O Brasil é lindo maravilhoso!
The word ‘Carnival’ (Carnaval do Brasil) comes from Latin, the root of Portuguese, known as the ‘romance’ language. It’s also often seen written as ‘Carnaval’.
It stems from Carnem-levamen which means ‘to remove the meat’, leading to the word ‘Carnival’ in the era when Roman Catholics would indulge in one last day of dancing, drinking and eating (presumably meat) before starting Lent.
While probably not quite the same sentiment, Carnival today has become the world’s most famous week-long festival with Brazilians and tourists donning masks and colourful costumes and dancing to the compelling rhythmic drumbeat of Samba.
It stems from Carnem-levamen which means ‘to remove the meat’, leading to the word ‘Carnival’ in the era when Roman Catholics would indulge in one last day of dancing, drinking and eating (presumably meat) before starting Lent.
While probably not quite the same sentiment, Carnival today has become the world’s most famous week-long festival with Brazilians and tourists donning masks and colourful costumes and dancing to the compelling rhythmic drumbeat of Samba.
The Portuguese brought the practice of Carnival to Brazil in around 1850, basing it on the Parisian tradition of masquerade parties and balls at this same time of year.
Brazilians immediately embraced the tradition and made it uniquely theirs with the addition of elements from the people’s African and indigenous cultural heritage. It’s said that when Brazil became a colony of Portugal and still involved in the African slave trade, tribal practices included parading around their villages dressed in feathered costumes and tribal masks to ward off bad spirits in the area. This was seen as symbolic of the rebirth and rise of the spirits that today are also important components of the Brazilian Carnival. |
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This also meant creating their very special creations of boisterous parades, elaborate costumes, music, dancing, and balls. A wonderful tradition of ‘opposites’ also developed, with men dressing as women, aristocrats dressing as commoners and the poor dressing as the privileged.
Carnival is held all over Brazil, but the biggest and most popular is in Rio de Janeiro, welcoming crowds of 500,000 tourists annually.
Carnival is held all over Brazil, but the biggest and most popular is in Rio de Janeiro, welcoming crowds of 500,000 tourists annually.
No one attending carnival is safe from the entrancing Samba! According to the festival’s history, the slaves that came to Brazil brought with them their culture and love for music. This evolved as slaves who originated from Angola and West Africa mingled with Brazilian locals who shared with them their love for Samba, and it’s become an integral part of Carnival today.
In the early 1920s, Samba started to become very popular with the locals. People who had a passion for the music, the dance or both began to meet and started forming clubs and groups to share and enhance their love for the music style.
These gatherings led to associations as we know them today – the Samba School. They were so prolific and popular that the heads of each school declared the need for healthy competition between them all and in 1932, the very first Samba School Parade was held.
The Association of Schools for Samba was established, and this organisation now manages the parades at the Rio Carnival.
The centre of the Rio Carnival is the Sambodromo, a purpose-built 700m avenue of viewing stands, originally for the sole purpose of watching the Samba Schools parade competitively each year. Today, the structure is also used as a multi-purpose performance venue.
In addition to the extravagant parade, Rio Carnival is also known for amazing parties, none better than the many street parties held on almost every corner in Rio and in most towns and villages.
Carnival blocks, Carnaval ‘Blocos’ or ‘Blocos de rua’ are street bands that mobilize crowds on the streets and have become the mainstay of Rio’s Carnival, especially for the budget minded.
Often dubbed ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’, Rio Carnival gives both locals and tourists an unforgettable party and every year is an experience of ever-evolving dazzling costumes, upbeat samba music and electrifying dance and the colours of joy.
You could start planning now – the festival is due to be held from February the 9th to February the 17th in 2024!
Often dubbed ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’, Rio Carnival gives both locals and tourists an unforgettable party and every year is an experience of ever-evolving dazzling costumes, upbeat samba music and electrifying dance and the colours of joy.
You could start planning now – the festival is due to be held from February the 9th to February the 17th in 2024!
