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Rio Carnival Facts & Worksheets

Rio Carnival, often known as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” is a famous annual carnival that attracts millions of spectators worldwide. The festival, which takes place across the largest country in Latin America, Brazil, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be on the bucket lists of all travelers.

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Rio Carnival, often known as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” is a famous annual carnival that attracts millions of spectators worldwide. The festival, which takes place across the largest country in Latin America, Brazil, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be on the bucket lists of all travelers.

See the fact file below for more information about the Rio Carnival, or you can download our 21-page Rio Carnival worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • The Rio Carnival’s beginnings can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The Carnival was introduced to Brazil by Portuguese invaders between the 16th and 17th centuries, first presenting itself as the Entrudo, a popular holiday in which public games and lighthearted ridicule would run wild in the streets. 
  • The event evolved into different forms of expression over time, such as using masks and costumes. The monarch elite’s creation of carnival societies also helped the party’s popularity among people experiencing poverty.
  • The first Rio masquerade occurred in 1840, and polka and waltz took center stage. Later in the early twentieth century, Afro-Brazilians and pardos introduced the Samba and Batucada rhythms traditionally associated with the Rio Carnival by adapting different cultural inputs to produce a new musical genre. During this time, the Carnival rose to prominence as Brazil’s most famous festival.
  • Surprisingly, the most popular dance today, the samba, was not established until 1917. 
  • The Catholic impact of the festival can be seen in the expression Carne Vale, which means farewell to meat and relates to the Catholic practice of refraining from eating meat for 40 days after Ash Wednesday until Easter.
  • Abstinence is frequently extended to the drinking of alcohol or other luxurious vices. Knowing the history of the Carnival can help you appreciate the week-long celebration that currently draws millions of tourists from all over the world.

AFRICAN ROOTS OF THE RIO CARNIVAL

  • When African-enslaved arrived in Brazil, their music, dancing, and cultural customs formed an important element of the Carnival. 
  • African rhythms such as samba and clothes and dance styles influenced by Africa began to shape the Carnival’s identity. Enslaved people from Africa did not abandon their culture, bringing with them the habit of paying tribute to the gods through elaborate masks and costumes. 
  • In addition, they use bones, grass, feathers, or wood in supplication or to fight evil spirits. This is why the new Rio Carnival has such a rustic and earthy feel to it.
  • The Carnival took on a more organized character with the rise of cordes and ranchos in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Ranchos were highly structured ensembles with themed costumes, music, and choreography, whereas cordes were local groups that paraded through the streets, singing and dancing.
  • With the development of samba schools in the 1920s, the contemporary framework of the Rio Carnival began to take shape. These schools, which started as community groups, gathered people from the same area or social group to prepare for the Carnival procession. Each school selected a theme and built extravagant floats, costumes, and samba performances.

SAMBA SCHOOLS

  • During Carnival, the formal parades display each big school, augmented by the participation of celebrities, admirers, and guests who often pay enormous sums of money for their elaborate costumes. 
  • The formal parades are held in specially constructed arenas called Sambadromes designed by influential architect Oscar Niemeyer, in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Porto Alegre, and the Sambadrome de Uruguaiana in Uruguaiana, where “escolas de samba” from Brazil and their counterparts in Uruguay and Argentina (known as escuelas de samba) participate.
  • Sambadromes are built to cater to all social classes, with VIP lounges, tourist areas, and several styles of seating ranging from the most expensive to the cheapest for the poorest members of society. Those who merely want to view the procession has to pay for the prime seats.
  • Each school is grouped into separate parts or, alas, showcases glamour with colorful costumes and floats with unique effects.
  • Samba schools emerged in Rio de Janeiro, and they are now the most famous, producing possibly the most magnificent parades or the “greatest show on Earth.”

CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF RIO CARNIVAL

  • Each Carnival celebration absorbs elements of its local cultural customs. Each Carnival, however, has a few recurring elements.
  • The major highlight of every Carnival is an extravagant parade. Every Carnival features massive floats, vigorous marching bands, spectacular costumes, and a large number of participants. 
  • The immersive nature of Carnival is one of its most remarkable features. The Carnival’s fundamental idea is to honor a community’s distinct heritage while providing a great festival for everyone. Accept invitations to dance or march in the parade without hesitation.
  • The Carnival begins with an elaborate ritual in which the city of Rio hands over its key to King Momo, the mythological Greek God of mocking, who is portrayed by a very enormous guy at the Carnival. King Momo’s primary responsibility is to kick-start the gigantic carnival celebrations by opening the balls and parades, guaranteeing that everyone enjoys the time of their lives at the Carnival.
CARNIVAL BALLS
  • Carnival balls are an essential feature of the Rio Carnival. Many balls are held, the most well-known of which are the Scala Balls and the unique Magic Ball.  
  • The first Rio Carnival Masquerade Ball was held in 1849 and cost approximately two thousand reis. The popularity of the balls rose over time, and they finally became a standard component of the celebrations. Major institutions and hotels would host grand events, such as the Magic Ball at Copacabana Palace, which is still hosted today.

STREET CARNIVALS

  • Many carnival attendees are elsewhere because the procession takes place in the Sambadrome, and the balls are staged in the Copacabana Palace and beach. During carnivals, street celebrations are common and well-attended by locals. Elegance and grandeur are frequently abandoned, although music and dancing remain popular. The street festivals are open to the general public.
  • Bandas are quite familiar with street carnivals, especially because it takes nothing but jumping in to engage in the joy. 
  • Banda de Ipanema is a well-known Rio banda. 
  • Banda de Ipanema, Rio’s most irreverent street band, was founded in 1965.
  • Music is an important component of all facets of the Carnival. The samba found in Rio is known as Battucanada, which refers to the dance and music’s use of percussion instruments. 
  • During Carnival, the most famous and largest carnival festival in the world, street parades, blocos, and bandas take place around Rio. At any given time, more than 300 bandas could be going on.
  • When the Sambadrome was created in 1984, it had the unintended consequence of redirecting street parades from the downtown area to a ticketed performance venue. Since then, some samba schools have been inspired by an ideology centered on reclaiming public space and utilizing the carnival tradition of occupying the streets with parades or blocos. Many of these are for the local community but are open to everyone.

Rio Carnival Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Rio Carnival across 21 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Rio Carnival. The festival, which takes place across the largest country in Latin America, Brazil, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be on the bucket lists of all travelers.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Rio Carnival Facts
  2. Unlocking Word
  3. What Comes in Ur Mind?
  4. Flaunt that Rio Culture!
  5. Carnival in the World
  6. Have Fun!
  7. Diversity!
  8. Own Celebration
  9. Float that Float
  10. TourisThing
  11. Love from Rio

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rio Carnival?

The Rio Carnival, also known as Carnaval in Portuguese, is an annual festival held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the world’s most famous and vibrant celebrations, known for its elaborate parades, samba music, dance, and colorful costumes.

When does the Rio Carnival take place?

The Rio Carnival typically takes place in the weeks leading up to Lent, with the main festivities occurring in February or March. It varies each year, as the date of Easter, which determines the date of Carnival, changes annually.

What are the main components of the Rio Carnival parade?

The Rio Carnival parade features samba schools, which are large groups of performers who compete in a parade competition. Each samba school has its own theme, costumes, floats, and samba music. The parade is a spectacular showcase of artistry and creativity.

What are some traditional elements of the Rio Carnival?

Traditional elements of the Rio Carnival include samba music and dance, intricate costumes, colorful masks, and vibrant street parties. Street bands known as “blocos” also play a significant role in the celebration, as they lead street processions with music and dancing.

How long does the Rio Carnival last, and how do people celebrate?

The Rio Carnival typically lasts for several days, with the main parades taking place over the course of two nights. However, the entire celebration can extend for a week or more, with numerous events, parties, and festivities happening throughout the city. People celebrate by attending the parades, dressing in elaborate costumes, dancing, and enjoying the lively atmosphere in the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

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Link will appear as Rio Carnival Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 9, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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