 Carnival of Brazil 2008 Brazilian
Carnaval
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Carnival is Rio's main event. It happens at the peak
of summer, when Cariocas are at their best. Festivities attract
thousands of people from all corners of the world. Carnaval, as
spelled in Portuguese,
is a 4-day celebration. It starts on Saturday, and ends on Fat Tuesday,
or Mardi-Gras. Dates change every year. Carnival Sunday is seven
weeks before Easter Sunday.
The origins of Carnival are unclear, but most agree that it started
as a pagan celebration in ancient Rome, or Greece. Carnival balls
were imported from Italy in the late nineteenth century, and had
their golden era in the thirties, with legendary balls at the Copacabana
Palace, and the Municipal Theater.
The Samba Parade began in the 30's - first timidly
at Praça XI, and later on Av. Presidente Vargas. It found
a permanent home in 1984 at the Sambodrome, in the Rio de Janeiro downtown area.
Today the event is broadcast to dozens of countries, and all Brazilian
states. Many people think of it as the greatest show on earth.
 There's
much more to Carnival than the Samba Parade, though. Street Carnival
is loads of fun, free, and it happens all over the city. You are
more than welcome to watch and participate. Banda de Ipanema is
one of the most traditional ones, attracting as many as 8,000 people!
You gotta have balls if you think this is not enough!
Hey, don't get us wrong... We are talking about the fabulous balls
that happen at the clubs and other venues! Pick out the right parties,
and learn the do's and don'ts. You will get an idea of the good
times waiting for you with our (Funny but) True Carnival Stories
We are sorry if you missed Carnival 2007. The
good news is that you're just in time to make plans for Brazilian Carnival
2008 in Rio de Janeiro! To get the best deals, take care of your hotel reservations
as soon as possible. Buy ahead your tickets for the Sambodrome.
You may even order a costume to march with a samba school, just
like a local. Try to arrive a few days earlier to explore the city.
There's so much to do and see on Carnival days and nights, that
you will hardly have time to sleep - let alone go on city tours...
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