Introduction
Carnival, or Carnaval in Portuguese, is a raucous festival of food, booze, music, and revelry. In Brazil, it is conducted once a year for a few days before the beginning of Lent, which is forty days during which the Roman Catholic Church observes fasting, abstinence, and repentance in preparation for Easter. The origin of the carnival may be traced back to the Latin phrase “Carne vale,” which means “farewell to the flesh.” The carnivore is known to be a weeklong celebration of merriment and pleasure that is enjoyed all over the globe, but Brazil is where it is most widely observed (Martone, 66). Rio de Janeiro is home to some of the world’s most well-known parties and celebrations, while other towns in Brazil each have unique holiday traditions. This paper analyzes the significant aspects of the carnivore of brazil, including the history, music, dancing, clothing, religion, and facts.
History
Even though it is a festival that is essential to the nation’s cultural identity, the carnival has its roots in the European tradition. The Portuguese introduced the earliest carnival celebration, the entrudo (entry), in the seventeenth century. The intruder was quite popular up to the early 20th century (Page et al. 191). It was an extremely hostile behavior that primarily consisted of randomly throwing water, flour, and “scented fruit” (oranges and lemons made of wax and packed with homemade perfume) at other individuals. This behavior was quite aggressive. There were two varieties of entrudos: the one that was common or found in homes and the one that was well-known or located on the street.
By the 1850s, the upper class of Brazil had begun to consider an alternative method of commemorating carnival to the barbaric intrude. This new method was the costumed and masked ball, an idea brought from Paris. Another innovation adopted from Europe and had a lot of popularity there was the Great Societies. These were groups of partygoers who would march through the streets of Rio de Janeiro every year. The masked balls and the parades of the Great Societies comprised the Grand Carnival; nevertheless, the famous Small Carnival was also blossoming at this time with its trains, which included the codes (laces), ranchos (ranches), and blocks (blocks). The rhythms of ranchos and Cordes originated in the religious processions in which the enslaved people participated; the songs were performed on African percussion instruments. The marcha-rancho, also known as the ranch march, was the distinctive musical style of the ranches. It was served with wind instruments and percussion. The blocks consisted of fewer people and were not as well coordinated as the others.
In the 1920s, the rise of samba schools led to the eventual extinction of Cordes and ranchos, which had existed before. On the other hand, the blocks are very much still alive (Page et al. 191). Blocos revelers often sing carnival marches rather than the more well-known sambas. The samba was initially mentioned for the first time in the year 1893. Traditional African rhythms, known as batuques, are combined with contemporary urban rhythms, known as maxixe. This results in the samba. In the 1920s, young samba composers like Cartola, Carlos Cachaca, and Ismael Silva e Heitor dos Prazeres founded small carnival ensembles that would eventually become the first samba schools. These composers adopted parts of ranchos, Cordes, and blocos into their music. 1932 was the year that saw the very first official competition. In modern times, the march of the samba schools has evolved into a massive event in which thousands of partygoers take part while donning elaborate and brightly colored costumes organized into at least thirty different sections of the samba schools. They all sing a samba that was initially produced for the occasion and was based on a topic called the enredo that was envisioned by the carnavalesco, the creative designer. In general, the enredos are about the history of Brazil, and the most critical ones make satirical references to contemporary moral and political difficulties. The percussion section is known as the bateria (battery).
The Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro have set an example for the rest of the nation. However, during the latter half of the 1950s, a novel kind of carnival known as trios elétricos emerged in the city of Salvador, Bahia. Trucks called trios eléctricos are used to support enormous loudspeakers and platforms, which artists and vocalists then use to perform. Axé and other forms of music that have been heavily influenced by the rhythms of Africa and the Caribbean are completed by the trios elétricos. The blocos afro blocks, such as the Filhos de Gandhi, which also march during carnival, are another element characteristic of the Bahian carnival. Recife and Olinda, located in the state of Pernambuco’s northeastern region, are home to significant Carnival festivities.
Music and dance
To commemorate the carnival holiday, many dancers go to the streets, where they move their bodies in sync with the pulsating rhythms of the samba. The dance incorporates elements of African heritage, beginning with the Portuguese game of Entrudo and building up to today’s spectacular balls and parades. The samba originated from the samba, an Angolan term that translates to “pelvic motions” and is also the name of an African ceremony of reproduction. The Samba Schools honor historical figures or events by recreating them with dances, music, and elaborate costumes and parading elaborate floats through the streets (“Brazil Travel Guide – Dance Celebration During The Carnival In Brazil”).
Samba no pe, also known as Foot Samba, is the kind of samba dance that is generally recognized and done during carnival. This dance is often performed without accompaniment and starts as soon as the samba music begins playing. The dancer retains their body straight while bending each knee in turn. The body moves in a beat that is 2/4, dancing three steps at a time. There is minimal movement of the feet throughout this dance. The tempo of the music determines the speed of the motions, and although some samba dances go at a regular rate, others move exceptionally quickly. This is because the movements’ speed varies with the music’s tempo. The Samba de Gafieira is a kind of samba dance performed with a partner. The history of this dance may be traced back to the 1940s, and it got its name from the famous discos in Rio de Janeiro at the time. The steps used in this kind of samba originated from the polka, tango, and waltz dances, as well as from another style of samba called Choro. These stages are carried out at a short, short, and long pace. Some Samba de Gafieira dances involve acrobatic techniques as well.
The Samba Pagode is another partner samba that may be danced. This dance is less acrobatic and has more motions performed up close, similar to the Samba de Gafieira. This particular dance may be traced back to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Samba Pagode is another kind of Samba partner dance identical to Samba de Gafieira. However, unlike Samba de Gafieira, Samba Pagode has fewer acrobatic motions and tends to be more personal. After the pagode first appeared, a new dancing form emerged in the city of Sao Paulo, which is considered to be its birthplace. In the early 1990s, a more modernized samba form was included in the Carnival festivities. The Samba Axe is a dance done by one person and is organized to mimic the lyrics of the music as closely as possible. It has a frenetic rhythm, is vibrant, and alters itself according to the words of the music being played.
Clothing
The music, dancing, and usage of costumes typical in African culture are deeply ingrained in the traditions of the Brazilian carnival. Natural elements such as feathers, bone, grass, beads, shells, and the like were commonly utilized to create tribal masks and costumes in the Motherland of Africa. Examples include: These physical artifacts on earth represented the capacity of humankind to triumph through adversity, whether that be physical pain, emotional anguish, or physical disease. They were employed as a gateway to other planets so that the people may have another chance at life and advance spiritually as a culture. This power is also shown in the elaborately designed costumes worn during the Brazilian carnival. In addition, the dancers’ make-up, which is a significant part of their overall look and originates in African heritage, is a crucial component. The dancers at today’s carnivals don’t wear anything except brightly colored body paint and hanging beads, which rattle and twist with every movement.
All the colorful costumes with feathers and vivid colors are thrown away when the enchantment of carnival is over. After taking their last bow, the costumes are hastily thrown to the side as if they have no worth. The idea behind this celebration is that once the carnival is over, a new year begins, and with it comes the opportunity to let go of the past and look forward to what is ahead. “To say goodbye to the body is what carnival is all about. According to what previous Carnival queen Allison Brown had to say about it, “the costumes go the way of the body.” The costumes worn during the previous carnival are long forgotten, and now, attention is focused on the festivity that will take place at the celebration in the following year.
Religion
The Christian season known as Lent commemorates the forty days that pass between the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which typically takes place in February. To serve as a physical and spiritual reminder of Jesus’s sacrifices, Catholics must refrain from eating meat on particular days during the season of Lent (Martone, 66). It’s believed that the name “Carnival” comes from the Latin phrase “carne levare,” which translates to “to remove the flesh.” Many Catholics observe Mardi Gras, known as “Fat Tuesday,” the day before Ash Wednesday. On this day, also known as “Fat Tuesday,” they consume all of the meat and fat in their homes and have big parties in the streets as one more celebration before the somber Lenten season. It was a moment when people of all different socioeconomic classes could forget their typical struggles, forget about their disguises, and meet together. The carnival tradition may be traced back to parts of Southern Europe that were predominantly Catholic. It was brought to the Americas during the era of discovery and colonialism.
Traditions
In most regions, the events that occur during carnival are standard, yet each carnival has its unique flavor because of the incorporation of regional traditions. People may be seen listening to music, dancing, eating, and drinking on the streets all day and night. Balls and masquerades are held in a lot of cities. Parades through the city streets are one of the most critical aspects of the Carnival ritual. Parades are a popular tradition in many cities, and many of these parades include floats (Gosudareva 1). Floats are large, ornate vehicles that may transport dozens of riders often dressed in extravagant, multicolored costumes and masks. Parades often have themes, and these themes frequently make fun of current political and social issues in the community. Some of the carnivore’s facts include that the event attracts upto two million people in a single day and has made it to the Guinness book as the biggest carnivore in the world.
Conclusion
Brazil carnivore is held a few days before Lent, which is forty days of fasting, abstinence, and penance in preparation for Easter. Carnival, an integral part of the nation’s cultural character, has European origins. In the 17th century, the Portuguese introduced entrudo (entrance). In the 1920s, samba schools caused the disappearance of Cordes and ranchos, which made room for samba music and dance. To celebrate carnival, dancers go to the streets to dance the samba, a dance that integrates African tradition, from Entrudo through today’s balls and parades. Brazilian carnival incorporates African music, dance, and costumes. The traditions of the carnivore include parades, which have themes that make fun of current political and social issues. The carnivore originates from the Christianity religion and has some facts, including gathering two million people a day and being registered as the biggest carnivore worldwide.
References
Page, Joseph A., P. A. Reading, and Riordan Roett. “BRAZILIAN CARNIVAL.” Africa and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History [3 volumes]: Culture, Politics, and History (2008): 191.
Martone, Denice. “O Carnaval 2016.” Streetnotes 25 (2016).
“Brazil Travel Guide – Dance Celebration During The Carnival In Brazil”. Braziltravelinformation.Com, 2015, https://www.braziltravelinformation.com/brazil_carnival_dance.htm.
Gosudareva, E. Y. “CARNIVALS.” (2011).
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