Carnival

The Carnival is one of the Brazilian culture, customs, and etiquette that you should know. It is the main festivity in Brazil which earned the distinction of being “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The Rio Carnival starts on Friday until Tuesday or just a day shy of Ash Wednesday, a significant Catholic tradition that signals the start of Lent. At the heart of the Carnival is the samba, which is the perfect illustration of the Afro-European blend that defines Brazilian culture.

The top samba schools get the honor of performing in front of millions at the Sambodromo. It’s obvious by watching the performances at the Sambodromo the amount of preparation that goes into each dance step, the choice of song, and the selection of dancers to represent each school. If you really want to understand the question of what is Carnival, head off to the Sambodromo particularly on Carnival Sunday and Monday to experience first-hand why this annual tradition is visited by millions of people from all parts of the world.