This party has an electric atmosphere that is rarely matched. The celebration takes place all over Brazil just before the onset of Lent. The Carnaval has a heavy African Brazilian influence and several samba schools prepare to provide the talent for the events. The outfits on show are vibrant, with attention to detail on each piece. It's no surprise that once the celebrations start everything else in the city seems to stop.
The origins of the festival date back to 1641 in Rio de Janerio and, since then, it has expanded throughout Brazil. Each individual celebration has developed its own characteristics. Examples of this are "blocos," groups in elaborate outfits that can be characterized by their neighborhoods; many of these blocos have different routes and some may decide to remain on their street to represent where they are from.
In general the festivals present a range of musical styles, though the main two will be samba and axé. The unique charm about these carnivals, however, is the ability to bring a new experience every time, using the same music but varying according to those involved in the celebrations.
There are several styles of Carnaval celebrations, depending on the region:
- Sao Paulo Style
- Bahia Style
- Pernambuco Style
- Minas Gerais Style