Rio Carnival

Rio Carnival 

Carnival in Brazil – it is an event in which millions of people dream to get. Every year in February, before Lent, the whole Brazil, is being seized by the continuous thunder of drums, batter inflammatory rhythm of samba, is immersed in the most bustling, bright and cheerful holiday, a grand show on the planet. Carnival in Rio – the most organized of them. Also, the carnival is held in Salvador da Baia. 


The History of Carnival in Brazil

The origins of Brazilian carnival are in the ritual dances of Black Africa, pulsating rhythms of which were brought to Brazil, along with millions of black slaves .In the mid 20th century the first school of samba was formed. In 1916, the first samba was written specifically for the carnival. It was called “By telephone”.

According to the scientists, the word “carnival” is based on two Latin roots – carno (meat) and vale (farewell). In ancient times this celebration was being held 40 days before the Holy Week and was a kind of celebration for foreign countries and highlight for the Lent.

However, the origins of carnival can already been viewed in pagan ceremonies in honor of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris and the Roman Saturnalia. When Christianity came replacing paganism, many traditions and celebrations were banned. Carnival was one of them. But the last century was the time when everything was changed and partying was back in the row.

Later, when the Europeans settled the world, they brought the carnival virtually to all of the continents in the world, and the locals gladly picked up the tradition. Carnivals in Brazil, Goa, Basel and Nice – each of these grand celebrations have their own flavor and special atmosphere.

Brazil Carnival, one of the most outstanding events of the world – it’s an exotic blend of European elegance, the ancient Indian traditions and customs of the Black slaves. Event the Catholic Church found a spot for such a “secular” holiday in their calendar, and since then it points exactly seven weeks before Easter and forty days before the Holy Week.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Carnival – this is the most important event of the year for every Brazilian, it’s the holiday, which concentrates on the very soul and mentality of this country. The world most famous carnival in Rio – a beautiful, expensive and sexy spectacle for the world public, but the folk festival is also not an exception. Folk festivals are held away from the tourist centers – in Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza, moreover, instead of frivolous subjects historical scenes are usually played out here.

But for every Carioca – Rio residents – “provincial” holidays are not worth a fraction of attention, because all the main action takes place here, in the main city of Its Majesty’s Carnival. During the four official days of celebration (and unofficially the country is celebrating it for more than a week), there comes a time when the city gives itself into the power of joy, when the eyes are being clouded with passion.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro … impossible to describe the most ambitious furor of emotions and passions, music and dance, the unbridled joy and celebration of life in one short article.

Carnival in Rio is now one of the most ambitious and most organized carnivals in Brazil. Each year, the samba flows into the blood of all participants and guests of the carnival for more than five days and for this five day Brazil turns into an African country. Samba schools (each of which is between 3.000 to 5.000 participants) are composed mainly of people from the city suburbs. During the Rio carnivals samba schools compete with each other and their performance is evaluated by a special jury.

Carnival Terms

The chief term of the carnival is to have fun! And the Brazilians are happy to obey it. More than a week no one works, although officially the carnival lasts only four days.

Groups act like fashion models on the catwalk, in front of a crowd of 100-thousand spectators, who are admiring them from on the benches. They play out their own stories, united by a common theme: politics, nature, sports, arts, music – all topics must be Brazilian. Schools come up with their unique song, creative costumes and choreography. Costumes should not only dazzle with their beauty, but also consistent with the era and location of the selected topic.

Another term for the festival is that full nudity is forbidden, so viewers can only enjoy the endless options for luxury and often risqué costumes.

This may be a historic event, honoring a person, the plot of a story or a legend. Allegorical platform transforms into movie scenery, which illustrates the same theme. Rehearsals begin for several months before the carnival.

The Promising Start

Traditionally, the carnival begins with a symbolic transfer of the keys to the mayor of the city – the “king” of the carnival. For four days he is the rightful owner of the city and shall be empowered to publish and to repeal any laws.

The holiday usually starts in the small town of Olinda. Here the oldest dance school “virgins” – 250 men dressed in women’s clothes point out the beginning of the show. Gradually, the entire country is being covered with carnival madness. Millions of Brazilians, forgetting about all the problems and domestic difficulties are having fun and dancing.

But their most cherished dream – to see for a magical show at the amazing Rio. At the top of the allegorical chariots the first one to go is the Princess of the school. The height of the chariots is limited to ten meters. There is a special spot for the elite dancers who are almost without clothes. The procession, consisting of the members of one school, sometimes stretching for a mile, and its progress Sambodromo takes about an hour.

The show must not only conquer the hearts of the audience, but also the judicial panel, which chooses the champions and losers of this year. The jury evaluates the performance in many ways: music and lyrics, synchronous movements, plot setting, compliance with a given theme, colorful costumes, the main chariot design, etc. Grades are usually reduced to the crude composition asymmetry, the lack of expression in the dance or the ecstatic reaction of the audience. But after the announcement of the end, the holiday does not stop. Everywhere there is a wide range of beauty contests, masquerade balls, competitions, prizes are awarded for best costumes.

Source: Travelvivi.com