Later, masks and costumes also served to disguise oneself during acts of wretched excess. Elaborate masquerade balls have become the opening event of Carnaval celebrations around the globe. A Galician custom of Spain is to throw flour and bran. In Venezuela, some people throw tomatoes and eggs, although confetti is more popular. Water balloons used to be common, but Venezuelan officials outlawed them because they caused traffic accidents.
Colombian children throw egg shells filled with colored or perfumed water.
Publicity reports showed Erroll Flynn, Irene Dunne, June Haver, Edward G. Robinson and other celebrities samba-ing and cavorting at masked balls and parades, further thrusting the reputation of Rio's Carnaval into the limelight. Some 100,000 revelers attend this live televised event. The dance originated in Bahia, the northeast province of Brazil, and evolved out of ancient rhythms and undulating belly movements of African slave dances and rituals. If you want to celebrate Carnaval as Brazilians do, start with a pitcher of caipirinha , a potent lime concoction that goes down smooth. It's made with cachaca, a Brazilian sugarcane spirit, but you can substitute vodka or white rum.