Feb 13
Feb 12
A woman from Perola Negra samba school parades during the carnival in Sao Paulo February 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker)
Dancers perform on a float during the parade of the Mocidade Alegre samba school in Sao Paulo Continue reading »
Jan 22
Carnival in Rio in Photos: During the festival dancers from the Samba schools compete against each other. This is a dancer from Unidos da Vila Maria samba school in Sao Paulo.
Jan 14
Rio de Janeiro (“River of January”) is the second largest city of Brazil and South America, behind São Paulo, and the second largest metropolitan area in South America, behind São Paulo. It is the state capital of Rio de Janeiro.
The Brazilian carnival (Carnaval, in Portuguese) is an annual celebration held 40 days before Easter and marking the beginning of Lent. Rio de Janeiro has many Carnival choices, including the famous Samba school (Escolas de Samba) parades in the sambadrome exhibition centre and the popular blocos de carnaval, which parade in almost every corner of the city
Aug 31
The Brazilian Carnival, properly spelled Carnaval, is an annual festival in Brazil held four days before Ash Wednesday. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry—hence the term “carnival,” from carnelevare, “to remove (literally, “raise”) meat.” Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to sex in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ’s death and resurrection.
Brazilian Carnival exhibits some differences from its European counterparts, having mixed African, Native, German and Euro elements. Furthermore, rhythm, participation, and costume vary from one region of Brazil to another. For example, in the southeastern cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, organized parades led by samba schools vie for prizes on the “sambodromo” open stage. Only samba-school affiliates participate in the shows. Smaller cities often have no public events but promote balls in recreational clubs.
The northeastern cities of Salvador, Porto Seguro and Recife have organized groups parading through streets, but watchers are also welcome to dance. They follow the “trio elétrico” floats through the city streets.
Brazil Carnival Photos: Bold & Beautiful x15
