Brazilian Carnival is celebrated on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and the upcoming date falls on February 17. The carnival is marked by colorful costumes, samba music and dance, grand parades, and food festivals. It is the perfect opportunity to engage in overindulgence before starting the period of Lent. The Carnival depicts different cultures, primarily Portuguese and African. A lot of tourists from all around the globe are eager to experience the world’s biggest carnival. Brazilian Carnival fills the atmosphere of Brazil with joy, enthusiasm, and amusement. Show
History of Brazilian CarninvalBrazilian Carnival is a perfect blend of various cultures. The word ‘carnival’ comes from the Latin words ‘carn’ for ‘flesh’ and ‘levare’ for ‘put away.’ The first-ever pre-Lent carnival was held in Italy. Carnival signals the start of the Christian 40 day period of abstinence, commonly called Lent. The observance of these carnivals spread to France, Spain, and other European countries. It further spread to America from where it reached Brazil. Brazilians added the parade and samba music to it and turned it into a wild party with lots of extravagant floats. The first-ever Brazilian Carnival dates back to 1641 when Portuguese immigrants threw water at each other to celebrate Dom João IV’s coronation as the king of Portugal. The influence of African culture can be seen greatly in the Brazilian Carnival. During Portuguese rule, African slavery affected the celebrations of the Carnival. In fact, all the traditional costumes that can be seen during the Carnival are inspired by African slaves. The Carnival is characterized by a special dance and music known as samba. The Angolan slaves shared their love for samba and from then on it became an integral part of the Carnival. The popularity of samba reached its peak in the 1920s when samba schools were established in Brazil and, in 1932, the first-ever samba school parade took place. Now, the Sambadrome is the main attraction of the Carnival, where 13 top samba schools perform. It is a large avenue that can host almost 90,000 people. Brazilian Carnival is the largest carnival in the world with jaw-dropping performances. Brazilian Carninval timeline1094 Start of Carnevale Carnevale is first celebrated in Venice after which it spreads throughout Europe and eventually reaches Brazil. 1600s Arrival of the Portuguese In the early 1600s, the Portuguese arrive and settle in Brazil. 1723 Entrudo Carnaval Portuguese immigrants celebrate the first carnival in Brazil and call it ‘Entrudo.’ 2017 A Float Collapses A float collapses during the Rio Carnival, leaving a dozen people injured. Is Carnival in Brazil dangerous?Rio Carnival is one of the biggest carnivals in the world and attracts tourists internationally, thus, Brazilian police make sure that safety is observed throughout the festival. Where is the best carnival in Brazil?Rio de Janeiro offers the largest carnival celebrations with various activities like the samba school performances, food festivals, and grand parades. What happens at Carnival in Brazil?“The Brazil carnival in Sao Paulo happens at their Sambodromo and will be shown on national television in Brazil. Just like the Rio Carnival, the top Samba schools compete against each other and showcase their glamorous costumes and exhilarating dance moves with party-goers from all over the country joining in the fun,” states the Rio Carnaval website. Brazilian Carninval Activities
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