Costumes, music, and dances are the things that mark a carnival. In Brazil, we often find this kind of event, a showcase of the joy of the Brazilian people, very much embedded in the local culture. Why is the carnival part of Brazilian culture? Discover the answer in the following lines.
How did the history of the carnival start in Brazil?
First of all, it is important to know that the word "carnival" comes from the words "Carne" and "Vale" which mean "goodbye to meat". In the past, it was the pre-Lent carnival that marked the original carnivals, and this one was celebrated for the very first time in Italy. In the beginning, it was the Catholics who celebrated these periods by depriving themselves of meat, alcohol, and other frivolous products, but soon it spread to many countries and was celebrated by different people with their own forms of religion. Although it started in Italy, the tradition of Carnival was introduced to Brazil by its Portuguese settlers and soon after, the "Carnival of Brazil" was born. More specifically, Carnival started in the 18th century in Brazil.
A cultural event not to be missed in Brazil
Brazilian carnivals are inspired a little by the Portuguese Entrudo, which is a pre-Lenten festival characterized by street fights with eggs, paint, water, lemons, and flour. The festivities improved a little from 1840, towards a more bourgeois and refined style. That is, the disguises took another inspiration from the Venetian masked attire. In addition, the addition of particular music and dances, but especially the parade, ended up making these events unique. Above all, the addition of African rhythms and the introduction of the samba spiced up the Brazilian carnivals wonderfully until today.
A symbol of joy for the Brazilian culture
When a carnival is held in Brazil, most of the population, if not all of the citizens, can only be delighted. Why is that? Well, the event is more than just a carnival. Everyone gets a piece of the joy; even the tourists who go climbing in Brazil enjoy this kind of event. Brazilian carnivals evoke a feeling of brotherhood and of peace that brings together various categories of participants regardless of their social or ethnic origins. That's why the carnival is a symbol of joy for Brazilians.