What is a carnival, meme or synchroblog? I’ve pulled a snippet from Wikipedia to help you understand what each one is so you can decide if you want to participate.
Carnival
“There are many variations, but typically, someone who wants to organize a carnival posts details of the theme or topic to their blog, and asks readers to submit relevant articles for inclusion in an upcoming edition. The host then collects links to these submissions, edits and annotates them (often in very creative ways), and publishes the resulting round-up to his or her blog.” Full definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog_Carnival
Blog Meme
“…an Internet meme is simply the propagation of a digital file or hyperlink from one person to others using methods available through the Internet (for example, email, blogs, social networking sites, instant messaging, etc.). The content often consists of a saying or joke, a rumor, an altered or original image, a complete website, a video clip or animation, or an offbeat news story, among many other possibilities. An Internet meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by chance or through commentary, imitations, and parody versions, or even by collecting news accounts about itself.” Full definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_phenomenon
My version a blog meme is where you post links of blogs that you like and then ask others to add them name and five others to the list and then post to their blog. It creates interest and typically works in someways like a chain letter – you take off two from the bottom and add two at the top. Let me know by posting a comment if you’ve seen other uses or definitions of blog memes.
Synchroblogs
“A recent variant is Synchronised Blogging, or synchroblog, where a group of bloggers agree to post on their own blogs on the same broad topic on the same day. The titles are circulated a day or two beforehand, and each blogger includes links to the other blogs.” Wikipedia considers this an extension of a carnival. See the full definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog_carnival
The bottom-line on all of these terms is that they are about connecting with others in much the same way as old web rings used to work. That being said they have a special twist, can spice up your blog, and are a fun way to interact with other bloggers in the blogosphere.