Brazilian Carnival

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2011}} [[File:Kellykey.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Brazilian singer [[Kelly Key]] in Samba School Parade in [[Rio de Janeiro]].]] [[File:Baianas-imperatriz-2008.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Bloco das Baianas]] The '''[[Carnival]] of [[Brazil]]''' ({{lang-pt|Carnaval}}, {{IPA-pt|kaʁnaˈvaw|IPA}}) is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of [[Lent]], Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from ''carnelevare'', "to remove (literally, "raise") meat." Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the [[paganism|pagan]] festival of [[Saturnalia]], which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection. Rhythm, participation, and costumes vary from one region of Brazil to another. In the southeastern cities of [[Rio de Janeiro]] and [[São Paulo]], huge organized parades are led by [[samba school]]s. Those official parades are meant to be watched by the public, while minor parades ("blocos") allowing public participation can be found in other cities. The northeastern cities of [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]], [[Porto Seguro]] and [[Recife]] have organized groups parading through streets, and public interacts directly with them. This carnival is heavily influenced by [[African-Brazilian]] culture. Crowds follow the [[trio elétrico]]s floats through the city streets. Also in northeast, [[Olinda]] carnival features unique characteristics, part influenced by Venice Carnival mixed with cultural depictions of local [[folklore]]. The typical genres of music of brazilian carnival are, in [[Rio de Janeiro]] (and [[Southeast Region, Brazil|Southeast Region]] in general): the [[samba-enredo]], the [[samba de bloco]], the [[samba de embalo]] and the [[marchinha]]; in [[Pernambuco]] and [[Bahia]] (and [[Northeast Region, Brazil|Northeast Region]] in general) the main genres are: the [[frevo]], the [[maracatu]], the [[samba-reggae]] and [[Axé music]]. Carnaval is the most famous holiday in Brazil and has become an event of huge proportions. The country stops completely for almost a week and festivities are intense, day and night, mainly in coastal cities. The consumption of beer accounts for 80% of annual consumption{{Citation needed|reason=this seems absurd and almost mathematically impossible|date=March 2011}} and tourism receives 70% of annual visitors. The government distributes [[condom]]s and launches awareness campaigns at this time to prevent the spread of AIDS.''' Rio de Janeiro's carnival alone drew 4,9 million people in 2011, with 400.000 being foreigners. ===Rio de Janeiro style=== [[File:Samba school parades 2004.jpg|thumb|200px|A Samba school parades in the [[Sambadrome]] in the 2004 Carnival.]] {{Main|Rio Carnival}} Modern Brazilian Carnival originated in [[Rio de Janeiro]] in 1641 when the city's bourgeoisie imported the practice of holding balls and masquerade parties from Paris. It originally mimicked the European form of the festival, later absorbing and creolizing elements derived from Native American and African cultures. In the late 19th century, the ''cordões'' (literally "cords", ''laces'' or ''strings'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) were introduced in [[Rio de Janeiro]]. These were pageant groups that paraded through city avenues performing on instruments and dancing. Today they are known as ''Blocos'' (blocks), consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or special t-shirts with themes and/or logos. ''Blocos'' are generally associated with particular neighborhoods; they include both a percussion or music group and an entourage of revellers. Block parades have become an expressive feature of Rio's Carnival. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. Blocos can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a distinct title with an often funny pun. (''Os blocos RJ, para os solteiros, são um lugar para conhecer e até beijar pessoas'', or "The blocos in Rio de Janeiro, for the singles, are places to meet and even kiss people.") They may also note their neighborhood or social status. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach. Some blocos never leave one street and have a particular place, such as a bar, to attract viewers. Block parades start in January, and may last until the Sunday after Carnival. [[File:Unidos de Vila Isabel.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mestre Sala e Porta-Bandeira, a double executing typical performance and opening a samba school exhibition.]] There occur ''Blocos'' parades in nearly every neighborhood throughout the city and metropolitan areas, but the most famous are the ones in [[Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro)|Copacabana]], [[Ipanema]], [[Leblon]], [[Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro|Lagoa]], [[Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro|Jardim Botânico]], and in downtown Rio. Organizers often compose their own music themes that are added to the performance and singing of classic "marchinhas" and samba popular songs. "Cordão do bola preta" ("Polka Dot Bloco"), that goes through the heart of Rio's historical center, and "Suvaco do Cristo" (''Christ's statue armpit'', referring to the angle of the statue seen from the neighborhood), near the Botanical Garden, are some of the most famous groups. ''[[Monobloco]]'' has become so famous that it plays all year round at parties and small concerts. Samba schools are very large groups of performers, financed by respected organizations (as well as illegal gambling groups), who work year round in preparation for Carnival. Samba Schools perform in the Sambadrome, which runs four entire nights. They are part of an official competition, divided into seven divisions, in which a single school is declared the winner, according to costume, flow, theme, and band music quality and performance. Some samba schools also hold street parties in their neighborhoods, through which they parade along with their followers. Carnival time in Rio is a very interesting, but is also the most expensive time to visit Rio. Hotel rooms and other lodgings can be up to 4 times more expensive than the regular rates. There are big crowds at some locations and life is far from ordinary in many parts of town. ===São Paulo style=== [[Image:Gavioescarnaval.jpg|thumb|200px|Carnival parade in [[São Paulo]], Gaviões da Fiel Torcida Samba School.]] The carnival in [[São Paulo]] takes place in the [[Sambadrome of Anhembi]] on the Friday and Saturday night of the week of Carnival, as opposed to Rio’s Carnival, which is held on Sunday and Monday night. Various “samba schools” compete in a huge parade. Each school presents a different theme, which they expose through their costumes, dance, music and the “''carros alegóricos''” (also known as ''“[[trio elétrico]]”'', huge vehicles decorated according to the theme designed specifically for the parade). The schools are responsible for choosing their own themes, which usually revolve around historical happenings or some sort of cultural or political movement. The most famous (and usually the winners) samba schools are: ''Nenê de Vila Matilde , Vai-Vai, Camisa Verde e Branco, Unidos do Peruche, Mocidade Alegre'' and ''Rosas de Ouro'' (which in English translate to, respectively: Baby from Matilde Village; Go-Go; Green and White Shirt; Peruche United; Happy Youth; and Golden Roses). ''Vai-Vai'' is the oldest school and has been the First Division champion most times (14 total, including the 2011 championship). It also is the most popular, for it has the most fans. ===Bahia style=== {{Main|Bahian Carnival}} (The city of Salvador has the largest street party in the world, the carnival) There are several major differences between [[Carnival]] in the state of [[Bahia]] in [[Northeastern Brazil]] and Carnival in [[Rio de Janeiro]]. The musical styles are different at each carnival; in Bahia there are many rhythms, including samba, samba-reggae, [[axé]], etc., while in Rio there is the multitude of [[samba]] styles: the "samba-enredo", the "samba de bloco", the "samba de embalo", the "funk-samba", as well as the famous "marchinhas" played by the "bandas" in the streets. [[File:Bloco da camisinha circuito Campo Grande Salvador.jpg|thumb|200px|Carnival circuit of the city of [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]].]] In the 1880s, the black population commemorated the days of Carnival in its own way, highly marked by Yoruba characteristics, dancing in the streets playing instruments. This form was thought of as "primitive" by the upper-class [[White Brazilian|white elite]], and the groups were banned from participating in the official Bahia Carnival, dominated by the local conservative [[elite]]. The groups defied the ban and continued to do their dances. By the 1970s, four main types of carnival groups developed in Bahia: Afoxês, Trios Elétricos, "Amerindian" groups, and Blocos Afros. Afoxês use the rhythms of the African inspired religion, [[Candomblé]]. They also worship the gods of Candomblé, called orixás. An Electric Trio is characterized by a truck equipped with giant speakers and a platform where musicians play songs of local genres such as axé. People follow the trucks singing and dancing. The "Amerindian" groups were inspired by Western movies from the United States. The groups dress up as native Americans and take on native American names. Blocos Afros, or [[Afro]] [[Social group|group]]s, were influenced by the Black Pride Movement in the United States, independence movements in Africa, and reggae music that denounced racism and oppression. The groups inspired a renewed pride in African heritage. ===Pernambuco style=== [[File:Bonecos gigantes.jpg|thumb|200px|Street Carnival in [[Recife]].]] The North East state of [[Pernambuco]] has unique Carnivals in its present capital [[Recife]] and in its colonial capital [[Olinda]]. Their main rhythms are the ''[[frevo]]'' and the ''[[maracatu]].'' ''[[Galo da Madrugada]]'' is the biggest carnival parade in the world, considering the number of participants, according ''[[The Guinness Book of World Records]].'' It means "dawn's rooster" and parades, as the name suggests, in the morning only. ''Frevo'' is Pernambucan-style dance with African and acrobatic influences, as it is fast and electrifying, often using an open umbrella and frequent legs and arms movements. Unlike [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]] and [[Rio de Janeiro|Rio]], the festivities in Recife, Olinda and Itamaraca do not include group competitions. Instead, groups dance and play instruments side by side. ''Troças'' and ''[[maracatu]]s'', mostly of African influence, begin one week before Carnival and end a week later. Some well-known groups have funny names, such as: ''Tell me you love me, damn eggymann'' (with a famous giant dancing doll that leads the group), ''Crazy Lover'', ''Olinda's Underpants'', and ''The Door''. Held 40 days before Lent. ===Minas Gerais style=== [[File:Carnaval OP Bloco Diretoria.jpg|thumb|200px|Carnival parade of [[Ouro Preto]], [[Minas Gerais]].]] Minas also holds some important carnival parades, mainly in the historic cities of [[Ouro Preto]], [[Mariana, Minas Gerais|Mariana]] and [[Diamantina, Minas Gerais|Diamantina]]. They are held mostly by students' houses, which attract a majority of young people from the neighbor states. There are also other major parades in the region, such as the one in [[Pompéu]]. Carnival in Minas Gerais is often characterized by ''blocos carnavalescos'' with varying themes and fantasy styles, almost always accompanied by a brass and drums band. However, Minas Gerais carnival was first influenced by the Rio de Janeiro Carnival (several cities have their own samba schools). Later some [[axé music|Axé]] groups from Bahia came to play in the state every carnival season. The Carnival of the city of [[Ouro Preto]] is very popular with college students in the area. The city has a large proportion of students, who during the year live in places called Repúblicas (a rented house maintained and ruled by themselves). During carnival, the Repúblicas are literally packed with [[residency (domicile)|residents]] and many [[visitor]]s coming from all over the country. The hills prevent traffic of heavy sound trucks, but don't stop people from feasting all night and day. However, some view the Ouro Preto carnival festivities as a threat to the old and [[historic]]al harmony of the region. According to one such person: the recent emergencet of industry from the surrounding localities, population growth and a spike in street traffic have jeopardize Carnival as older citizens remember it. One cause for alarm is the street [[carnival]] of Ouro Preto, which attracts thrill-seeking students from across Brazil. The students crowd the streets while playing loud and arguably disruptive music. ===Others=== Some southern cities such as [[Curitiba]], [[Florianópolis]], [[Camboriú]], and [[Porto Alegre]] have smaller samba school groups or blocos, but like São Paulo state towns, they seem to prefer balls to street dancing. ==Sambódromo== [[File:Rio2009-2.JPG|thumb|200px|The [[Sambódromo]] of Rio.]] [[File:Sambódromo do Anhembi ¹².jpg|thumb|200px|Anhembi Sambódromo in São Paulo.]] The Carnival parades in [[Rio de Janeiro]] and [[São Paulo]] take place in the [[Sambodromo]], located close to the city center. In the city of Rio, the parades start at 20:00 or 21:00 (depending on the date) and end around 5:00 in the morning. The [[Rio de Janeiro Metro]] ([[Rapid transit|subway]]) operates 24 hours during the main [[parade]] days. The actual amount of spectators in the Sambodromo may be higher than the official number of seats mentioned below. Sector 9 is an exception. Actually the word 'seat' is not relevant. In Sector 1 access is given to the local community at a symbolic cost. Sectors 6 and 13 are the cheapest. Sectors 3, 5 and 7 have equally good views (even though there is a price difference between them). Sector 9 has marked seats and is therefore less crowded. Dress Circle and Boxes are the best, and priced accordingly. ===Types and capacity of seats=== * '''BOXES''' (total 5,992 seats) Special Boxes: Four buildings between sectors 3, 5, 7 and 9 with up to 20 seats in A Boxes and 18 in B Boxes. Boxes in sectors: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 4: 24 boxes per sector, in a total of 144 boxes Boxes in Sector 2: Three floors containing boxes A, B and C, each box with 12 seats. * '''Dress Circle''' (total 6,528 seats) Uncovered boxes with walls and chairs for six occupants each, in sectors 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11. * '''Chairs''' 4,220 chairs are placed in sectors 6 and 13. Of these, 525 are for paraplegics and their escorts. * '''Tiers of Seats''' (total 16,804 seats) Uncovered spaces up to 15,80 m high, reached by stairs. Sectors 3, 4, 5, 7, and 11, each sitting 2,900 spectators. Sector 9 with 2,306 numbered seats. * '''Popular Tiers of Seats''' (Total 25,700) Sector 1: in the area where the schools organize themselves for the parade; Sectors 6 and 13–at Praça da Apoteose from where the end of the parade can be seen. Sector 1 holds up to 6,500 spectators and Sectors 6 and 13 up to 9,600 each. ===Samba=== [[File:Samba feminino.jpg|thumb|200px|Samba band.]] [[File:Daniela Mercury no São João do Pelourinho.jpg|thumb|200px|The Brazilian axé singer [[Daniela Mercury]].]] Originated in Bahia from the African rhythms, it was brought to [[Rio de Janeiro]] around 1920 and is still one of the most popular styles of Brazil, together with Samba-pagode and Samba-reggae (the band Olodum from Salvador da Bahia made samba-reggae famous). From intimate samba-cancões (samba songs) sung in bars to explosive drum [[parade]]s performed during carnival, samba always evokes a warm and vibrant mood. Samba developed as a distinctive kind of music at the beginning of the 20th century in Rio de Janeiro (then the capital of Brazil). In the 1930s, a group of musicians led by Ismael Silva founded in the neighbourhood of Estácio de Sá the first Samba School, Deixa Falar. They transformed the musical genre to make it fit better the carnival parade. In this decade, the radio spread the genre's popularity all around the country, and with the support of the nationalist dictatorship of [[Getúlio Vargas]], samba became Brazil's "official music." In the following years, samba has developed in several directions, from the gentle samba-canção to the drum orchestras which make the soundtrack of carnival parade. One of these new styles was bossa nova, a musical movement initially spearheaded by young musicians and college students from Rio de Janeiro. It got increasingly popular over time, with the works of [[João Gilberto]] and [[Antonio Carlos Jobim]]. In the sixties, Brazil was politically divided, and the leftist musicians of bossa nova started to draw attention to the music made in the favelas. Many popular artists were discovered at this time. Names like Cartola, Nelson Cavaquinho, Velha Guarda da Portela, Zé Keti, and Clementina de Jesus recorded their first albums. In the seventies, the samba got back to radio. Composers and singers like Martinho da Vila, Clara Nunes and Beth Carvalho dominated the hit parade. In the beginning of the eighties, after having been sent to the underground due to styles like disco and Brazilian rock, Samba reappeared in the media with a musical movement created in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. It was the pagode, a renewed samba, with new instruments, like the banjo and the tantan, and a new language, more popular, filled with slang. The most popular names were Zeca Pagodinho, Almir Guineto, Grupo Fundo de Quintal, Jorge Aragão, and Jovelina Pérola Negra. Various samba schools have been founded throughout [[Brazil]]. A samba school combines the dancing and party fun of a night club with the gathering place of a social club and the community feeling of a volunteer group. During the spectacular Rio Carnival famous samba schools parade in the [[Sambódromo]]. An event that should not be missed. ===Axé=== This is not exactly about a style or musical [[Social movement|movement]], but rather about a useful brand name given to artists from [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]] who made music upon northeastern Brazilian, Caribbean and African rhythms with a pop-rock twist, which helped them take over the Brazilian hit parades since 1992. [[Axé]] is a ritual greeting used in Candomblé and Umbanda religions, and means "good vibration." The word music was attached to Axé, used as slang within the local music biz, by a journalist who intended to create a derogatory term for the pretentious dance-driven style. As singer [[Daniela Mercury]] began her rise to stardom in Rio and São Paulo, anything coming from Salvador would be labeled Axé Music. Soon, the artists became oblivious to the derogatory origins of the term and started taking advantage of it. With the media pushing it forward, the soundtrack of Carnival in Salvador quickly spread over the country (through off-season Carnival shindigs), strengthening its industrial potentials and producing year-round hits along the 90s. Tested within the height of Carnival heat, Axé songs have been commercially successful in Brazil throughout the past decade. The year 1998 was particularly fortunate for the artists from [[Bahia]]: together, Daniela Mercury, [[Ivete Sangalo]], [[Chiclete com Banana]], Araketu, Cheiro de Amor and [[É o Tchan]] sold over 3.4 million records. ==Micareta== [[File:Carnatal em Natal.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Carnatal]] in [[Natal, Rio Grande do Norte|Natal]], largest ''micareta'' (off-season Carnival) in the country.]] There are also ''micaretas'', as they are called off-season Carnival. The ''micaretas'' are similar to the [[Bahian Carnival]] and very different from the samba school parades, popular in Rio de Janeiro. The ''micareta'' is like this: during the days of party, a huge truck (called "[[trio elétrico]]"), with a band on the top and sound boxes all around, drives slowly along the streets or enclosed space. The crowd follows the trio elétrico singing, dancing, jumping to the sound of the music. To be allowed to follow the truck, one must buy admittance to one of the several "blocos" (block). A bloco is an enterprise which obtains permission to participate in micareta, hires the band, sells admittance and controls access. Brazil has several ''micaretas'' that take place throughout the year in various cities. They can be done in the streets (''traditional micareta'') or in closed spaces surrounded (''indoor micareta''). ==Security== {{See also|Crime in Brazil|Social apartheid in Brazil}} [[File:Cameras de vigilancia em Salvador.jpg|thumb|200px|Security camera in the Carnival of [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]].]] Brazil in the 1980s started developing a reputation for violence and crime due to a massive debt that left no money for necessities such as police, hospitals and schools. In the early 1990s, however, things began to turn around, as the government was able to decrease its debt and thus reintroduce money into public services, starting with the police. Officers were stationed anywhere there seemed to be a problem: city streets, beaches, etc. and the crime rate began to fall. Huge investments into tourism simultaneously made the protection of tourists a government priority. [[Tourism in Brazil|Tourism]] throughout Brazil is now a top priority, and everything is done to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors. [[taxicab|Taxis]] are very safe and available everywhere, but some incidents are occasionally reported. Taxis are the number one most common mode of transportation that tourists use, and with their inexpensive costs and convenience, it is generally the one most recommended. Although pictures and videos of Carnival in [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]] don't usually focus on police officers, a security system is there. Besides the regular police force, revelers dance amidst a security staff numbering over 600 people in all, hired by blocos to contain the crowds and keep the flow moving as smoothly as possible along the designated circuit. All private security plans are reviewed in advance by the [[Brazilian Federal Police]]. Basically, these are the functions performed by security organizations during the parade: * Rope Holders: They carry the ropes that separate the dancers who signed up with a bloco from the dancers who didn't (the so-called "popcorn" revelers), and help keep up the pace so bottlenecks don't form. There are about 400 rope holders in all. * Rope Inspectors: Each inspector monitors about 10 rope holders. * Rope Supervisors: They supervise about 5 rope inspectors each. * Disciplinary Supervisors: About 70 supervisors in all walk at the front of the bloco as pacesetters, keeping dancers away from the ropes and monitoring the revelers' access to the support vehicle. * Line Monitors: They monitor lines to restrooms, cash registers and bars. * Costume Inspectors: They walk among the dancers, making sure that popcorns don't invade the area reserved to registered dancers, and also keep an eye out for falsified costumes and vendors without a license. * Security Agents: More than 50 professionals move about as the blocos press on, ready to handle excessive or aggressive behavior. They must work for companies approved by the Federal Police. ==External links== {{Commons category|Carnivals of Brazil}} [http://www.festivalpig.com/Carnivals-of-the-World-Top-10.html Top 10 Carnivals in the World] [http://www.soundsandcolours.com/subjects/carnival/carnival-guide-2011-for-brazil-and-the-rest-of-south-america/ Carnival Guide for Brazil and the Rest of South America] [http://www.festivalpig.com/carnaval-brasil-festival.html Experienced information from the different carnivals in Brazil ] [http://www.soundsandcolours.com/articles/brazil/everything-is-possible-street-carnival-in-rio-de-janeiro/ Everything Is Possible: Street Carnival in Rio de Janeiro] [http://ofoliao.com.br/ News of Blocos (blocks) Rio de Janeiro Carnival – Ofolião] [http://beholders.org/mind/artshistoryculture/186-the-history-of-carnival-in-brazil.html The History of Carnival in Brazil – with video] [http://carnaval.globo.com/ Rio Carnival News – O Globo] [http://jbonline.terra.com.br/especiais/carnaval2007/ Rio Carnival News – Jornal do Brasil] [http://carnavalemsalvadorbahia.ning.com/ Rio Carnival News – O Dia] [http://noticias.uol.com.br/carnaval/ Rio Carnival News – UOL] [http://carnavalemsalvadorbahia.ning.com/ – Photos and Videos – Terra] [http://www.guitarra-baiana.com/history/1950s-the-first-trio-eletrico.html The Trio Elétricos of Bahian Carnival: Early history] [http://cas.podomatic.com/entry/2010-02-09T16_38_26-08_00 Carnival in Olinda: webcast explores the frevo and other attractions of this most charming carnival destination] [http://www.braziltravelinformation.com/brazil_carnival.htm Carnival in Brazil] Guide to Carnaval that includes history, daily activities, and sambadrome and parade information [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8515518.stm TV report about the Rio Carnival – BBC World News] [http://www.joinrio.com/EN/rio-en/attractions/samba-city Samba City] [http://ig.com/sambaschool Play yourself a samba school drums section] {{Brazil topics}} {{coord missing|Brazil}}