A woman dressed as a queen stands atop an elaborately-decorated float and waves to onlookers at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

New York, USA: A parade passes through Times Square in Manhattan. Confetti falls through the sky.

A man dressed as a king stands atop an elaborately-decorated float and waves to onlookers at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Clowns throw beaded necklaces from a brightly-decorated float at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Pan up on Royal Guards of the Household Cavalry on horses, wearing full military regalia, including tunics and helmets with white plumes, parading past Buckingham Palace in 1970s London, England. Shadows cast on the ground.

A team of cheerleaders walk in formation waving pom-poms during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Tracking shot following a marching band at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Royal Guards of the Household Cavalry mounted on horseback wearing full military regalia parading in front of Buckingham Palace in early 1970s London, England.

A column of Chinese soldiers carrying rifles march in unison through Tiananmen Square in Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Wide shot of girls dancing with orange feathered fans on a Hong Kong street.

Wide view of a colourful Mardi Gras procession on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

United States Marines in dress uniform carry rifles and flags while marching in formation as part of the Fourth of July / Independence Day celebrations in Washington DC, USA.

A column of Chinese soldiers carrying rifles marching in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

A brass band march in formation as part of the Fourth of July / Independence Day celebrations in Washington DC, USA. Spectators watch from the roadside.

Wide shot of girls dressed in traditional costume red ribbon dancing in the streets of Hong Kong.

Close up view of the hands of an unidentifiable drummer rapping drumsticks on a waist-mounted snare drum while marching as part of the Fourth of July / Independence Day celebrations in Washington DC, USA.

Street-level view of the legs of unidentifiable United States Marines in dress uniform marching in formation while carrying rifles as part of the Fourth of July / Independence Day celebrations in Washington DC, USA. Spectators watch from the roadside.

A column of Chinese soldiers carrying rifles crossing a bridge in front of the Mao Zedong Mausoleum in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Royal Guards wearing red tunics and bearskins (some carrying musical instruments such as drums) marching in an orderly style, through the gates of Buckingham Palace in early 1970s London, England. Tourists watch on from both sides.

Peruvian street carnival. Medium shot of women dancing dressed in brightly coloured blankets.

A contingent dressed in American Revolutionary War costume and carrying rifles march in formation as part of the Fourth of July / Independence Day celebrations in Washington DC, USA. Spectators watch from the roadside.

Royal Guards wearing red tunics and bearskins marching in orderly fashion, in front of Buckingham Palace in early 1970s London, England.