Rio Carnival Brazil's tradition of throwing wild carnivals early in the year (usually in February or March) is one that was imported along with the colonial Portuguese, adopted and streamlined into today's world-famous Brazilian event of the year. Carnaval stems from a Catholic Church spring thanksgiving celebration dating from the Middle Ages in Europe. Carnival is always held four or five days before Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent. When the fun-loving Portuguese colonized Brazil they instituted Carnaval as a period of abandoned merriment and street pranks. In 1840
the Italian wife of a Rio de Janeiro hotelier formalised the carnaval celebration by hiring musicians and giving a lavish masked ball. Today each city in Brazil celebrates Carnaval in its own style, but the crème de la crème of Carnaval celebrations is the one held in Rio, where the focus is on the colorful parade of the samba schools, which comes with extravagant floats, brilliant costumes, magical music and amazingly energetic dancers. The action takes place in the Sambodromo, a half-mile long path built specifically for the event in 1984. At the end of the parade the samba schools perform for an hour each in front of stands packed with spectators, vying for the judges' favor and the championship title. Carnaval time is also a time for street parties and elaborate night-long costume balls, which are held in the top hotels. Venue: Samba Parade: Sambadrome. Street carnival takes place in different neighborhoods Date: 13 - 16 February 2010 Time: 9pm to 7am Website: www.ipanema.com/carnival
June Bonfire Festivals An integral part of Brazilian folklore and culture is a New World twist on an old European tradition; coinciding with the feasts of St Anthony, St John and St Peter, June bonfire festivals are held in Rio's squares, clubs, schools and churches. Warmly illuminated by bonfires, the events features mock country weddings, where couples leap over crackling flames, and stalls decorated with streamers and lanterns are set up to resemble village markets. Spectacular fireworks, as well as a good deal of dancing, drinking and eating, accompany this scene. Venue: Various Date: 13, 24 and 29 June, annually.
New Year's Eve Brazilians know how to party and Rio's New Year (Reveillon) celebrations are ranked among the world's biggest extravaganzas. This jovial city hosts musical shows in several districts to bring in the New Year, and on Copacabana Beach a crowd of over two million people is expected. Partygoers dress in white to bid farewell to the year that is ending and celebrate the arrival of the next. A fabulous display of fireworks illuminates the sky at midnight, amid much festivity, dancing and happiness. Hotels, clubs and restaurants also offer a variety of party options with formal balls, diverse menus and tropical buffets. Venue: Various Date: 31 December, annually.
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