Brazil Carnival

Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is one of the greatest shows on earth, and the annual Samba Parade at the Sambodromo is the most festive and colorful of all.

Imagine thousands of singers and dancers planning, practicing, and building elaborate floats, then parading for 75 minutes down a narrow 700-yard route in front of thousands of exuberant fans and millions on television.

Community groups called schools have performed in Rio’s Samba Parade for decades, and 14 of the best perform at the Sambodromo on the Sunday and Monday nights (7 each night) before Ash Wednesday each year.

Each school develops a theme and a new samba song. About a half dozen floats and 30+ different costumed groups support the theme and dance down the parade route singing the samba song.

Drummers, a band, loudspeakers, and screaming spectators keep the volume and intensity up.

It’s an amazing celebration!

These photos from the 2007 Rio Samba Parade were taken on a Carnaval cruise to Rio on Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity. Continue reading »

Tags: Carnaval, Parade, rio carnaval Pics, Rio de Janeiro, sambas, Sambodromo

A member of Unidos do Peruche samba school parades at the Sambadrome, as part of carnival celebrations, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, late February 20, 2009. (MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)

A dancer performs atop a Vila Isabel samba school float at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro Continue reading »

Tags: Brazil, Carnival, Parades, Sambadrome, sambas, Sao Paulo, Tom Maior, Unidos do Peruche, vila isabel

Samba is a Brazilian musical genre derived from African and European roots. It is worldwide recognized as a symbol of Brazil and Carnival.Samba ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a Brazilian musical genre derived from African and European roots. It is worldwide recognized as a symbol of Brazil and Carnival.

O mais grande!

The name samba likely comes from the Angolan semba (or mesemba), a type of ritual music, but this has been disputed. Continue reading »

Tags: Brazil Carnaval, Brazil Carnival, Brazil Carnival Videos, Party Samba, Samba, sambas

Modern Brazilian Carnival finds its roots in Rio de Janeiro in 1845, when the city’s bourgeoisie imported the practice of holding balls and masquerade parties from Paris. It originally mimicked the European form of the festival, over time acquiring elements derived from Native American and African cultures.

In the late 19th century, the cordões (literally laces or strings in Portuguese) were introduced in Rio de Janeiro. These were groups of people who would go parading through the streets playing music and dancing. Today they are known as blocos (blocks), consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or specials t-shirts according to certain themes or to celebrate the Carnival. Blocos are generally associated with particular neighbourhoods or suburbs and include both a percussion or music group and an entourage of revellers. Continue reading »

Tags: Brazil Carnival, Brazil Carnival Pics, ipanema, masquerade parties, Rio de Janeiro, sambas