So what plans for the week? How about a trip to the land of Samba? Well, then you would not be the only one who decides to make a visit to Rio de Janeiro this time of the year. In fact, you would be just one among a million people who flock to the Brazilian city as we speak. But what is all this buzz about? If you don’t know already then you have missed out up to this point of your life on one of the most enthralling spectacles of human civilisation – the Rio Carnival.
So what’s so special about it? Well, it is the largest carnival in the whole wide world and is held annually, setting the streets of Rio on a frenzy of festivities for five long days before the advent of the Christian period of Lent.
A melting pot like the city
The Rio Carnival puts on display the vibrance, energy and all the best features that the city of Rio holds to its credit. But before we move on to describe it further let us find out how this grand spectacle came into being and attained the form that it holds today.
‘Carnival’ comes from the Portuguese phrase ‘Carne Vale’ which means ‘farewell to meat’. In Brazil, which is a Catholic dominated country, the Rio Carnival is celebrated on the five days, leading up to Ash Wednesday (which marks the start of the period of fasting and abstinence from meat). The parties, however, begin well before January.
It is the Portuguese who introduced the festival, Entrudo, as it was called then to the Brazilian landscape. The Entrudo basically was a fun event where people drenched each other in the revelry. Soon the festivities began to incorporate fancy balls with European music. About a hundred years ago, the Carnival got its most prized showpiece – the samba. And where did that come from? The music genre is a contribution by the Africans that immigrated to Brazil and is packed with an exhilarating energy.
Thus the greatest Carnival that mankind ever knew was born out of a blend of cultures across three continents (Europe, Africa and South America)- the diversity that is evident on the streets of Rio as well.
The Samba Parades
What is the most iconic part of the Rio Carnival? Well, that’s a no brainer actually. Without a doubt, it’s the Samba. The Samba schools throng the city with their colourful and punch packed parades that bring everything else to a standstill in Rio. The Sambradome, which was completed in 1984 was constructed exclusively to host the Samba Parade competition as part of the Carnival where the Samba Schools compete for glory.
But the pomp and pleasure are not restricted to the stadium alone. The streets of Rio reverberate with the clamour of the celebrations. Samba music, parades and dancing fill the streets as Cariocas (local people) and tourists partake in the revelry without distinctions.
The Rio Carnival is a melting pot of culture and showcases how the best of humankind can be brought about with diversity. The stunning scenes are bound to awe any person. This year as the event is set to encompass the city of Rio from the 1st of March, the world is set to be stunned once again and gaze at this magnificent celebration of life. So is that enough reason for you to book your tickets to Rio?
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