What is Brazilian Carnival and how does it happen?

Carnival in Brazil is a colourful and unique annual event filled with laughter, music and rhythmic dancing. Throughout the year the best samba schools prepare for the big parade through the streets of Rio, carefully choosing costumes, themes, platforms and much more.

Carnival is a celebration only in some Brazilian cities, such as Rio de Janeiro. However, in other major capitals, such as Sao Paulo, Salvador and Belo Horizonte, it is not as grand.

Why is Brazil's carnival the most important event of the year for everyone in the country?

According to Tatiana Seliverstova, director of the BRICS+ International Business Forum and founder of the International Cooperation Leaders Club, Brazil's carnival is the country's biggest popular celebration.

"Everyone in the country yearns to attend the large-scale event of magical colours, fascinating dances and unforgettable music. The carnival begins exactly 40 days before Easter (which is why it can start on a different date each year). The event symbolises the beginning of Lent"

Tatiana Seliverstova Director of the BRICS+ International Business Forum

She added that during the carnival no one works except for emergency services. All the streets are crowded, so there's nowhere for vehicles to go.

Is it true that this tradition came to Brazil from Portugal?

The director of the BRICS+ International Business Forum confirmed that the tradition of holding lavish festivities came from Portugal in the 17th century.

"Carnival is analogous to the Portuguese Pancake Day, accompanied by songs, dances and mass water pouring. Carnival in this european country took place just before Lent in honour of the Catholic Easter. The first carnivals were not like what is happening nowadays. The Portuguese have simply decided to keep a piece of their homeland in Brazil," she said.

The expert added that in Brazilian carnival can also be traced the influence of traditions of other european countries, in particular France and Italy. That is where the colourful and unusual costumes, masks and other "magical" elements of the celebration came from in the 19th century.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro in 2023

Carnival 2023 will take place at the end of February, a week that changes every year because it has no fixed date on the calendar. The parade will take place in the main plaza of Marques de Sapucai (Sambodromo), which measures 85,000 square metres.

Sambodromo is the epicentre of the festivities and hosts a parade of samba schools every evening. There are other iconic spots as well. For example the fabulous ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel (the most famous and prestigious hotel in the city of Rio de Janeiro), where celebrities gather, or the costume competition at the Gloria Hotel. Wherever you go, there's music and parties in brightly coloured costumes.

Fun facts about carnival

Carnival was brought to life by the Portuguese colonisers. The Portuguese brought carnival traditions to Brazil around 1641 through Entrudo, a street festival during which people threw flour, water and eggs at each other.

The first carnival ball in Brazil was organised by an Italian actress in Largo do Rocio in Rio de Janeiro in 1840. Her idea was to popularise the traditions of the Venetian carnival. This event was accompanied by rousing dances, colourful costumes and masks.

The term "carnival" comes from the Latin expression carnem levare, loosely translated it means "giving up of meat". In 590 AD, Pope Gregory officially recognised carnival as a festival. As it was a pagan festival, the priest stipulated that on the following day, Ash Wednesday, it is necessary to cleanse oneself of sins committed during the festival.

Photo: istockphoto.com,  unsplash.com