Current carnivals originated from the ancient Roman Bacchanalia celebrations held in honor of the god Bacchus. The Catholic Church could not stop the Bacchanalia, so they replaced it with Carnival. In the Middle Ages, Carnival was celebrated with food, drink, and games to prepare for the upcoming period of abstinence. Major modern carnival celebrations occur in Rio de Janeiro, Venice, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and feature parades, music, dancing, and costumes. Carnival traditions vary between locations but generally involve costumes, masks, and celebrations in the days before Lent.