Carnival (Holiday)
Alcohol, sex, outrageous costumes, and partying are all related to Carnival. People who are familiar with this holiday may think this is all Carnival is, while there is really much more behind it. Carnival has evolved into something totally different from what it began. Besides the fact that Carnival gives people a reason to get drunk and crazy, it is important to many cultures throughout the world.
Carnival originated from an ancient Greek festival in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine. From there the Romans began to hold their own festival similar to that of the Greeks. The Romans held a celebration in honor of a Roman god “Bacchus,” where men and women would gather together, get naked, and have a day of drunken fun. The Catholic Church began to hold a similar tradition, but was altered a little from that of the Greeks and the Romans. The tradition started by the Catholic Church in Italy consisted of people dressing up in festive costumes right before the first day of Lent. Because Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, they named the holiday Carnival, which comes from the word “carnevale” meaning “to put away the meat.” As time went on the celebrations of Carnival in Italy became more and more popular, and eventually started spreading throughout other countries. As more people began to participate in the festivities of Carnival, it began to turn into something completely different from what the Catholic Church had originally intended. The days of which Carnival are celebrated are the last few days before Lent, which is 40 days of personal reflection, sin free, abstinence, and fasting. People began to use these couple days before Lent as days of freedom to do whatever they desired.
Today, Carnival is a tradition held in many South American, European, and African countries throughout the world, but it is much more popular celebration in certain countries such as Brazil, where is the most important holiday to Brazilian people. The celebration held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the world. The Brazilian carnival is thought to have originated from a Portuguese pre-lent festival called “entrudo.” It was a celebration in which people would fill the streets and throw mud, water, and food at each other, which would usually end in riots. During the 19th century, Rio de Janeiro was introduced to groups of people called “cordoes.” These were groups of people who would go up and down the streets playing music and dancing. Today the groups of people are known as “blocos,” which consist of people dressed up in costumes that have a theme. Blocos are formed through a neighborhood or suburb and have a music group or an entourage of people to go along with them. The parade in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival is put on by “samba schools.” Samba schools began in Rio in 1928, and now are a key aspect in the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. Each school has thousands of members dressed up in coordinated costumes and they dance down the streets to a rehearsed routine. Each samba school must have a central theme, such as historical events or famous Brazilian figures, a song that relates to the theme, and huge floats that really express the theme. The samba schools rehearse all year for their Carnival appearance. People from the communities work together to make sure the samba schools have what they need for a successful parade.
Carnival officially goes from the Friday to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It begins 40 days before Easter and is four days and four nights of non-stop celebration. For Brazilians, Carnival isn’t about history or the celebration of a famous god or person. It is a time of freedom, friendship, and almost a week of no work. It gives the people the freedom to do what they want for four days, which is usually partying. It’s a time when people can cross the line. Men dress up like women, poor people cover themselves in glitter, people wear outrageous costumes or even nothing at all, and there is a lot of alcohol and sex. Costumes typically consist of lots of feathers and a lot of the time little skin coverage. The celebration is full of dancing, music, eating, and drinking.
The origins of Carnival date back centuries. Even though the celebrations during Carnival have radically changed from what they began to what they are now, it doesn’t mean it isn’t import to many people. Originally Carnival was a religious celebration, but for some people, such as Brazilians, it is celebration of freedom to do what ever you want. Although most people don’t celebrate Carnival the way it was intended to be, it is still a very important holiday to cultures around the world.
Carnival originated from an ancient Greek festival in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine. From there the Romans began to hold their own festival similar to that of the Greeks. The Romans held a celebration in honor of a Roman god “Bacchus,” where men and women would gather together, get naked, and have a day of drunken fun. The Catholic Church began to hold a similar tradition, but was altered a little from that of the Greeks and the Romans. The tradition started by the Catholic Church in Italy consisted of people dressing up in festive costumes right before the first day of Lent. Because Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, they named the holiday Carnival, which comes from the word “carnevale” meaning “to put away the meat.” As time went on the celebrations of Carnival in Italy became more and more popular, and eventually started spreading throughout other countries. As more people began to participate in the festivities of Carnival, it began to turn into something completely different from what the Catholic Church had originally intended. The days of which Carnival are celebrated are the last few days before Lent, which is 40 days of personal reflection, sin free, abstinence, and fasting. People began to use these couple days before Lent as days of freedom to do whatever they desired.
Today, Carnival is a tradition held in many South American, European, and African countries throughout the world, but it is much more popular celebration in certain countries such as Brazil, where is the most important holiday to Brazilian people. The celebration held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the world. The Brazilian carnival is thought to have originated from a Portuguese pre-lent festival called “entrudo.” It was a celebration in which people would fill the streets and throw mud, water, and food at each other, which would usually end in riots. During the 19th century, Rio de Janeiro was introduced to groups of people called “cordoes.” These were groups of people who would go up and down the streets playing music and dancing. Today the groups of people are known as “blocos,” which consist of people dressed up in costumes that have a theme. Blocos are formed through a neighborhood or suburb and have a music group or an entourage of people to go along with them. The parade in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival is put on by “samba schools.” Samba schools began in Rio in 1928, and now are a key aspect in the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. Each school has thousands of members dressed up in coordinated costumes and they dance down the streets to a rehearsed routine. Each samba school must have a central theme, such as historical events or famous Brazilian figures, a song that relates to the theme, and huge floats that really express the theme. The samba schools rehearse all year for their Carnival appearance. People from the communities work together to make sure the samba schools have what they need for a successful parade.
Carnival officially goes from the Friday to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It begins 40 days before Easter and is four days and four nights of non-stop celebration. For Brazilians, Carnival isn’t about history or the celebration of a famous god or person. It is a time of freedom, friendship, and almost a week of no work. It gives the people the freedom to do what they want for four days, which is usually partying. It’s a time when people can cross the line. Men dress up like women, poor people cover themselves in glitter, people wear outrageous costumes or even nothing at all, and there is a lot of alcohol and sex. Costumes typically consist of lots of feathers and a lot of the time little skin coverage. The celebration is full of dancing, music, eating, and drinking.
The origins of Carnival date back centuries. Even though the celebrations during Carnival have radically changed from what they began to what they are now, it doesn’t mean it isn’t import to many people. Originally Carnival was a religious celebration, but for some people, such as Brazilians, it is celebration of freedom to do what ever you want. Although most people don’t celebrate Carnival the way it was intended to be, it is still a very important holiday to cultures around the world.
posted by John Weber at
4:08 PM
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