Carnaval do Brasil

Carnaval is Brazil’s most iconic and colorful celebration—an explosion of music, dance, and joy that takes over cities and towns in the days before Lent. While the modern spectacle is known for its samba parades and street parties, its roots lie in European traditions brought to Brazil during colonial times.

Origins and Evolution

The word Carnaval comes from the Latin carne vale, meaning “farewell to meat,” referring to the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat and other indulgences during Lent. The festival originally arrived in Brazil through Portuguese colonists, who brought with them the practice of pre-Lenten revelry—masked balls, food, drink, and public merrymaking.

Over time, Brazilian Carnaval absorbed local and African influences, especially through music, rhythm, and dance. What began as a colonial tradition transformed into a uniquely Brazilian celebration, rich in cultural fusion. The emergence of samba in the early 20th century—born from Afro-Brazilian communities in Rio de Janeiro—gave Carnaval a new pulse, and the modern samba school parades were born.

Today, while Carnaval still follows the Christian calendar, its focus is far more cultural than religious. It's a time when Brazilians express creativity, community, resistance, and joy through costume, performance, and music.

The Famous Parades: São Paulo & Rio de Janeiro

One of the highlights of my own experiences was attending the spectacular parade at the Sambódromo in São Paulo. There, samba schools compete in dazzling shows with themed performances, massive floats, and intricate costumes. Each school tells a story through choreography, music, and art—a year of preparation packed into 60 mesmerizing minutes.

Rio de Janeiro’s Sambódromo parade is the most internationally recognized and arguably the most glamorous. It draws millions of spectators and media attention from around the world. The top samba schools perform with unmatched intensity and showmanship, creating a cultural event of global scale.

Carnaval Across Brazil

But Carnaval is not just about the big city parades. It’s celebrated in countless ways across Brazil, and perhaps nowhere is this diversity more visible than in the street carnivals. In Vinhedo, a smaller city in the state of São Paulo, I experienced the warmth and spontaneity of a local street bloco—where families, kids, and neighbors gather in costume to dance and celebrate together.

In Salvador, Bahia, the celebration takes on an entirely different energy. Home to one of the largest street Carnavals in the world, Salvador’s festivities are driven by trio elétrico—huge sound trucks that roll through the streets while musicians perform live. The crowds follow, singing, dancing, and celebrating for hours. Rooted in Afro-Brazilian culture, Salvador’s Carnaval emphasizes rhythms like axé, samba-reggae, and frevo, giving it a powerful cultural and musical identity distinct from Rio and São Paulo.

More Than a Party

What unites all these different expressions of Carnaval is a shared spirit of freedom, creativity, and connection. Whether it’s a samba parade in a vast stadium or a small group of revelers dancing through a neighborhood street, Carnaval invites everyone to participate. It’s a time when art meets community—when the boundaries between performers and audience blur, and joy becomes a shared experience.

Through my pictures and videos, I aim to share this diversity—from the world-famous Sambódromo parades to the smaller, heartfelt celebrations that make Carnaval one of Brazil’s most cherished traditions.