“All the birds of a feather..Do what they love most of all..We are the best at rhythm and laughter..
That’s why we love carnival!”
Did this unlock a memory for you too? This song is the first tune heard at the beginning of the iconic animated movie; Rio. The story of two vibrantly blue Spix’s macaws uniting in Brazil to save their species, an adventure that so happens to be right in the middle of arguably the biggest show on earth. The best and biggest party in Rio; Carnival. Carnival season, from February 9th to the 17th, is Brazil’s most celebrated and most popular festival known and fantasized all around the globe. “Carnival”, a word often said in the movie, is an annual Brazilian festival that marks the beginning of Lent, a Christian remembrance period of 40 days of fasting. Though this is the official reason for the season, the majority of the Brazilian population and tourists view this festival as one amazing party. From beautiful floats, to exotic dancers, to samba music and dancing, to food festivals, Carnival is a wonderful festival bursting with fun, color, and vibrancy.
The number one most important aspect of Carnival would be Samba, a traditional Brazilian style music composed of African percussion instruments along with Portuguese lyrics, which does an amazing job at showcasing Brazil’s Afro – European roots. In the 19th century, this music was developed by African – Brazilian slaves to form pacts of resistance against colonial oppression. Today, Carnival is celebrated with a Samba festival honoring the history and freedom of slavery. Samba schools go to Rio de Janeiro and preform with musicians and dancers, usually accompanied with colorful feather costumes to resemble native Brazilian birds and their blinding beauty. Their talents and the preparations for the annual festival take months to develop, with the floats and costumes being meticulously planned each and every year. Anyone who goes to Rio knows that all the sweat and hard work it takes to craft, build, and prepare this festival is always worth it. The spirit, the festivity, the aura of Carnival can be felt all throughout, with samba and the echoes of the instruments radiating through the city, the light shining on everyone who hears the rhythm. Carnival lasting about 5 days, Brazilian citizens buy their tickets to go to the festival, and even more people line the streets to dance and celebrate. Each day, about 2 million people line the streets in joy, spirit and rhythm. A people dancing, as one.
Joy triumphs and glows not only for the dancing people of Rio, but also for the less fortunate. The building, preparing, crafting, are all actually a huge help to the unemployed, with hundreds of jobs open and ready for work to the festival. With the dazzling jobs of those on duty, money bursts during Carnival. Thousands of thousands of tourists go every year to Rio de Janeiro, whether by plane, or driving hundreds of miles. This economic benefit is a huge plus for the country of Brazil.
Carnival is heard about in many countries, especially in the U.S. Thousands of celebrities and other tourists fly every year to experience the sensation and joy of this wonderful festival. The energy, the laughter, the dancing, and the wild and carefree feelings are all what make this festival the Best Show in the World today. Brazil will always be a beautiful country filled with culture and amazing scenic locations, but nothing compares to the party, in Ipanema.
