As it's known, February in Brazil it's time for Carnival (well, since January we go to the streets to celebrate that carnival is coming). But, today we are going to tell you that isn't just in Brazil that we have this (amazing) holiday.
Let’s start with countries in America.
Canada
In Canada, the carnival it's not hot as is Brazil. Let me give you a example, at Saturday in Rio de Janeiro has the precision to measure 93,2 Fahrenheit while in Canada is expected to measure 24 Fahrenheit. To us, Brazilians, this is too cold, but to the people in Canada it's okay to go out on the streets to enjoy the carnival. Known as the biggest winter carnival in the world, the revelry in Quebec City lasts three weeks. During the festival there are musical concerts, snow sculptures, night stops and sports activities, for example, canoe competition and ice fishing.
United States
New Orleans, in Louisiana, is a more populous city of the state. And yes, has Carnival in the USA. Mardi Gras Festival is the Carnival celebration in this city. The foliage looks like the Brazilian. There are parades of blocks, floats, dancers. The difference is due to the color: purple, green and gold are the traditional colors of the party there. For those who want to enjoy New Orleans, the ideal is to arrive a few days before the high point of the celebrations, the "fat Tuesday".
Mexico
The carnival in Mazatlan, Mexico, it's very look like the Brazilian. People put on varied costumes, partygoers make parodies of famous people and many dress in clothing of the opposite sex. The big difference to Mexican to Brazilian carnival are the song. In Brazil we have the tradicional samba and in Mexico they use local songs, are also engaging and dancing.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican carnival is full of traditions, symbologies and cultural riches of the country. People go to the streets in costumes and painted faces. The main celebrations take place in La Vega. The Demon Cojuelos de La Veja, the fantasies surrounding this figure are undoubtedly the most popular among revelers.
Ecuador
People party going to the beaches playing water balloons on friends and also on unfamiliar people. There are parades with floats made from all kinds of flowers and fruits. In Ecuador the carnival lasts two weeks and is celebrated with water balloons, flowers and fruits.
Colombia
The festival that was considered by Unesco as "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity", has the climax with the Battle of Flowers. In the city of Bogotá there are a series of typical events and shows, dances and folk rhythms are presented, for example, cúmbia, pito, gaita, salsa, fandango, mapale and merecumbé.
But also has carnival in Barranquilla. For more than 200 years carnival celebrations have been held in there. Floats, costumes and lots of dancing characterize this celebration that mixes old local cultures, made up of natives, slaves and European Catholics.
Uruguay
When I was doing my research about the carnival around the world, I saw this information and the first thing that I thought was: How much cost to trip to Montevideo right now?
Carnival in Uruguay lasts, nothing more than, 40 days. Exactly FORTY days. The festival goes for all the country, but in Montevideo is stronger. Usually starts in the end of January and finish in the middle of March. The main attractions of the Uruguayan carnival include two colorful parades called the Carnival Parade and Parade of Llamadas or Comparsas.
Argentina
When walking through Gualeyguaychú, in Argentina, you can see that it looks a lot like a Brazilian beach town. An avenue full of bars, restaurants and young people in search of party to enjoy the Carnival. Speaking of folia, for those who expect simple parades, a surprise: there, the celebrations have a very Brazilian face - tiny bikinis, super produced floats and people dance until dawn.
As we can see, carnival it's not a owned by Brazil. We have carnival in France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and more and more. Although I have spoken about carnival in Canada, USA, Colombia, I should tell a little bit about the carnival in Brazil, rigth?
Brazil
In Brazil carnival happens in for all this huge country. From north to south. However, the most famous are the Northeast and Southeast. Brazilian northeast is very hot, with beautiful beaches and great blocks of carnival in the street. The most popular places are Salvador and Porto Seguro, both in Bahia, Recife and Olinda in Pernambuco and Fortaleza, Ceará.
However, it is in the Southeast that is Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It's in those two cities who has the most important samba schools, with greater weight, the carioca's samba schools. The most famous schools at Rio is Mangueira, Beija-Flor and the last champion Portela. In São Paulo, we have the Vai-Vai, Gaviões da Fiel and Perola Negra. But calm down, the school parades are only at night, so you can enjoy the street blocks during the day.
As for the blocks of street, in São Paulo we well known that is the block Agrada Gregos that will leave on Saturday, 10, at the Obelisco do Ibirapuera, starting at 13 o'clock.
In Rio, we have the oldest block in the city, Cordão do Bola Preta. It will also leave on the 10th, Saturday, however this block starts at 7 in the morning. That's right, seven in the morning. And if you've been wondering how long it's going to be until about two o'clock in the morning. The Cordão do Bola Preta will leave Rua Primeiro de Março in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
I believe that you are ready to choose the perfect country here in America to enjoy the carnival. I suggest Brazil, of course. I hope that you like it this different post, but you know, Brazilians cannot stay without talking about carnival!
To finish this huge post, we have a message: Athletes, take care!! Enjoy carnival, but also take care about your health!!!
