The origins

1539

The organization and regulation of festivities were entrusted to the “abbés of fools” who organized four balls in the city according to social classes: nobles, merchants, artisans, and workers.

1860

At that time, the crowd threw plaster confetti, called “Italian confetti.” Paper confetti or “Paris confetti” appeared in Nice in 1892.

1873

The Niçois Andriot Saëtone founded a Carnival committee to promote the city of Nice and attract wealthy winter visitors. Organized under the municipality’s patronage, the carnival became a real spectacle with floats, masquerades, cavalcades…

Thus, on February 23, 1873, Carnival 1^st entered the city, marking the birth of the modern carnival. Alexis Mossa and his son Gustave Adolf structured the staging until 1971, adding a unique touch mixing current events, allegorical myths, and grotesques. They created spectacular float models recognized as intangible heritage by UNESCO.

1876

The Flower Battle was born. Initially, it was an exchange of flowers, but it became the poetic and elegant side of the Carnival highlighting local production. A unique show worldwide, thanks to the imagination of the poet-gardener Alphonse Karr.

February 14, 1882

King Polichinelle, previously a stationary straw puppet on the Prefecture square, transformed into “Triboulet” and participated for the first time in the parade on the “royal float.” The parades with several routes continued in the neighborhoods with small floats created for the occasion.

1889

1^st Carnival poster.

World War I and II

Due to the conflicts, the carnival was canceled for the entire duration of the two wars.

This was also the case in 1991 due to the Gulf War.

1964

1^st mechanized floats.

2005

Since that date, the theme of the Flower Battle coincides with that of the carnival.