A car in the shape of a Star of David, representing Jewish immigration to Brazil, carried a lion as symbol of Judaism, a tall golden menorah and a model of the Western Wall. Of course, this was Carnival, and one dancer had a glittering Star of David necklace bouncing on her bare chest. Another samba school paid homage to Silvio Santos, the wealthy Jewish owner of Brazil's second-largest TV channel. The school described the life of Santos, mentioning his Greek background, but not the fact that he is Jewish. After the parade ended, some participants threw pieces of their luxurious costumes into the crowd.
Carnival traditionally is a time when the world turns symbolically upside-down.
The rich mix with the poor, men dress as women and the prohibited becomes permissible. Carnival also creates an industry of costume-makers and confectioners. Since each samba school is part of a community, preparations for the celebration help get kids and the unemployed off the streets. The Roman Catholic Church is not always happy with the way merrymakers turn the event into a celebration of nudity and promiscuity. Through the years, however, the church has been grudgingly forced to adopt Carnival into the church calendar.