The Beginning of Carnival

We went to a festival celebrating the beginning of carnival where the Mayor hands over the keys of the city to the master of the carnival. They also make straw effigies that they put up on posts and burn at the end of Carnival. Often they have the names of political figures or others who have done something wrong. The idea is that they can vent their anger over someone and be done with it for the new year.
More about the Carnival at:
Rijeka_Carnival