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Olá! Tudo bem?!
What do you know about Carnival in Brazil? Do you have any idea how it works? Feeling curious?
Although Carnival (Carnaval in Portuguese) is celebrated in towns and villages throughout
Brazil and other Catholic countries, Rio de Janeiro has long been regarded as the Carnival Capital
of the World. The Rio Carnaval is not only the biggest Carnival, it has also a benchmark against
which every other carnival is compared and one of the most interesting artistic events on the Globe.
Almost everyone has heard of the Rio Carnaval. Foreign visitors to it alone number around 500,000
every year. During 5 days, people feel free to have fun singing and dancing on the streets, enjoying
their days to the fullest! It's a party to all ages, genders and ethnicities.
There are different ways to celebrate Carnaval: you can watch Samba School Parades, on
Sambadrome, which is a marvelous and gigantic spectacle, or you can take part in street Carnival
bands, called "Blocos de Rua". They have become an expressive feature of Rio's Carnival. Today,
they number more than 440 (considering 2012 Rio Carnival only) and the groups increase each
year. Blocos can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a distinct title with an often
funny pun.
Each band has its place or street to parade and the big ones usually close the streets to the
traffic. They usually start in January and last till the end of Carnival. Since the beginning of the
year, you can often see groups of people dancing samba in the streets of Rio at the weekends and
during Carnival.
Frequently the people who organize the band's procession compose the music for their own
parade and remember unforgettable samba songs. It's incredible watching and listening to the
chorus of people singing together, with beautiful smiles in their faces, enjoying the fact they are
celebrating the most wonderful party in the world.
So, if once in your life you have the chance to visit Brazil, specially Rio, and if you want to
see and feel how amazing Carnival celebration is, let me know! I'll love to be your guide! See you
in 2015!
Flávia Victorino
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