On Feb. 28, the celebration that Brazil became known for across the world will commence. For four days, sometimes even a week, every city in the country will dress up to simply celebrate being alive: Carnaval.
Our version of Carnaval in the Mission is based on this Brazilian tradition. It began in the ’80s with the help of Danza Batucaje, a dance troupe specialized in folkloric dance and music from Salvador de Bahia, who recruited members of the Precita Eyes Community Art Center to perform with them.
Origins
The tradition of Carnaval was born in the sixteenth century among the Portuguese immigrant population in Brazil under the name “carne vale” or “farewell to the flesh.” This took place before the fast of alcohol, meat and other pleasures for 40 days prior to the resurrection of Jesus, commonly known as Lent in the Catholic religion.
During the party the Portuguese formed “cordões,” groups of people in costume that walked the streets while playing waltzes and dancing to them.
A product of influences from the native, and african slave population—who introduced bones, plants, and different kinds of gems into costumes, and brought musical rhythms like samba—this European precursor of Carnaval took on “pagan” characteristics that showcased local expressions of joy while revealing a clear legacy of African slave culture.
These cordões would be the ancestors of the “blocos” and colorful samba schools that grew and sparked crowded parades. The parades became so popular that the blocos began to compete amongst themselves to become the highlight of the summer.
The participation in the samba schools was so strong over the years that in 1984 the Department of Tourism of Rio de Janeiro offered a space to build the famous Sambadrome, a stadium designed by late architect and communist Oscar Niemeyer.
There, every February, nearly 1 million people from around the world go to witness the dancing of renowned samba schools—Mangueira (pioneer, created in 1928), Mocidade, Grande Rio and Beija Flor—to celebrate what a Brazilian friend Eduardo Andrade called “the celebration of being open to life.”
Salvador de Bahía
Although the most famous Carnaval is in Río de Janiero, other Brazilian states have adopted their own unique celebrations. In Salvador de Bahía, the party is spontaneous, participatory, and is rooted in African spirit.
Unlike Río, Bahia does not shut off a space for a parade of established floats. In Salvador, people walk and dance through the streets, forming one big bloco that runs 25 kilometers in six days. At night, they organize “camarotes”—celebrations offering various activities like movie screening, dancing to batucada or axé (rhythms of northeastern Brazil), or tasting delicious dishes at restaurants.
Carnaval is a symbol of popular fiesta, of playing, of masks—a party that allows you to leave the daily routine governing the entire year, to dress up in costume and dream of “being someone else.”
—Translation Gabriela Sierra Alonso