Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a cultural phenomenon of global significance. Carnival in Brazil! Russian group Carnival time in Rio

Brazilians consider this holiday their pride. Of course, Carnival is one of the most significant events in world culture, striking in its scale and brightness. Several hundred thousand tourists come every year to this event to see it, enjoy from the heart the incredible spectacle that the carnival represents, and take an active part in its events.

Photo 7374. Sambodrome from above

And there is something to see here. Charming dancers, richly decorated with bright feathers, amazing samba rhythms, the strangest costumes full of incredibleness and - unbridled fun everywhere, without any boundaries. It is with this that the very concept of the world-famous Brazilian Carnival is associated in the minds of every cultured person. But in fact, tourists know little about this unique cultural event in Brazil, even those who have visited Rio more than once. Many interesting facts about the grand celebration, including historical ones, remain a mystery to the public.

Start

Carnival came to Brazil back in the 17th century from Portugal. That is, the holiday in its origin is a purebred European. This is the first surprise for those who consider the holiday to be purely Brazilian. They began preparing stunning holiday costumes only two hundred years later - and also under the influence of European carnivals taking place in France and Italy. Colorful carnivals are held today in many European countries with the dominant Catholic religion. But it was the Brazilian event that became the most popular throughout the world.

This fact is well known. This became possible largely thanks to samba - a sparkling dance and an original direction in the art of music that arose as a result of mixing fiery African rhythms with music of European origin. This happened more than a hundred and fifty years ago, when a new tradition was added to the Carnival - to parade while performing samba. And already at the beginning of the first quarter of the last century, the very first school of this dance arose. By the thirties, there were already five schools of this kind in Rio, in which everyone could improve the art of Brazilian samba. And just by that time, the carnival procession with samba had turned into a kind of competition, attracting the attention of a huge number of participants and tourists from many distant countries.

Along the way, we note that they only called these places samba schools - but they did not teach dance. Simply due to lack of space, the assembled groups rehearsed in the premises of ordinary educational schools.

Carnival events begin forty days before Easter and last from Friday to Tuesday, that is, almost a week. The dates of the holiday, of course, are new every year - it depends on what day Easter will be. The next carnival, for example, will begin on February 24, 2017.

The Brazilian Carnival is not only a large-scale phenomenon, but also almost universal. Every Brazilian city has its own celebrations. But the most significant ones take place in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife. For many events that take place as part of this festival, you have to buy tickets. But the most popular entertainment - a parade of groups performing samba (blocos) - is held free of charge, and anyone can take part in it. People come to such a party in costumes, and therefore the entire central part of the city is full of incredibly bright colors, a mixture of various styles and wild fun that lasts for five days. In Brazil, the days of Carnival are declared holidays, elevated to the rank of official ones.

Main

The central event of the famous holiday, for which huge crowds of spectators come to Rio, is deservedly considered to be the performances of samba schools. All this happens in a special place - at the Sambodromo (Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí, Sambódromo do Rio de Janeiro, Passarela Professor Darcy Ribeiro). The Sambadromo is a 700-meter-long street along which stands were built in 1983 by the Brazilian architect Oscar Nemeyer. Before this, stadiums were used as carnival venues.

The stands of the Sambodrome can accommodate up to 75 thousand people. They are divided into 12 sectors, each of which has a division into categories. The ticket price depends on the place in the sector and on the day of the parade. Tickets for the first 2 days (Sunday and Monday) are the most expensive - these are the days when the best schools compete, trying to get ahead and achieve victory. Days 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday) - performances by groups from the second league, tickets are already sold cheaper. And when the main fashion show is over, the Parade of Champions begins - the six brightest and most successful schools of the current year captivate the audience with their skills - this is half of the entire major league. Ticket prices for this day are comparable to the first days of Carnival.

The procession of any team, regardless of the league, is a real explosive, colorful and dynamic extravaganza. It takes about an hour or a little more for the team to perform, and during this time the audience experiences real aesthetic pleasure, receiving a huge boost of energy. During this hour, about five thousand school participants pass before admiring spectators. The performance is divided into thematic groups; the design of the platforms and costumes depends on the theme. A unique decoration show is held every year.

The scores are announced live on the fourth day of the Carnival (Wednesday). All samba schools receive a monetary reward at the end of the performances. The better the school performed, the greater the cash prize. Next year's carnival performance is being prepared with this money. An important role in the entertainment when creating this holiday belongs to the costumes and design of each platform. And therefore it is clear that everyone considers their design to be an extremely important condition for achieving victory. Each school employs a professional designer who develops dozens of amazing costumes and several thematic platforms for the next event. And many people are already turning their plans into reality.

For thrifty spectators, there is the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle without purchasing a ticket - for free. At the Sambodrome, at the very beginning, where the participants are preparing for the start of the performance, there is a special Zero Sector (Setor Zero) with about 3 thousand seats. It’s difficult to get here due to the large number of local residents, but it’s worth a try - you can get a place if you come here early.

Carnival in Brazil is the largest, most colorful, emotional, vibrant, national holiday in Brazil. Well, who hasn’t heard about the carnival held annually in Rio de Janeiro?

This grandiose holiday takes place on different dates from year to year.

Officially, the carnival begins on the Saturday preceding Lent and continues for five days until Quarta-feira de cinzas - “Ash Wednesday”. But, as a rule, the celebration of the carnival goes beyond the officially established deadlines.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a samba parade and theatrical show held at the Sambadrome in the city center for a huge number of spectators, where 14 famous schools compete for the title of winner. Each school demonstrates its skills for 80 minutes to the thunderous beat of drums and the singing of its own anthem, revealing the content of its performance through costumes and dance. Competent judges evaluate each school's performance.

Carnival in Brazil is a holiday for all its inhabitants. Even many local celebrities actively participate in its organization and conduct, not hesitating to show off their half-naked bodies.

People here begin to prepare for this holiday from childhood. And in stores you can buy carnival clothes for children starting from the age of one.

Schedule of carnival events in Rio de Janeiro in 2020

Throughout the carnival on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema - in the evening disco Cinelândia:

Lapa - Rio Folia - 20:00
Terreirao do Samba - 20:00
Baile do Scala - 23:00

19:00 - Opening ceremony. The King of Carnival (Momo) is crowned by the city mayor's office and given the keys to the city.
21:00 - first day of the parade of samba schools Grupos de Acesso

09:30 - performance by the band Cordão do Bola Preta in downtown.
16:00 - performance by Banda de Ipanema at Plaza General Osorio in the Ipanema area.
20:00 - street group competition on Rio Branco Avenue in the center of downtown.
21:00 - second day of the parade of samba schools Grupo da Série A
23:00 - magical Baile Mágico ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel

21:15 - parade of samba schools Escolas de Samba do Grupo Especial

22:00 - parade of samba schools Escolas de Samba do Grupo Especial

16:00 - last procession of Banda de Ipanema.
21:00 - parade of children's samba schools Escolas de Samba Mirins

23:00 - costumed gay ball Baile Gay no Scala Rio

29February 2020, Saturday

21:00 - Parade of Champions Sabado das Campeas

Cost of tickets to the Carnival and additional services (on request)

Programs for Carnival

Tickets for Rio Carnival (on request)

Individual tours

Programs for the Carnival with a visit to the Parade of Champions

At the end of February, in the midst of summer, Brazil hosts one of the most colorful and fun events on the planet - Carnival! Like football, carnival is a Brazilian national idea. All institutions and shops are closed for 4 days and a “complete carnivalization of the entire country” occurs. Yes, yes, exactly countries, since the carnival takes place not only in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife and other large cities, but also in small towns and even villages. These days, the whole country enthusiastically dances samba, drinks, flirts and has fun, involving hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world in their holiday.

History and development of the Brazilian carnival

We can say that the Brazilian carnival has absorbed the traditions and arts of many peoples of the world. Its origins are lost among the ancient Greek Bacchanalia and Roman Saturnalia. The carnival incorporated dances of the Middle Ages and masquerades of the Renaissance. And in 1723, Portuguese settlers who arrived from the Azores and Cape Verde Islands brought with them the custom of “entrudo” - a holiday before Lent, when it was customary to have fun by pouring water on each other, sprinkling flour and chalk, beans and corn, and throwing bombs , eggs and other, sometimes harmless, objects.

The townspeople often complained about the participants of the “entrudo”, and the holiday was banned by royal decree and gradually moved to the homes and salons of the nobility. So, in 1840, a costume ball was held in one of the hotels in Rio, where European dances were performed. A little later, street parades appeared, also according to the European model - with military bands and decorative floats.

But the common people were not going to give up the holiday. At the same time, an alternative type of carnival is emerging - “Cordões” - columns consisting only of men. The macho guys danced to Brazilian-African music and behaved quite violently. And in 1852, shoemaker Jose Nogueira de Azevedo Paredes, having gathered friends and percussion instruments, took to the streets of the city during the carnival with songs and dances, which added to the popularity of the street carnival. And now “ze-pereira” - a group of different-sized drums - is an indispensable attribute of the holiday.

In the 1870s, many black former slaves from coffee plantations arrived in Rio in search of work. Together with African culture, they brought “Ranchos” into the carnival - carnival groups united by a common theme. Both men and women participated in these groups. “Ranchos” existed not only during the carnival, they operated all year round and were a kind of “social clubs” and prototypes of modern “samba schools”.

In 1889, Brazil's first female composer, Chiquinha Gonzaga, commissioned by one of the "Ranchos" to compose the song "O Abre Alas" (Move aside, I want to pass). This was the first “marcha” (march song) written specifically for the carnival, its cheerful rhythm was supposed to organize the movement of the dancers. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, the first samba came to the carnival - the most famous Afro-Brazilian music, the fiery rhythms of which are heard in Brazil (and not only) all year round. This is how the carnival changed, gradually acquiring native Brazilian features.

Sambadrome

In 1907, Avenida Central opened in Rio, and the main action of the carnival moved there. At the same time, “corso” appeared - convoys of decorated cars, from which cheerful young people showered spectators with confetti and streamers. In the 20-30s of the twentieth century, every self-respecting car owner sought to provide his car for the Corso.

All these columns and groups were the source of the emergence of “samba schools” - the main active processions of the modern Brazilian carnival. The first of them - “Deixa Falar” - was founded in 1928 in the Estacio quarter, and in 1932 the first parade of samba schools took place, although it was still unofficial. However, already in 1935, the first official carnival parade took place on the Eleventh of June Square. Since then, the location of the carnival has changed several times, until in 1984 the Sambadrome was built on Marquis Sapucai Avenue, designed by the outstanding Brazilian architect Oscar Nimeira. This unique three-story structure is 700 meters long, 13 meters wide, and its stands can accommodate more than 70 thousand people.

Carnival structure

A grandiose holiday is held before Lent. It officially begins on Friday and ends on Wednesday (“Ash Wednesday”), although festivities begin much earlier. The grand opening of the carnival occurs when the mayor of Rio de Janeiro hands over the keys to the city to the “host” of the holiday - King Momo, who is chosen from among the fattest men and must weigh at least 110 kg. Until Tuesday, King Momo becomes the sovereign ruler of the city for 4 days and has the right to make and repeal laws. However, he does not abuse this, since he has more pleasant responsibilities - the king must attend about 200 balls and competitions and invariably be present at the Sambadrome, and at all events the king must dance and have fun.

The apotheosis of the carnival is the “Samba Schools” parade. For three nights in a row, strings of fantastically designed platforms with continuously dancing sultry beauties, whose outfits consist only of feathers and sequins, pass in front of a frenzied public. Their retinue of thousands is dressed in stunning costumes, fireworks are scattering, drums are thundering, cheerleaders are shouting, and all this is continuously dancing samba, samba, samba!!!

The talent and imagination of hundreds of designers and the many months of work of thousands of Brazilians turned the Sambadrome into a fairy-tale world. There are fire-breathing dragons, pirate ships, mysterious sphinxes and underwater kingdoms, elephants and Neanderthals, Roman legionnaires and Chinese sages, and even the “self-moving” head of the Gorgon jellyfish, each “hair” of which is held by appropriately dressed characters. And, of course, beautiful half-naked mulatto girls, selflessly dancing the samba.

Such is the intensity of passion at the carnival that authorities hand out more than 10 million free condoms every year. The Catholic Church, although it does not consider the carnival a godly activity, does not interfere with its holding in any way, and even holds masses for thousands of people in stadiums these days. After all, after a week of revelry, Brazilians will again become faithful Catholics for a whole year.

But there are people at this celebration of life who came here to work. Yes, yes, a strict jury of 40 people must evaluate on a 10-point scale many parameters of the performance: elaboration of the theme, costumes, design of the platforms, harmony of movement in the dance, performance of the standard-bearer and her partner, skill of the musicians, etc. Each “school samba" selects a topic, develops a script and, secretly from other schools, prepares a performance for a whole year. Moreover, costumes, design of kaross - carnival floats, lyrics, intensity of dances, music and even makeup - everything must correspond to the given theme. During the time spent at the sambadrome (from 65 to 80 minutes), the school should cover such multifaceted topics as, for example, environmental protection, the history of cinema, “Mother Africa”, Darwin and the theory of evolution, the Ice Age and the development of agriculture or the work of the singer Roberto Carlos with the singer himself at the head of the procession (not to be confused with the Brazilian national team football player). In general, pop, movie and football stars are happy to participate in the carnival - this is only a plus for their popularity.

Each column has from 3 to 5 thousand participants. Looking at this performance, it’s hard to believe that every step was rehearsed and perfected for many months - the show looks so coherent and organic. Spectators “cheer” for their favorite schools no less enthusiastically than for football teams. By the way, just like in football, there is a Premier League. These are 14 teams that “take to the stage” on Sunday and Monday. A winner is chosen from among them. The so-called "introductory groups" compete on Saturdays. Those who take 1st and 2nd places go to the Premier League. Accordingly, the last 2 places are eliminated from the Premier League. Everything is like in football.

Of course, the main events of the carnival take place at the sambadrome, but it doesn’t end there. Costume balls and parties are held throughout the city, the most famous of which are the magical ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, which attracts celebrities from all over the world, the official costume competition at the Gloria Hotel and the gay costume ball at the Rio Scala nightclub. On Friday, the opening day, there is also a parade of children's samba schools, which are organized according to the principle of adults. In general, during the Brazilian carnival, any place where there is music becomes a sambadrome. We can say that the whole of Brazil is turning into a continuous sambadrome!

It should be taken into account that seats at the sambadrome come in different categories. The best are in the 9th, “tourist” sector. Tickets start at $1,500. There is an excellent overview, tables, numbered seats, unlimited drinks and food, an increased level of security and the necessary infrastructure - from bars to first-aid posts and a regular shuttle. The services are by no means superfluous: the holiday lasts all night until 6 am, rare taxis charge double rates, and the amount of crime during the carnival days increases significantly. Men also need to take into account the fact that not all local beauties who are inflamed with passionate love for you will have your person in mind, and not your wallet, camera, phone and other valuables.

Carnival tickets

At the sambadrome you can also buy seats in open boxes - from $50, but they are sold in “sets” of 12 pieces (the entire box). Free places are occupied by the local population in advance and are characterized by a complete lack of amenities, cramped conditions and the danger of losing valuables. However, there is a great opportunity to “experience” the carnival, as they say, in your own skin. For 500-600 dollars you can buy a costume from one of the schools and walk 700 meters in a carnival column, dashingly dancing the samba. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to be able to dance samba: they say that, once in the procession, the body itself begins to move in the right rhythm.

For independent travelers: you need to book hotels and places for the sambadrome in advance, as prices increase significantly during the carnival.

It is also useful to know that the word “Carioca”, which is heard everywhere, means the self-name of the inhabitants of Rio. Cheerful, friendly, carefree people with an incredible mixture of European-African-Indian blood consider themselves (according to Forbes magazine surveys) the happiest on the planet. This is despite the fact that a third of Brazil's population is illiterate and more than half live below the official poverty line. The great merit of the carnival is in this self-determination of social well-being - in the fireworks of its passions, the complexes and neuroses accumulated over the year burn out, and good Catholics, starting from the “ash” Wednesday of Lent, simultaneously begin preparations for the next carnival.

Photo report from the Rio Carnival 2013 and 2014
Street carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2018: photo report
The best performances of samba schools at the carnival in 2018: photo report
Brazilian Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo - 2019

Brazilian Carnival 2016: video

Carnival in Brazil takes place annually in February or March, begins 40 days before Easter and symbolizes the approach of Lent (carne vale translates as “farewell to meat”). The whole country is partying, but the largest is the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, which even got into the Guinness Book of Records.

The Brazilian Carnival officially lasts 5 days, and the 6th day is the main parade of champions.

IN Days 1 and 2– the opening ceremony of the carnival and parades of League Two schools, which compete for the right to be among the top 12 next year.
3 and 4 days are considered the main ones, because representatives of 12 First League schools will march through the Sambodrome.
IN 5 day A parade of children's schools is held.
A parade of champions is held in 3 days - 6 schools will perform in it: 5 from the First League and 1 from the Second League.

In addition to the parade at the Sambodrome, you will have many opportunities to join the carnival processions on the streets of the city. And before the parade, main rehearsals are held at the Sambodrome, which you can watch completely free of charge.

*Sambadromo is a special street for street processions and carnivals with stands for spectators. The Sambodrome in Rio was created in 1984. Its area is 85,000 m², which can accommodate about 80,000 people.

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Carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2019: schedule of events

March 1, Friday

13:00 - the opening ceremony. The mayor of Rio will present the keys to the city to King Momo, the character who rules during the carnival. They choose him from among the local residents, who are tall and weigh more than 100 kilograms.

21:00 at the Sambodrome (Preliminary Parade) part 1.

March 2, Saturday

09:30 – performance by Cordão do Bola Preta(Downtown).
16:00 (meeting point – General Osório square, Ipanema).
20:00 – competition of amateur dance groups on Av. Rio Branco, Centro.
21:00 – “preliminary” parade of samba schools at the Sambodrome part 2.

23:00 - Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel.

March 3, Sunday

22:00 – the main parade of samba schools at the Sambodrome part 1.

March 4, Monday

22:00 - the main parade of samba schools at the Sambodrome part 2.

March 5, Tuesday

16:00 – performance by Ipanema's Band.
21:00 – parade of children's samba schools at the Sambodrome.
23:00 – Gay Ball at Scala Rio.

March 9, Saturday

22:00 – parade of champions.

Interesting facts about samba schools in Rio de Janeiro

In total, there are more than 70 samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, which are divided into 6 groups: Main Group, Preliminary Group, as well as leagues B, C, D and E. B. It is the Main and Preliminary Leagues that compete for championship at the Sambodrome. You can see the rest of the schools at the processions that will take place on the streets of the city.

The Main League consists of 12 schools, and the Preliminary League consists of 10. Each school's performance at the Sambodrome lasts 80 minutes, so take this into account when planning your visit.

On Wednesday, the day after the parade of children's schools, the jury sums up the results, and then the Parade of Champions is held with the participation of representatives of the best schools. Schools that take 1st-3rd places receive cash prizes. And the school with the lowest rating in the Main League is demoted to the Preliminary League, and vice versa - the best school from the Preliminary League will play in the Main League next year.

Preparations for the next carnival will begin immediately after the end of the current one. You can imagine how much time, effort and money it takes to prepare programs, costumes, and mobile platforms. Costumes for girls weigh from 5 to 80 kilograms.

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What do you need to get to the Rio Carnival?

1. Flights

2. Housing in Rio

You need to book as early as possible, ideally six months before the carnival, because good budget options sell out instantly.

A place in a hostel costs $8-15 per day, and the closer the holiday starts, the higher the prices.
A hotel room or a room in an apartment will cost you from $30,
and entire apartments - from $60 per night.

To save money, you can live in one of the small towns near Rio, for example, in Niteroi.

You can try couchsurfing, but keep in mind that on the eve of the carnival, locals receive dozens of requests, so it is important to stand out, interest the host and be ready to communicate.

Tips for choosing a hotel: in order not to feed taxi drivers who strive to deceive a gullible (and drunk) tourist, settle within walking distance from a metro station. During Carnival, the Rio subway operates around the clock, with trains leaving every 10 minutes.

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3. Paid participation in the carnival

There are 4 possibilities, the costs of which differ significantly.

3.1. Buy seats in the Sambodrome stands ($95–1000)

The cost of a ticket to the samba parade taking place at the Sambodrome depends on:

selected event: preliminary parade, parade of First League schools, parade of champions;
block of places (distance from the street along which the participants are moving);
sectors.

Sectors - from $130 to $200.
VIP sector - from $460 to $1000.
Separate chairs - $150.

Sectors - from $95 to $205.
VIP sector - from $285 to $625.
Separate chairs - $125.

You can buy a ticket on the official website of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.
But there is unverified information that buying a ticket on the spot is cheaper than from intermediaries and on the Internet. Tickets appear at the Sambodrome box office in early January. You can try to contact compatriots living in Rio and, for a small financial thank you, get tickets without overpayment.

3.2. Participate in the parade at the Sambodrome ($200–3000)

There is an amazing opportunity to take part in the parade as part of one of the samba schools. To do this, you need to negotiate with school representatives and buy a suit from them.

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3.3. Attend one of the costume balls ($80–185)

Before and during the Brazilian Carnival, costume balls are held in Rio de Janeiro, the most famous and expensive of which takes place at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. Tickets must be purchased in advance (the earlier, the more prestigious the selected event).

3.4. Attend parties at samba schools ($4–8)

This is the most affordable option, usually charging from $4 (15 BRL) to $8 (30 BRL) for entry to Samba Hall (the school's headquarters). The most famous schools are Mangueira, Salgueiro, Unidos da Tijuca and Vila Isabel, they are located close to each other and you can visit several in one night. Dances usually start after midnight, and many schools are located on the edge of the slums, so it is safer to go to the party in a group.

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4. Free participation: carnival on the city streets

Most locals have fun not at the Sambodrome, but on the streets. In different areas of the city, entire blocks are blocked off and dance parties are held there with rousing music, in which anyone can become a participant. Such parties begin long before the carnival, back in January.

The organizers are the so-called blocos - groups consisting of musicians performing samba dance and notorious party-goers. The most popular parties take place in the areas of Copacabana, Leblon, Ipanema, Jardim Botanico, Lagoa, as well as in the city center. There are 269 officially registered “blocos”, which will hold about 500 parties in the 2019 season.

The largest group is Cordao do Bola Preta, their parties are attended by about 200,000 people annually. Simpatia e Quase Amor attracts about 100,000 participants, and Monobloco - about 80,000. They all organize festivities on Avenida Rio Branco, one of the largest streets in Rio.

Brazil is a country of festivals! Whether it's the celebration, the food, the culture or dressing up for street fun, Brazilians are the suckers when it comes to throwing a party! Indeed, festivals in Brazil are held all year round and are known throughout the world. It would be logical to assume that the carnival is the exclusive prerogative of Rio de Janeiro. But the thing is that this is not so! The whole country participates in the carnival. Both homeless people and dogs wear carnival costumes on the streets.

Carnaval do Brasil - a world-famous tour of Brazilian popular culture. This is an annual festival held in many cities in Brazil 40 days before Easter. Carnival is not just a colorful procession with dances and drums, it is also the Indian festival of colors, Holi, and a gay pride parade, and the Bavarian Oktoberfest, and a cowboy festival, and an Amazonian Indian carnival.

Carnival is so important for Brazilians that the year is divided into two parts: before and after carnival... After the New Year, everyone in Brazil will be preparing for carnival. Nothing much happens in January and February. For Brazilians, 2019 will begin after Carnival!

Carnival. Rio de Janeiro

The most famous festival in Brazil is held annually before Lent for five days. More than 2 million people visit it! The whole of Brazil, both small villages and cities, participates in the carnival, as noted above. Everyone is welcome to participate in carnival activities. To make the holiday more fun, men wear women's clothing, and women wear a set of sequins and feathers. Here, at the festival in Brazil (photo below), you can throw away everyday worries and problems and escape into a fantasy world for a few days and enjoy samba.

Carnival processions begin during Easter, from the Friday to the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. Huge parades feature a display of elaborate costumes, a procession of drummers and dancers through the city streets. Every year the parades become livelier thanks to the samba school at the festival in Brazil.

Since 1984, when the Sambodrome was built, presentations of various schools of vibrant dance have been held. The non-stop party is filled with bright colors, samba music and elaborate costumes. Countless musical genres, including samba and maracuta, accompany the celebration. On the streets during the carnival, regular food, drink and fun are required!

Tourists attending the carnival are invited to join in the fun: free open-air concerts and masquerade balls are held throughout the city. With Samba as the soundtrack and a caipirinhas in hand (made from lime juice, sugar, ice and cachaca), you can't help but get into the party spirit!

Festa do Peao

Impressive and attracting large numbers of tourists and locals alike, Festa do Peão, which means "Cowboy Festival" in English, has been a popular Brazilian festival for 64 years. Festivals held throughout the country in places such as Maraba, Uberaba and Barretos usually feature a series of rodeo bulls and horses accompanied by country music.

By far the largest and most famous cowboy festival, Festa do Peao is held in the state of Barretos in São Paulo. Its duration is from August 18 to 28. It coincides with the anniversary of the first recorded festival in 1955. Held in a huge park with a stadium large enough to accommodate 35,000 spectators. The highlight of the festival is the rodeo show.

Oktoberfest

One of the largest celebrations of German culture, Oktoberfest, turns the Brazilian city of Blumenau into a small copy of Munich. It was once a German colony founded in 1850. Brazilian Germans, mostly descendants of colonists, preserve their cultural heritage. Currently, more than a million tourists flock to the center of Santa Catarina for the holiday to enjoy German and Brazilian cuisine, music and culture. And just relax.

One of the best places to stay during the October Festival in Brazil is the beach paradise of Balneario, from where you can easily reach Blumenau by public transport. If you happen to be in Blumenau during this time, put on your brightest costumes, grab your party hats and join the groups of revelers at one of the most exciting events.

When celebrating Yemanja, tribute is paid to the goddess of the sea. This wonderful event takes place in Salvador, a city also called the "capital of happiness" of Brazil. The festival is held at the beginning of February every year, and locals throw gifts into the sea, be it flowers, perfumes or jewelry!

The salt water goddess Yemanju is always represented by women in blue flowing robes with long hair. Millions of people celebrate Yemanya on February 2, or the Catholic holiday of Our Lady of the Sailors. But in Rio, the festival in Brazil in honor of Yemanje occurs in the days before the New Year, when Umbanda and Candomblé practitioners honor this goddess.

The biggest celebration takes place along Praia Vermelha, culminating in a festive evening on the beach with music, parties and food. Arriving in El Salvador before the start of the holiday, you can see the most important religious ceremony in the city: at the end of January, hundreds of women in traditional costumes come to wash the steps of the Bonfim Church.

On the second Sunday of October each year, one of Brazil's greatest religious festivals is held along the Amazon River, in the beautiful city of Para Belem. Known as Cirio de Nazare, this festival in Brazil revolves around the statue of Our Lady of Nazareth, which is believed to have performed miracles when it was found and brought home by a farmer named Placido José de Souza.

It is said that the statue, after being brought to Belem, will return to its home in Ikorarasi of its own accord. Today the statue does not travel on its own: it is carried from the Catedral da Se to the basilica in Icoarachi, accompanied by hundreds of colorful boats filled with singing, dancing crowds.

Festival of Body Drawings

Every year on January 16th there is a tattoo festival in Brazil. Craftsmen from all over the world come here. During the week of the festival, in 2019, artists presented more than 200 stands with samples of various tattoos.

This is one of the main goals of Tattoo Week Rio: to promote cultural exchange between artists and the public. Typically, the event venue includes a reserved workshop area, 2,000 parking spaces, food plaza, children's play area, tattoo cinema, exhibitions and many other attractions. The festival hosts numerous competitions, among which the most spectacular is Miss Tattoo.

Indian festival in Brazil

When it comes to this country, the first thing that comes to mind is the carnival, because it is the main event. Brazil hosts several carnivals throughout the year. Recently, another one has become known - May Fight Bumba. It takes place in the Amazon, like a samba battle in Rio. Time of the Boy May Bumba carnival: end of June - second week of August.

May Fight Bumba takes place on a boombadrome built on the principle of a sambodrome. Of course, in terms of scale, the carnivals in Rio and Parintins are incomparable. The history of the Boy May Bumba festival is associated with the culture and history of the Amazon Indians and a certain style of Brazilian music. Simple and beautiful.

The fireworks of passion that rage at the carnivals of Brazil burn away the complexes and negativity of the participants in parades and processions. Where else, if not at a holiday in Rio, can you get a colossal boost of energy and fun.