Rio Carnival – A full fun-filled entertainer

In general, a carnival is a festivity of music, playfulness, and fun. However, among all the carnivals in the world celebrated world wide, the Rio Carnival is regarded as the biggest one. This Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is rejoiced just 40 days before the arrival of Easter. In Brazil, this is the most awaited holiday that stops all commercial activities in the country for a week. During this time, the celebrations are always at the zenith irrespective of the time. The Carnival always begins on Friday night, which lasts long till the Wednesday’s afternoon. However, many participants and observers carry the celebrations further until Monday making it a festival of 10 days. To see the celebrations, over 450,000 tourists come to Rio every year.

History

The Rio Carnival has its roots in Saturnalia, a pagan festival in which people gave farewell to the wicked things as they observe religious discipline and remorse before they prepare for the Christ’s resurrection. In fact, the term ‘carnival’ means to discard meat. That is why several Christians refrain from this food during this interval of 40 days. This tradition was followed even in the olden days. The carnival is mainly inclined towards the African culture and Venice Carnival.

The celebrations

During this period of 10 days, one can enjoy the stunning parades, music, dance, and carousing. However, all these tend to vary from one Brazilian area to another. Among all the parades, the Samba Parade marks the end of the carnival. In this parade, nearly 5000 folks belonging to the special samba schools scattered across Rio participate with costumes, floats, music themes, and spectator celebrations on the streets. These samba schools, throughout the year, prepare for this Carnival parade. Then, in the starting four days, they compete to participate in the Samba Parade wherein the winner is decided.

There are even Bloc Parades that actually start quite early from January. These parades are also worth a visit and ends on the coming Sunday following the Carnival end. No matter which parade you want to see, they mostly are performed on Sunday as well as Monday night. The musical styles during the parades and while dancing are mostly a mix of Samba rhythms namely, samba-enredo, funk-samba, samba de embalo, samba de bloco, and the well-known marchinhas. Look for the place called Sambodromo, a mammoth concrete edifice like a stadium, where parades are held. It is located by the side of Avenida Marques de Sapucai. I am sure you will love to see the scene of 50000 participants parading and dancing in great costumes.

The Rio Carnival is always based on a theme that changes each year. The theme can be an environmental issue, a historic legend, or a political event. The visitors can also be a part of the street parties, Carnival Balls, and samba school nights. Train yourself for the samba, soak your costume in feathers, and just get all set to dance throughout the night. But, make sure, you book the hotel well in advance as during the Carnival, the stay options are overcrowded.

Rates and Stay

The Carnival tickets in Rio are quite costly, as the tourists have to pay four times high rates if bought near or during the Carnival time. Further, the tickets are sold very quickly. So you need to ask your hotel to get it booked for you in advance. This is the safe way to buy because often fraud tickets are on sale, which are difficult to identify. If you want a cheap ticket, then go for the Champion’s Parade ticket. This parade happens during the weekend.

Several good hotels have a condition of staying for a minimum of five days if you come during the Carnival. Sadly, you have to accept this clause if you are keen to observe the carnival.