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Carnival Carnival Carnival, which takes place throughout Brazil, is a moveable feast that is tied to the religious Calendar. It is a traditional pre-Lenten celebration which ends on Ash Wednesday.
Carnival activities around Brazil normally take place from the Friday prior to Ash Wednesday and continue up to and including Ash Wednesday itself. In some cities the celebrations will spill over through the entire week and include the following weekend. Most Brazilian offices and business will close for the week of Carnival in much the same way companies in many parts of the world close between Christmas and the New Year. One of the traditional highlights of carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the parade of the top samba schools which take place on the Sunday and Monday nights of carnival along the purpose built Passarela do Samba (Sambódromo), located on Avenida Marques de Sapucaí, close to the city centre. The winners’ parade, featuring the top samba schools from all the divisions, will take place on the following Saturday (12 February in 2005).
(click on the picture to see the Sambódromo in detail) Organised by the League of Samba Schools and the Rio Tourist Board (Riotur), tickets for the parades can normally be reserved through most good tour operators. Tickets for the grandstand are priced at around CAD$ 237.00 while a six-seater box will cost approximately CAD$ 2,370.00 (CAD$ 395.00 per head). It is also possible to take part in the parade and dance with the Samba Schools. For more information, either contact the Samba Schools direct or speak to one of the Latin American specialists tour operators, which are listed in the Tours & Packages section of this site. The dates for the Sunday and Monday night parades through 2010 will be:
In 2004, Beija-Flor, one of the most traditional of all the Rio samba schools, won the title. The 14 schools which will parade in two groups on Sunday,6 February and Monday,7 February 2005 will be: Beija-Flor (P) Mangueira (P) Grande Rio (P) Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel (P) Viradouro (P) Salgueiro (P) Unidos da Tijuca (P) Porto da Pedra (P) Império Serrano (P) The most recent winning samba schools at Rio’s carnival have been: • 2004 Beija-Flor • 2003 Beija-Flor • 2002 Mangueira • 2001 Imperatriz Leopoldinense • 2000 Imperatriz Leopoldinense • 1999 Imperatriz Leopoldinense • 1998 Mangueira • 1997 Unidos do Viradouro • 1996 Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel • 1995 Imperatriz Leopoldinense • 1994 Imperatriz Leopoldinense But carnival is not just about Rio de Janeiro. It is celebrated throughout the country. Other major carnival celebrations are held in Salvador, Recife and Olinda. Useful links to carnival in other parts of Brazil include: Salvador: www.centraldocarnaval.com.br (P) Recife: www.recife.pe.gov.br/carnaval (P) Olinda: www.olinda.com.br |
Travel & Tourism  |
