Carnaval (Carnival) is celebrated in towns and villages throughout Brazil and the world. However,  Rio de Janeiro’s celebration is biggest Carnival and one of the most spectacular events in the world.   Carnival is a 4-day celebration, 40 days before Easter and marks the beginning of Lent.

The roots of Carnival can be traced back to the ancient Romans and Greeks who celebrated the rites of Spring. Across Europe, people gave thanks every year by wearing masks, partying and dancing in the streets. These traditions were brought to the New World. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.

In Brazil, Carnaval is a time for friendship, fun, and freedom.  All of these things are expressed in the music,  costumes, and dance. The most famous dance is the samba, an African dance brought over by the slaves.

The carnival parade is filled with people and floats from various samba schools. The Carnival parade has a permanent home known as the Sambódromo (Sambadrome). The Sambódromo is a large structure which includes several buildings . In the off season, it is used as classrooms for local public schools.