The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is one of the most entertaining street celebrations in the whole world: four days of a wild carnival and samba party in which the whole city of Rio de Janeiro is totally dedicated to having fun. The carnivals were invented in Europe, but the Carioca Carnival has become a symbol of the Brazilian culture and people. It's considered the greatest summer Mardi Gras, even under Rio’s 40ºC heat! Rio’s Mardi Gras is marked in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest carnival in the world, and it attracts Brazilian locals as well as tourists from all over the planet.

[caption id="attachment_7641" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Rio de Janeiro Carnival Rio de Janeiro Carnival / source[/caption]
The Samba Schools are neighborhood communities in Rio that organize huge samba-themed parades, which are the most essential part of the culture of Rio de Janeiro carnival. Most of the members of the samba schools live in the Favelas of Rio -- the city’s poor suburbs -- and many of them are unemployed. Despite the hardships they face, these Brazilians express their passion for samba through the magic colorful parades of the Cariocas. They are the true heart of this fantastic celebration that is Rio Carnival! If you are visiting Rio de Janeiro, you can go to the samba school squares to watch the samba rehearsals (from Thursday to Sunday) and listen to the best Samba in Rio. The most widely known and highly recommended samba schools for tourists are Salgueiro, Mangueira, Vila Isabel, and Unidos da Tijuca. Remember that these samba squares are in a poorer area, so the best way to get there is by taxi. As always, avoid wearing a backpack, and keep electronic devices and money in a safe place.
The Samba Schools’ Parade is a symbolic samba show with huge decorated trucks and hundreds of people dressed up with costumes, usually representing Brazilian historical moments and important people. The carnival trucks'preparation, costumes, and choreography take the whole year before the celebration and mobilize entire communities that dance in the samba schools. After the parade, the schools are judged and scored. The champions march again a few days later in triumph. We hope you join us at this celebration and have the best fun of your whole life in the Rio de Janeiro carnival!   [caption id="attachment_7642" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Samba dancers at Rio de Janeiro's Carnival Samba dancers at Rio de Janeiro's Carnival / source[/caption]
 

By Albano Moura