It is Carnival week in Brazil, cities across the country are bursting with music, dance, and colour as millions come together to celebrate from all over the world. With its roots deeply intertwined in history and culture, Brazilian Carnival is a blend of traditions from Portugal, Africa, and Indigenous peoples, evolving into the grand spectacle it is today.
Brazilian Carnival has roots in both Portuguese and African traditions. Back in the 16th century, the Portuguese introduced a pre-Lenten festival called "Entrudo." Entrudo was a chaotic celebration where people shapeshift into devils and tricksters, invading the alleys of rural villages to chase unmarried women, spread mischief and send away evil energies, enjoying a final burst of fun before Lent to celebrate the end of a long dark winter. As Entrudo was brought to Brazil, it began to blend with the traditions of Indigenous and African cultures, which brought vibrant rhythms and dances to the celebration. This fusion laid the groundwork for the development of samba.
The costumes at Carnival nowadays come from European and African influences. The slaves that the Portuguese brought from Africa used to dress up with feathers, bones, and other pieces to call to the gods and send bad spirits away. Nowadays we can see both the influence from the Portuguese costumes of the entrudo and the African pieces that have merged and become part of the Brazilian culture we see today.
The samba rhythm was born in West Africa, and it used to be an element that brought relief to the slaves when they were suffering. When slavery was abolished, some of the people that survived ended up staying in Brazil where now samba is highly praised and deeply tied to Afro-Brazilian communities in Rio.
During the 19th century Carnival started to compose organised parades. The merge between the Portuguese waltzes and African rhythms birthed samba which is now the soundtrack of Carnival.
In 1928 the first samba school “Deixa Falar” was born in Rio. They were the pioneers to what Carnaval is today. Other schools started to form and compete, and its success got the Department of Tourism of Rio to sell tickets in 1962. 22 years later the Sambadrome originated. The Sambadrome is the space dedicated to the Carnival in Rio located in Cidade Nova. With 85 thousand square meters, to this day the samba schools gather there to compete every year with elaborate floats, costumes, and choreography.
Today, Carnival is celebrated all over Brazil, embracing music styles like samba, funk, and axé, reflecting Brazil’s evolving culture. Carnival remains a time for joy, self-expression, culture, and unity, capturing the spirit and creativity that makes Brazil utterly unique.
Enjoyed learning about the history of Brazilian Carnival? Keep your eyes peeled for more Latin American culture pieces.
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