painted men prowled the streets, painting anyone who didn't pay up. Meanwhile, madams filled the streets Sunday, representing the town's unmarried women. The soundtrack for the dayslong party was traditional Calipso music.  The customs are said to have been influenced by cultures from the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. "Because of gold fever, people came from all over, like the British Antilles. And those cultures were planted here," event organizer Israel Brown said.   The unique celebration prompted UNESCO to declare the event in December an intangible cultural heritage. More…