CARNAVAL!!!

The feeling of excitement that you get when you are in the middle of a big, colorful, parade in Brazil with people wearing different types of costumes and feeling the music going through your veins, is one of a kind. In participating in Brazil’s festivals, you can experience the country’s national pride in samba, in demonstrating the musical genre and dance form. “The origin of Brazil’s carnival goes back to a Portuguese pre-lent festivity called “entrudo”-chaotic event where participants threw mud, water, and food at each other in a street event that often led to riots" in which conveys how the first festivities began to come out.

During the yearly carnaval (Brazilian carnival), samba has to came to symbolizes racial and social harmony between the Brazilian people. “The word samba is derived from the African Bantu language known as Kimbundo, brought to Brazil by slaves taken predominantly from Angola, the word “semba” signifies “naval bump” in which brings out the intimacy and invitation to dance”. As well, it is a common feature in many Afro-Brazilian forms. “The musical form of samba rose in popularity in the 1920’s, establishing itself as a firm favorite for Carnaval Brasileiro. In the 1930's, they added a samba parade..in which got a permanent home- The Samdorome". Samba was a way in which people communicated through dancing as well it was like the universal langauge in Brazil, because everyone understood it. Even though you experience the true spirit of Brazil in attending these main street parades, the history of Carnival festivities and where they originated from are the main aspects in understanding the Brazilian culture and how they began.

Carnaval-Rio de Janeiro

The most famous of Brazilian carnivals is Carnaval de Rio de Janerio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the parade, are amazing floats followed by thousands of dancers, singers, and drummers that parade through the Sambodromo stadium, dressed in colorful and unique costumes that attract crowds of people. These events begin on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, because during these parades people enjoy the music, food, drinks and sex before lent. And for 40 days of lent, they can be able to reflect on themselves, practice abstinence, and fast until Easter. The word “carnaval” comes from the latin word “Carne Vale” or “Farewell to the Flesh”. This quotation signifies how the festivities show how much a person can enjoy in going to one of these carnavals and as a result repent on their sins. “The first carnival festivities in Rio date back to 1723, in which dance groups or Blocos, paraded the streets in groups of no more than 50 people. The parades also evolved into competitions in which the best group would show off to the crowd, with their rhythmic dance expressions and elaborate costumes”.

->The popular dance done in many carnivals would be samba. In the book "The Mystery of Samba" Hermano Vianna explains the history of samba and how it has changed throughout time. He conveys on how samba has become a very popular dance in Brazil, he says,“Samba is also the centerpiece of Rio’s world-famous pre-Lenten carnival, when samba dancers, who are predominantly black, from the city’s poor neighborhoods parade all night under the glare of sophisticated all-night telemedia, broadcast nationwide” (Vianna, preface) This quotation signifies the popularity that this dance has brought to Rio de Janeiro’s famous carnaval and its people. In addition, there are certain types of samba in which musicians would play in carnavales, “The samba de enredo comprised the theme songs of Rio de Janerio’s Carnaval-batucadas (large percussion sections), as well as the singers and dancers comprising the escolas of samba (samba schools which first appeared in 1928), marched in street parades to samba de enredo, and frequently, samba cancao”. Through the use of samba music and the movement of dancing, samba schools have greatly impacted these festive carnivals, because they use unique costumes to motivate people about the Brazilian culture and traditions. Overall, the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most biggest and popularized carnivals held in Brazil, in which brings people together and from around the world.

Carnaval-Salvador da Bahia

“Salvador da Bahia was Brazil's first center of government (from 1549 to 1763), and remains its musical capital“. Like the Rio de Janeiro, the city of Salvador is known for its carnival. Even though Rio, is known for its samba schools, elaborate costumes, and huge parade in Sambodomo stadium, Salvador is popular because of its street carnival that lasts for weeks as well the different events that are happening on the streets and beaches. The music begins daily as early as noon and goes until 7or 8 the next morning. A tradition in Salvador which started in 1950 , when two Bahian musicians Dodo and Osmar performed with “trios electricos” (electric trios), which where massive power speakers in which people could hear the rhythm and beat of the music. The second component of the carnival in Salvador da Bahia are the Barrancas, they are similar to trios in such of the sound system and because they form endless parties among the streets of Salvador. In the festivals in Bahia, many people become attracted to the music coming from the loud speakers, because they are able to listen to the rythm of the music and hear the famous bands playing.

->There are different groups or blocos that people join to have fun and enjoy themselves. “Groups called Afoxi societies parade through the streets in fantastic outfits, presenting the sacred music and dancing of Candombli”. Bahia's carnival is the one of the world's largest open to the public festival, attracting crowds of three million people that dance through the night in Salvador's historic streets. Through the way the music is expressed to people and the way these street carnivals have exposed to people a new form of culture and identity, like Rio, Salvador has also shown the Brazilian pride of its people and their movement.

Fiestas, Culture, and Music

Overall, the experience and opportunity of going to one of these carnivals even if it is in Salvador da Bahia or Rio de Janeiro, you are able to witness the full on activities and come face to face with the traditions and culture of how real Brazilians like to party. The Carnavals are a way in which people in society come together and unit as a country and share something valuable that they have, which is their pride and their famous samba dance. I would like to finish off the blog with a quote from the book, "The Mystery of Samba" by Hermano Vianna, it says, “It’s nothing like they say. Samba moved to the favelas later on. Anyway, it went wherever we went: Wherever there was a party”! -Donga


Work Cited

Vianna. Hermano. The Mystery of Samba. Chapel Hill & London

The University of North Carolina Press, 1999

http://worldcentral.org/article.php/20040720105726323

http://www.ipanema.com/carnival

http://braziltravelinformation.com/brazil_carnival.htm

http://www.andetur.com.br/us/brazil/festival.htm

http://www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/33/