Brazilian Carnaval by Fernanda L. Ferreira, Ph.D.
This “feast” of music and dance traditionally lasts several days in mid-February. The name comes from the Latin words carne meaning “meat” or “flesh,” and vale, meaning “ball” or “feast.” This was the time when Catholics would enjoy eating and drinking excessively just before the Lent period. Carnaval continues to be a “feast of excesses,” but its original religious nature has been lost to many Brazilians and Latin Americans.
The tradition of Carnaval celebration started with the seventeenth century Portuguese folkloric practice called entrudo when, during the weeks before Lent, people would throw eggs, water, or flour at passersby in the streets. The custom was based in mischief and fun, much like many other European traditions where tomatoes or oranges are thrown at people at the end of the harvest.
As a colonial country, Brazil was very much affected and influenced by other traditions originating in France and Italy, where Carnaval signified urban parades, with typical characters such as the Pierrot, the Colombine, and the Rei Momo, the King of Carnaval. During the nineteenth century, the first corsos or decorated car parades would appear. Groups of people who would decorate their cars and parade in the streets singing and dancing. These became more popular in the beginning of the twentieth century, and in Brazil the escolas de samba or “samba schools” were organized.
One of the first escolas de samba in Brazil was called Deixa Falar (literally meaning “Let Speak”), which later became known as Estácio de Sá, after a locality in Rio. Schools were later organized into a Liga de Escolas de Samba or a “League of Samba Schools,” which regulated the Carnaval parade in Rio. People wanted to know which school had the best performance, the most animated group of people, the best musical emsemble, the best costumes, and so on. Nowadays the Desfile de Carnaval or “Carnaval parade” in Rio de Janeiro lasts two days and follows a complicated set of rules. “Carnaval judges” rate the schools based on several artistic and musical categories. Each year the winner has bragging rights until the next Carnaval season!
Along with samba schools, cordões and blocos carnavalescos developed in which groups of people that would dress alike and march along singing, drinking, and dancing. These became increasingly popular with the addition of music that was being composed and played called the marchinhas carnavalescas or “little Carnaval songs.”
Carnaval Beyond Rio and São Paulo
In northeastern cities of Recife and Olinda, the Carnaval tradition is not based on samba but rather on more local musical styles, namely the frevo, which is a frenetic, rhythmic sound, and the maracatu, an African-based musical and dance tradition that includes elaborate costumes and a distinctive staccato beat.
In the city of Salvador, in the state of Bahia, the trios elétricos are basically large trucks that have been adapted to include a top platform with musicians that play a more electric samba sound, amplified by huge speakers that make most of the sides of the truck. People dance around these trucks and sing along with famous Brazilian musical performers. The trios elétricos are a show in and of themselves.
Salvador is known for its strong African connection, and many black musical groups, such as the Olodum, Ileyaê, and the Afoxé Filhos de Ghandi have put Brazil on the map as far as world music is concerned. If you want to hear a disctintive “black” sound in Brazil, check out these musical groups.
In Rio de Janeiro, the biggest parade of samba schools happens in the Sambódromo a place especially built for people to admire the parade. During Carnaval this is primetime entertainment on TV, since the schools are judged on a series of factors, such as overall originality, songs, costumes, dancing, and performance quality.
