From: dirceu@taurus.cse.kyutech.ac.jp (Dirceu G. Cavendish Jr.)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.brazil
Subject: Re: Carnaval in Brazil
Date: 10 Apr 92 11:48:54 GMT
Organization: Kyushu Institute of Technology, IIZUKA, Japan

In article <668@eagle.ukc.ac.uk> ddam@ukc.ac.uk (D.D.A.Moreira) writes:

{{
   I think that the carnival in Salvador is the best in Brazil (I am from Bahia 
   :-) ) far better then Rio. 

   The carnival in northeast is very different from Rio. In Rio it is made basi-
   cally with samba and its main point is the school of samba parade in the 
   "Sambodromo". The carnival last for 4 days. The school of samba parade 
   is a great show (maybe the greatest show in the world). But only the peo-
   ple from the schools of samba dance on the streets and the others (includ-
   ing the tourists) stay on the stands.

   The carnival in Salvador has different kinds of music (samba is only one 
   kind), as lambada, frevo, deboche, merengue, samba-reggae, tititi, afro-
   music, and each year a new rhythm is created or added. The "official" car-
   nival last for 7 days (it begins on thursday evening until wednesday noon).

   The parties begin in december 8, with the "ciclo de festas de largo". That 
   parties are small carnivals in some places in the city. The first one is the 
   Conceicao da Praia. Originally that parties were strong religious, but today 
   most people goes for fun, however they didn't lose the colours given by 
   the very particular way the african religions mixed with the catholic 
   church in Bahia. In this parties everybody dance together with music 
   played by the "trio-eletricos" (explanation later). There is one of this par-
   ties almost every week until the end of january, with an interruption in 
   christmas and new year, when there is the "reveion party". The tradition 
   says that everybody must dress white, the "Iemanja'" (the goodness of the 
   ocean and the beauty) colour at the reveion. At the following day there is 
   the "Nosso Senhor dos Navegantes" party in Boa Viagem (to you cure 
   your reveion hang over :-) ).

   In february, if the carnival happens to be at the end of the month, usually 
   there is the "summer project" that means carnival on the beaches each 
   weekend before carnival. Its marvellous because the beaches are full of 
   beautiful women wearing very small (for English or American standards :-)
    ) bikinis.

   The carnival happens through out the city but mainly at the centre. It is the 
   participation carnival, all the people goes to the streets to dance (lambada, 
   merengue, frevo, etc.) "atras do trio eletrico". Trio eletrico is a big truck 
   with a live band and thousands of watts of music and light, there are plenty 
   of then in carnival. For the people that knows Brazilian music you can 
   find, in the best "trio eletricos" people like Elba Ramalho, Pepeu Gomes, 
   Caetano Veloso, and even (last year) Paralamas do Sucesso.

   There are the "blocos", group of people dressed with the same costume 
   that dance together around a trio eletrico, protected by a string (that goes 
   around the bloco) and with "facilities" like beer, whiskey, cachaca, medi-
   cal care, the services available depends on the membership price (There 
   are plenty of blocos with a range to suit all preferences, anyone can join).
   Some famous are Mel, Beijo (com a banda Beijo), Crocodilo, Tras-os-montes,
   Os Internacionais, Mordomia, As Mucaranas (men dressed as women), Panela
   Vazia (Bloco do PT), Os Apaches do Tororo.

   There are the "blocos afro", they are similar in organization to the blocos, 
   but they try to show the african culture and rely on the percussion 
   (they don't have trio eletricos). They have always african themes on the 
   dressing and the music is the samba reggae or the "afoxe'", both with a 
   strong african percussion (but with a Bahiano spice). Some famous are the 
   Filhos de Gandi, the one that Gilberto Gil is member, Olodum, famous 
   outside Brazil it has a record with Paul Simon, Ile-Aie. Some themes they 
   use are the Ashanti empire in Africa, the Male kingdom, the slavery in 
   Brazil, the Palmares Quilombo.

   I used to go to the streets with friends without join any bloco (We call this 
   PopCorn bloco :-) ). Last year there was one million people in the streets 
   during carnival dancing together. There are some stands at Campo Grande, 
   in the town centre, they are made in wood and are mainly for tourist, chil-
   dren or old people. There is a contest to chose the best bloco in some cate-
   gories, but don't ask me about the champions nobody cares. Some people 
   call this the participation carnival because everybody goes to the streets to 
   participate in Rio the people have to practice during months to show the 
   wonderful presentation that the people goes to the stands to see.

   Unfortunately :-( this year I lost the carnival, but next year ... :-)))

   In the northeast the carnival has this characteristic, the people going to the 
   streets to participate not to see, it isn't as beautiful as Rio but, I think,
   is more enjoyable, hot and less commercial. Other good carnivals in north-
   east are Porto Seguro, that is very popular among tourists because is a 
   small paradisiac city in the south coast of Bahia, Olinda-Recife in Pernam-
   buco (that one I leave the explanations for the Pernambucanos, to avoid touch 
   in a sensitive matter between Bahianos e Pernambucanos, but I can't resist 
   to say that they play too much frevo. >;-) ) and Fortaleza Ceara. I don't 
   know a lot about the carnival in the north region (Belem).



   DILVAN

   -----------------

   ddam@ukc.ac.uk

}}

Nice description of brazilian carnival. I just want to add that, based on
your description, we share most of the nice things you pointed out.
However, we don't have too many music styles. I think Olinda carnival is
the best in Brazil, and I don't think we play too much frevo, as I don't
think bahianos play too much afro music. I'ts a matter of taste.

Yes, I'm from Recife (Pernambuco state).



D. Cavendish
Kyushu Institute of Technology
E-mail: dirceu@taurus.cse.kyutech.ac.jp
Newsgroups: soc.culture.brazil