About Carnival
Carnival Beginnings
Introduced by the Portuguese and with traditions leading back to the posh parties of Paris, Carnival began sometime around 1850. The elite settlers from Europe would throw class and custom aside, dressing in the poorer clothing of commoners, while the commoners donned the fine garments of royalty. The two classes mixed and mingled without fear of repercussions. Cross-dressing was, and still is, a colorful part of Carnival. The rule, if it could be called one, is that there are no rules. To borrow a slogan from a well-known American city, what happens at Carnival stays at Carnival.
Evolving
In the mid-19th century, Jose Nogueira de Azevedo was a shoemaker who marched through the streets on Carnival Monday playing drums, tambourines and whistles. He welcomed anyone who wanted to join in his march. This eventually became Ze Pereira. The Grandes Sociedades debuted in 1855 as a parade for aristocrats. About 80 members of the upper class, including the emperor, would wear masks and elaborate costumes and parade through town to the beat of music. In 1870, characters were introduced to the festivities, who would perform according to the costume they were given; other participants began to wear oversized papier-mache masks.
Samba
The samba, which is the primary music of Rio’s Carnival, was born at Rio. The samba is a ritual Candomble dance to drums and handclaps. At the end of the 19th Century, Tia Ciata, a Candomble priestess, used to have meetings in her home where live music was played while, in the backyard, others danced the samba. The two musical beats eventually combined to form what we call the samba today. The first song that was called a samba was composed in Tia Ciata’s house.
Native Brazilians and the Samba
Native Brazilians wanted in on the fun. By the early 20th century, the pulse-pounding beats of the samba joined the melting pot of music from several European cultures. The Samba Parade, one of the highlights of Carnival, is centered around the dance. The African-Brazilian roots give the samba an uninhibited flair. Samba schools compete in four other parades, including one for children. Participants are judged on costume design, dance choreography, band performance and how well the school kept to its Carnival theme. The schools also design floats, and the people riding on the floats wear the most elaborate costumes. Originally held in Rio’s downtown, the major parades and contests are held in a specially designed arena called the Rio Sambrodromo. Parades and competitions in Carnival date back to the late 18th century.