Carnival

Carnival, which takes place before the start of Lent (a fasting period of forty days before Easter), is usually celebrated at the end of February and it lasts four days. The origins of Brazil’s Carnival can be traced back to ancient African and Portuguese traditions. It is believed that it was introduced in Brazil in 1723.

The Rio Carnival in Brazil is by far the large in the world. It takes place in Sambadrome. There, samba schools compete with each other for the best costumes and dancing. Those official parades are meant to be watched by the public, while minor parades ("blocos") allowing public participation can be found in other cities.