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Carnival in Malta started during the time of the Order of St. John, but some historians argue that the first Carnival was celebrated in Malta as early as 1471. It was around 1535 when the tradition of wearing masks started. In the 1635, the Grand Master Antoine de Paule, tried to forbid the ladies from wearing masks and He also tried to ban the Carnival balls but He never succeeded. Since then the Carnival celebrations never stopped except for the war years. Today, the main event is the Carnival Defile which takes place in Valletta spreading over five days with various dancing competitions and defiles. Carnival celebrations are organised in various other towns and villages including the much attended Nadur Carnival in Malta's sister island Gozo. Carnival is a time of merriment which precedes Lent, a time of penance where in the olden days the consumption of meat was prohibited, in fact the name Carnival itself means 'one can eat meat'. Masked balls, children dancing competions and other activities mark this period of hedonistic merriment. One characteristic is the Valletta defile where very colourful and artistic floats parade through the main streets of the city. These streets would be full of carnival lovers enjoying themselves by teasing others and dancing while the Defile winds itself through Valletta.. Much work and dedication goes into the floats and accompanying dancing competitions. Preperations start months before with the participating companies preparing in great secrecy their float and dance. It is an art inherited from father to son and there is great rivalry among the participants. Most of the floats are grotesque images of events of the time.