Carnival is the most of popular festival in Brazil
The carnival have its origins in the pagan Saturnalia (the feast with which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn) and it is considered an act of farewell to the pleasures of the flesh.
The first records of Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro date back to 1723. Immigrants from the Portuguese islands of Açores, Madeira and Cabo Verde introduced here the Entrudo (Portuguese festivity) and the idea was basically got everybody completely wet.The people would go out in the streets with buckets of water and limes.
Carnival is the most of popular festival in Brazil. It is annual holiday and it happens during 4 days into all country with party in the clubs, party on the streets and parades.
The parades consisting a group of people who dress in costumes or specials t-shirts according to certain themes, playing music called Samba and dancing. Many personalities, celebrities and foreigns come from all of world to participate.
The parade starts Sunday evening and go on into early morning Monday of the celebration. It happens in a place called Sambódromo, it sounds like a road of the Samba, opened in 1984. (See the photo at the publish My City, Rio de Janeiro at Tuesday, 04 March 2008)
Parading in the Sambódromo is an official competition in which a single samba school will be declared that year's winner.
This Samba schools is financed for organizations that work during the year round in preparation for Carnival.
I’ve found out a link at wikipedia explaining how Samba school is organized and there a lot of photos from Sambódromo during paredes.
I’ve found out news about the carnival at this year, sorry because is not in English, it reminded me when Prince Charles stayed in Rio at 1978 and went to Carnival and he danced with Pinah
There are a street carnival at famous place in Rio like Copacabana, Ipanema and anyone is allowed to participate.
The people is organized into blocks (Blocos) and this persons write their own music, which is played at all time during the carnival street or playing old carnival favourites called in Portuguese "Marchinhas de carnaval", and sambas. There are a lot of famous "blocos" and the main are "O cordão do bola preta", "Suvaco do Cristo" (Christ's armpit in Portuguese) and “Banda de Ipanema” (created in 1965).
There are other famous cities with street carnival: Salvador in Bahia and Recife in Pernambuco. There are several differences between carnival city.
In Bahia there are many rhythms, including samba, samba-reggae, axé, and others, which are performed on a truck equipped with giant speakers and musicians play called "trio-elétrico".
This link have a axé music and photos from Bahia carnival
Recife has the rhythms called frevo and there are more two: maracatu and the Galo da Madrugada. This carnival street is the biggest number of participants at carnival parade in the world.
If the reader want to know some carnival music, you can get from "you tube". Put search key “Samba-enredo Carnaval 2008”.
Eugeny, you ask me if I've taken party in carnival. I’ve never taken party in the Sambódromo only at the street carnival and the party at the club. The party at club is very nice and excited. Do you remember when I wrote “farewell to the pleasures of the flesh”, everybody forgot this in Rio.
Tanya, I hope you enjoyed what I wrote above.
I hope the readers enjoyed.
William and BBC team, congratulation.
With best wishes,
Yanko.
Comments
Hi Yanko! Your blog today was very interesting. It must be wonderful to have four days of holidays on Carnival. I´ve never had it. I always have to work. Sometimes my employees let us rest on Tuesday of Carnival. See you soon, Ana Paula.
Hi Yanko. The carnival is an event deepely rooted in our culture and our music is influenced by our past history. Do you know that saying of Padre Vieira? "Brazil has the body in South America but has its soul in Africa" It's not easy for people from other countries understand it fully though. There are rules that the members of the samba schools must undertake in order to be more competitive like the number of the members and the size of the costumes that has also to do with the space they should save for the big cars and get more points. Some people might say the parade has been focused in the pleasures of the flesh and in sexy women but the fact is that it depends on people's mind. Some have the eyes to see the historical events that are shown on the parade and the beauty of the work of art and others just can see people's body. I think it's a cultural shock for them indeed. Have a nice beggining of the week.
Hi Yankoo, Thank for upgrading my knowledge about Brazil. While descripting about Carnival festival, you not mentioned on which days of the year, it is celebrated. Kindly tell.
Hello Yanko The importance of Carnival for brazilians is very well known all around the world. Indeed, it seems as the only thing capable to make men of your country forget about soccer for a while. You have show us a colored picture about that huge celebration, but you didn't mention one of it's main atractions...garotinhas. Good Bye
Hi Yanko , Thanks for impressive info you gave us about The carnival . I was interested to konw abut it and thanks for the link. As i said before Brazil is such a vast country that still there are lots of things to say about . keep going and solong
Hi Kuldeep, The carnival is 47 days before the Easter.
Nice to e-meet you Yanko! I am suprised to see your name - we have very similar names, don't we?Carnival in Brazil sounds very energetic and enthusiastic! What did you wear in the carnival?? I hope you enjoy the blogging life for a month like I did! Best regards, Yumiko
Hi, Yanko! I wrote to you about a carnival but my commentary not appeared. I would like to tell you “thanks”. I really was enjoyed by sites with the carnival!
We've just received a message from Lewis, our teacher blogger in August and September 2006: "Just to let you know that my wife Tomono gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on Wednesday 27 February. We've named him 'Oscar' and he weighed in at 8lbs 7 pr 3.8kg (quite big for a Japanese baby - average is 3kg apparently). Mum and baby are both doing well and are currently being spoilt by their grandparents who have flown in from Japan for cuddles." Congratulations Lewis and Tomono!
I´ve just spent some hours enjoying this website and I´d loved. I restarted my English study this month and it will help me a lot. I´m from Bahia, Salvador, but today I live in Paraiba, Campina Grande, the city of "forro", a kind of music very popular here. I can say I know well the Bahia´s Carnival, but I know a little about Recife´s. It´s really very different, but the both are beautiful. Thanks, Yanko and everybody for the comments. See you.
Congratulations Yanko, I’d like to do one correction about your text In Pernambuco, specially in Recife and Olinda, we have many rhythms like frevo, maracatu, coco, cabloquinho, ciranda and the “block” ‘O Galo da madrugada’ is one mix of rhythms (and not a rhythms) and the biggest block in the world. Olinda is considered the ‘cultural city’ in Brazil, and there are people from all parts of world to enjoy it !!! :)
Dear Yanko, I have been reading this blog since last december and read adriana's and ana poula's blogs also.Expecting to hear from you about new things in Brazeel.
Hi yanko, I have really enjoyed your blog about the carnival in Brasil. I heard about it before but I didn't know exactily what was it about. you have enlightened me now about it. But i would be happy if i could read more on the religious meaning of the carnival. I think we can link these traditonnal activities rooted on cultures with our faith, can't we?
Hi Yanko and all, I found this entry very informative. I feel this bloging and commenting bring all nations round the world closer. It makes peoples enable to Share their traditions, history, feelings and memorable events of their lives. On the other hand its helping people to enhance their knowledge about other nations... In short its making us all understand each other... I would like to say Thank You to BBC English learning and you Yanko for all of your valuble efforts.
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