Carnaval!

Well, this is one of the most awaited moments for millions of Brazilians. Some of them even say that the year just really starts after Carnival.

It takes place everywhere in the world, but I believe Brazil's is the most famous. And mostly Rio de Janeiro is visited by foreigners.

But what is this 'party' all about?

Believe it or not Carnival began in Europe long ago as a kind of religious party, to celebrate the beginning of the Lent (the forty days of fasting before Easter, something like a Catholic version of Ramadan). So, it was a last chance to party! The thing started growing in some places and losing any religious meaning, but it is still always 40 days before Easter, anywhere in the World: London, Cologne, New Orleans, Brazil or Caribbean. It happens from Friday to Ash Wednesday.

Probably you already saw maaaaany pictures or videos about Carnaval, lots of confetti (the small colorful round paper used in it) but you are not sure...
Not only Rio de Janeiro but in small scale other cities have the so-called Samba schools that every year come with a different topic and accompanying it comes new music (samba de enredo), decorations and, of course, the famous clothes (or the lack of them). For an entire year they plan this 40 min parade in the Sapucai avenue that closes for the parade and its dancers. WHich type of music? Samba of course, a strong and long one, for the dancers to shake (I mean dance) the entire night! It is for sure sg that's worth a while to see at least once in the life.

This girl is the called the 'Flag keeper' and her clothes are generally very rich in details and beautiful. Here they present themselves and the school to the juries.

THis is the baiana (from Bahia part of the school), they are generally composed of old ladies who can be already old, but as we say in Brazil, they have samba in their feet!

In the first photo is one o the Samba schools called Beija-Flor, which honored my city (Brasilia) this year. Under it, a photo of the venue: in the back we can see one of the Arch, symbol of Sapucai. On the left side, we can see the place where we can pass the night dancing, depending on the price of your ticket of course.



The other carnivals, which started in northeast Brazil (I guess in Salvador in Bahia state), is the Trio elétrico carnival, when a giant sound car with a famous good singer sings for some hours meanwhile the sound car moves in a predefined trajectory. THe music played is generally Axé music, a different type of music you ever heard. THis one's also worth to see once, it is so strong you have the impression that your heart is pounding with the music. Ah, this one is for free unless you want to stay very close to the car, like this you have to buy the T-shirt of the 'group' and jump inside (I mean around) the human rope that moves with the car wherever it goes.

Can you see how big is the car (the trio elétrico)? And the amount of people around? Wearing green is the 'human rope' separating the payers from the non-payers.


There are other types of Carnival that never loose their style with frevo dancing in Olinda (PE), old music (marchinhas) in Ouro Preto (MG).
The Frevo dance. A very difficult one, no wonder it is taught in gyms. It is danced with the little umbrella and it is very nice to see.

I myself am not a big fan of the Rio de Janeiro style or any of the others...as a rock fan I used to go to rock campings or to the beach for the weekend and just come back on the Wed of Ashes, when the home sweet home is awaiting for you and the year is just starting...



Sources: uol, moma, http://www.rio-carnival.net/