ANTE DIEM V IDVS IVLIAS Carnival of Awussu Parade build up. Sousse, Tunisia

Festival du carnaval dAoussou (Carnival of Awussu), is an annual 24th July festive and cultural event in Sousse, Tunisia. A parade of symbolic chariots, fanfares and folk groups from Tunisia and elsewhere which takes place near the beach of Boujaafar, at the eve of the beginning of Awussu (The term used to describe the August heat wave in accordance with the Berber calendar). The festival, originally known as Neptunalia, had its roots in Pagan traditions, honoring the Roman god of the seas, Neptune, within the African Roman province. Its origins could possibly trace back to ancient Phoenician times, and the term Awussu might be a variation of the name Oceanus, symbolizing the connection to the sea. Over time it underwent a transformation, shedding all its religious connotations. In the modern era, before the Tunisian revolution, the festival served as a platform for political propaganda. , sousse, tunisia, carnival