|
|
A carnival is a celebration combining parades, pageantry, folk drama, and feasting that is usually held in Catholic countries during the weeks before Lent. The term Carnival probably comes from the Latin word "carnelevarium", meaning to remove meat. Typically the Carnaval season begins early in the new year, often on the Epiphany, January 6, and ends in Februrary on fat Tuesday (hence f Mardi Gras in French).
Probably originating in pagan spring fertility rites, the first recorded carnival was the Egyptian feast of Osiris, an event marking the receding of the Nile's flood water. Carnivals reached a peak of riotous dissipation with the Roman BACCHANALIA and Saturnalia. In the Middle Ages, when the Catholic Church tried to suppress all pagan ideas, it failed when it came to this celebration. The Church incorporated the rite into its own calendar as a period of thanksgiving. Popes sometimes served as patrons. The nations of Europe, especially France, Spain, and Portugal, gave thanks by throwing parties, wearing masks, and dancing in the streets. All three colonizing powers carried the tradition with them to the New World, but in Brazil it landed with a difference.
Carnival in Rio is the only real Carnival. Everybody is out dancing in the streets. Participants plan (and save up for) their colorful exquisite costumes for a year (though some costumes seem to be little more than glitter and one or two sequins). The best costumes can be seen on Sunday and Monday of Carnival week in the specially constructed SAMBÓDROMO(in downtown -- subway station Praça Onze). The shows start at 8 pm and continue until 8 am! Buy your tickets well in advance. Carnival is a must—at least once in a lifetime.
New Year's Celebration
The Copacabana beach is also is home to Rio's famous New Year's celebration. It attracts over 2 million people from all over the world! Following a local tradition, most people dress in white for good luck. Offering a white flower to Yemanjá, the goddess of the seas, is also a part of the ritual. The exquisite fireworks festival starts at midnight, lasting almost a half hour. With white sand and waters that are never rough, this is also a very popular beach for sunbathing. During the summer international championships of beach soccer, volleyball and other sports are promoted in more..
|
|
