2019 Carnival of Brazil: a colorful celebration

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Felipe Novelini Maia, Staff Writer

When we talk about Brazil two things come to everybody’s mind. Soccer and Carnaval. Brazilian people are known for being festive.

They are always partying, and happy.  

In ancient Babylon, two parties possibly originated what we know as carnival. The Saceias were a feast in which a prisoner assumed for a few days the figure of king, dressing like him, feeding himself in the same way and sleeping with his wives. In the end, the prisoner was whipped and then hanged or impaled. 

The other rite was performed by the king in the days leading up to spring, a period of New Year’s celebration in the region. The ritual took place in the temple of Marduk, one of the first Mesopotamian gods, where the king lost his power badges and was beaten in front of the statue of Marduk. This humiliation served to demonstrate the submission of the king to the deity. Then he again assumed the throne.

Brazilian streets are crowded with Carnaval attendees

What was common in both parties and which is linked to the Brazilian Carnaval and subversion of social roles: the temporary transformation of the prisoner into king and the humiliation of the king against the god. Possibly the subversion of social roles in Carnaval, as men dress themselves as women and vice versa, can find their origins in this Mesopotamian tradition. 

One big difference is nowadays nobody needs to suffer or be humiliated to be part of the Carnaval. 

The Carnaval starts at the last week of February and it lasts about 4-6 days. 

Nowadays people go to the streets, and they meet up at the famous “bloquinhos”. Bloquinhos is a big truck which has someone famous singing music or sometimes is only a big truck with music. 

Also, there is the famous “school of samba”. Those schools are big teams represented for a lot of people where they are divided in groups. So, some people sing, other dancing, other helped to build the customers, everyone has a function.

Big school of samba in a parade.

These parades attracts a lot of people from around the world.

It is more a big parade. The most popular parades are located in Rio and Sao Paulo.

Brazilian people love Carnaval. They feel free to do whatever they want, they spend all day on the streets drinking, dancing, and having fun actually.