IN EVERY REGION, IN EVERY STATE, THE BRAZILIAN PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCT CULTURES, TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS. CHECK TEHM OUT!

The world’s greatest spectacle! That might just be the best definition of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival.

 Carnival originated in ancient Rome and then was revamped by Christianity to always begin on the day of the epiphany and run through to Ash Wednesday, the eve of Lent. It is known for its festivals, incorporating many pagan rituals and customs, and for the freedom of self-expression.

In the past it was known as Shrovetide, in Latin introis, which means “entrance”. At the end of the day, as are all things, it was secular and religious. And Carnival is celebrated throughout the world. However, in Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro, Carnival has taken on cinematic and superlative proportions. It is the parties of all parties. It is a great rite of celebration

How to dress up at Carnival

1) SAMBA SCHOOL

If you are going to be part of the official samba school parade you will have to buy your costume well in advance, via the school’s website.

2) FANTASY BALL

If your idea is to go to some large fancy dress ball, be it at a club, nightclub or closed party (like the traditional “Baile do Copa” (Copa Ball), at the Copacabana Palace Hotel or the Vogue Ball, the publications chic party), make a special effort. Pay attention to detail such as hair, make-up, and accessories.

3) BLOCK PARTY

Finally, for the street parties, you go as you wish – but, preferably, use light and comfortable clothes. Use and abuse the make-up and glitter and usually some sort of headdress is almost obligatory.

The Rio version has always been the more elaborate, chic and trendy of the celebrations, frequented by both Brazilian celebrities and those from overseas (this year the highlight was the presence of award-winning film director Tim Burton who commented, “The Rio show is like a movie I would like to make”.

However, the São Paulo version, these days, is also of huge importance. Since taking place at the Sambódromo do Anhembi (Anhembi Sambadrome), previously the parade was held along a famous street in the city centre, the samba schools have begun to invest more and more in their floats, costumes and overall performance. It also helped that Rio and Sao Paulo have formed a partnership which has brought significant improvements to both events.

THE SÃO PAULO / RIO DE JANEIRO PARTNERSHIP

Much of the progress of the São Paulo event has taken place thanks to the partnership established with Rio samba schools. The two spectacles not take place on the same day: half the São Paulo schools parade on Friday and the other half on Saturday. Then there’s a day off on Monday and the final results are released on Tuesday.

In Rio half of the schools parade on Sunday and the other half on Monday. Tuesday is the day off, and the results are confirmed on Wednesday. Thanks to the careful planning and cooperation of schedules both the participants – dancers, percussionists, etc. – and the tourists who come to watch the parades can be part of both events! Many of the teams that organise, rehearse and develop the parades for the schools of São Paulo, are in fact from Rio. Similarly, many Paulistas go to the Rio Sambadrome to show allegiance and support the samba schools from there. All mixed together for two large illustrious parties for our eyes, ears and heart to enjoy.

Parties from the North to the South

 But Brazil is not limited to Carnival. In each region, in each state, there are dozens of other interesting parties. In the Amazon, for example, there is the Folklore Festival of Parintins also known as the party of the Boi-Bumbá (Boi meaning Bull). Two bulls, one red and called Garantido (Guaranteed), the other blue and called Caprichoso (Very Skilled), challenge each other by making a presentation each night. Each team consists of more than three thousand people and are evaluated by the stories they tell. In the end, there is a prize giving, held in the Bumbódromo (kind of arena). The Parintins Festival is the largest open air opera in Latin America and the greatest folklore in the world.

The Bonecos de Olinda (Olinda dolls), is the biggest attraction of the Carnival of Olinda (Pernambuco), and are giant puppets made of paper mache, with a wood and Styrofoam structure. The tradition began in 1919 after a Belgian priest told a young Pernambucano about the traditions of some European parties. Inspired by this, he created a puppet 3.90m tall and called it Zé Pereira. Zé was so popular that, ten years later, he gained a companion called Vitalina that until this day are displayed in the streets during the carnival celebrations. Currently the number of dolls created exceeds 100 and pay homage to national and international icons like Obama, Mandela, Pele, among others. There is a permanent exhibition of dolls on display at the Embassy of Pernambuco, in Old Recife.

The Círio de Nazaré, held in Belém do Pará (State of Pará) since 1793, is a catholic procession in the name of Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (Our Lady of Nazareth), one of the titles given to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The procession, that dates back more than two centuries, takes about nine hours and starts at the Cathedral of Belém and ends at the Praça Santuário de Nazaré (The Square of the Shrine of Nazareth), where the image of the Virgin Mary is exhibited for 15 days for the public to offer their prayers and make their requests. About 2 million pilgrims and devotees from throughout Brazil participate each year.

The Festa Junina (June Party) is celebrated throughout Brazil. The party in Caruaru, Pernambuco, is considered the biggest in the world. It is famous for its coloured flags, balloons, dances, firecrackers and rockets, and especially the food: peanuts, corn, coconut, quentão (type of hot, mulled drink made with cachaça), pé-de-moleque (Brazilian sweet made with crushed nuts), sweet potatoes, etc…

In Pernambuco there is Maracatu, a traditional show derived from cultures of African and American Indian descent, in which two distinctive groups parade: percussionists (drums) and the court, formed of characters who tell the story of each group.  Every court must have a King and a Queen, a standard bearer and its Dama do Paço, amongst other roles. Women and spear throwers dress in colourful skirts made of cheap satin. The clothing can weigh at least 25 kilos and is made up of, amongst other things, a blanket of rhinestones and a set of bells that adorn their backs (known as Surrão). These days, as well as the Maracatu groups of Pernambuco (there are 10 important ones), there are many others throughout Brazil and overseas. In England there are five groups, with two in London: the Maracatu Estrela do Norte (North Star) and the Maracatudo Mafuá.

In Maranhão, there is the famous and classic Bumba-Meu-Boi (or Boi Bumba). This festival dates from the eighteenth century and mixes indigenous, European and African traditions. The festival tells the story of a period of cattle breeding by the slaves through theatre, music and dance, participants act out the abduction, death and resurrection of a bull.

Further south, in Goiás, there is the Cavalhadas, who represent a kind of medieval battle between Christians and Iberian Moors. Reuniting 24 horse riders, 12 red (Moors) and 12 blue (Christians), this party dates back to 1820. The population that follow the procession of the Cavalhada also participate, with appropriate costumes – and are dubbed – The Mascarados (The Masked).
In the Southeast Region of Brazil, the Festa do Divino (Party of the Divine), which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and occurs throughout the country, has one of its most important versions in São Luís do Paraitinga, in the city of Vale do Paraíba Sao Luis do Paraitinga (SP). It is held during the last ten days of June and attracts many people who seek blessings and who want to accompany the procession of the Divine.

In Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, during Semana Santa (Holy Week), the passion and resurrection of Christ are remembered with huge carpets made of coloured sawdust that line the streets and a procession, where children dress up as angels.

The revellers party non-stop, dancing and celebrating this most public affair: there are no restrictions at all in terms of age, gender, social background etc – nothing! Everyone happily parties together. And then afterwards, as they say, “the year can begin for real”.

In Vinhedo, a city in the state of São Paulo, the traditional Festa da Uva (Grape Festival) began in 1948, and since has 55 held festivals. Amongst the various attractions are the exhibition and sale of fruits, auctions of prized fruits, assorted crafts, a kid’s amusement park, concerts, dance recitals, a food court, a horse-riding show, a motorcycle convoy and much, much more.

Brazil also has other important parties like the Festa do Peão de Barretos in the state of São Paulo, the Lavagem da Escadaria do Bonfim (the washing of the Bonfim staircase), in front of the Senhor do Bonfim Basilica in Salvador (Bahia), and some well-known German celebrations like Oktoberfest. Check out the list of other parties and their regions:

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