The year has started, but mainly for Brazilians, 2016 is a number until Carnaval is finished. Usually between February and March, when this holiday arrives, people’s anxieties are over. Beginning on Friday (5) and until Wednesday (10), known as Ash Wednesday. But, celebrations start before and continue after the last official day. In January, there were some of them and until the end of February there will be too. These days are full of color, music, happiness, glitter and confetti.
On February 5th and 6th, seven samba schools made their presentations at the Sambódromo do Anhembi. The special group is composed by fourteen schools and the second group by nine.
The presentation is evaluated by a polling of jurors. Along the runaway, there are ten towers in strategically located spots, so jurors can have a best vision and perception of items to be evaluated.
People are attracted not only by the party, but for the history that are represented there too. Each school chooses a theme to be portrayed. It is a dynamic and visual way of telling a history.
The actress Claudia Raia was the theme chosen by Nenê de Vila Matilde; a samba school of Rio is going to be honored by the school from São Paulo Tatuapé; the act of giving and receiving gifts are the theme of Dragões da Real, it will be presented on the view of the gift that is offered, received, rejected, shared and sometimes not accepted, from Christmas gifts to Valentines Day.
One of the most victorious samba schools, Mocidade Alegre, choose the 100th anniversary of samba, which has an African origin, as a theme. The feeling of femininity and motherhood will be compared to Virgin Mary, which will be the challenge of Águias de Ouro. Traveling in the imagination, the samba school Vai-Vai picked France as their subject.
What catches the attention of the public is how the costumes are made. Creativity here is the most important ingredient and responsible for this big spectacle. A big group is responsible for the process of making the idea into concrete costumes and cars. They spend hours dedicating exclusively for the manufacturing of ornaments, sometimes a year before those costumes hit the runaway. It is a hard life dedicated for carnival only and making people fascinated. So, for them our appreciation!
The carnival lovers will crowd the bleachers for the presentations. Until the sunrise they will be paying attention to little details, admiring the ornaments, the colors and the music!
Out of Sambodromo to the street, we have the streets blocks (or bloquinhos de rua). Quite new in São Paulo, although it’s a tradition in Rio and Salvadors, the bloquinhos gather people on the streets for an outdoor party. Because Carnaval should be celebrated by everyone and not only side the gates of the samba schools presentations.
Bands sing lots to a mixture of rhythms and the famous carnaval marchs. Forró, Axé, Samba are just some of our local rhythms and our cultural wealth. It is a reunion of different people that just want to have fun.
They have a specific address so that people can concentrate and than they have a route established The city’s streets get full with happiness! The costumes are unusual and fun!
Everyone is free to be who you they want to be and do what you they want! It is a time to be open-minded!
There are so many positive and attractive points that we can only enjoy this party!