Photo by  Roberto Delpiano
 
 
 
     
     
     
               
                         Carnival is the most traditional popular Brazilian celebration . Carnival's roots go back to the ancient Romans and Greeks who celebrated the rites of Spring. In the Middle Ages,the  Church incorporated the rite into its own calendar as a period of thanksgiving. The  Portuguese brought to Brazil the "entrudo", a prank where merry-makers throw water, flour, face powder, and many other things at each other's faces and in Brazil there was the influence of the Negro slaves  They would smear their faces with flour, borrow an old wig or frayed shirt of the master, and give themselves over to mad revelry for the three days.   
                   Carnival commemoration is different according to Brazilian region . Rio de Janeiro has the biggest and best known pre-Lenten carnival in the world - its most colourful event is the Samba School Parade. The samba schools taking part in the parade ( in "sambódromo"that is a large avenue named Marques de Sapucaí) - each roughly having three to five thousand participants - are composed overwhelmingly of poor people from the city's sprawling suburbs . Basically, almost each neighborhood has a Samba club with a lot of people willing to wear their costumes and beat the drums for hours. ..The contest is based on best song, rhythm, pacing, costumes, etc. The Samba club that accumulates most points is the winner.   
                 Brazilian Carnival is a time where all the country is transfigured into a" land of magic and beauty   .  . It is very common these days the presence of world wide personalities .They go to Brazil to participate of these parade paying a lot of money to participate ...And thousands of people watch the parade on the Marques de Sapucaí Avenue. To get a ticket some times it is hard and the price is approximately US$200.   

                    But the most Brazil's happiest carnival celebrations occur in Bahia . In February, the capital of the state, Salvador, attracts thousands of visitors from all over the country and abroad. The difficult challenge is deciding what to do... You can take part in organized bands, like afoxés, get dressed in funky costumes, or simply dance to the sound of "axé music" .   
       

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