Have you ever heard of the Brazilian Carnival?
I grew up in Brazil and moved to Canada in 2018 when I was 22 years old. Throughout my life, the most important celebration of the year was the Carnival! We have 4 or even 5 days off to party in the streets, to celebrate our culture and to see the people we love! During these days, we focus on the positive in life and we're making the most of it! This year, the festival takes place from February 18 to 21.
The Carnival has undergone several changes since its creation.
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church tried to transform it into a pre-Easter religious celebration and that is why today it is celebrated about 47 days before the feast of Jesus' resurrection. The true origins of Carnival come from the pagan festivals of ancient civilizations, such as the Babylonians and the Greco-Romans.
In pagan festivals, the Carnival was seen as a party of the "upside down world", where people could forget their misfortunes for a few days and become whoever they wanted. This is why today, in Brazil - and in many other cultures - people dress up during the celebrations.
The parties were also a time of abundance! There were lots of banquets, alcoholic drinks and dancing. In Brazil, it's still like that! The parades are famous all over the world and for us, it has become a way to honor the diversity of our origins, our songs, our dances and our religions. It reminds us that everyone deserves to have fun in life, not just people who have money or who have a position of power in society. It's the people's party!
If you want to know a little more about the Brazilian Carnival, here is the official link for the festivities in Rio (the most famous party ): https://www.riocarnaval.org/fr/
- Ana