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Carnial is Rio's main experience. It happens at the peak of summer, when Cariocas (Rio’s locals) are at their best. Rio’s carnial is the biggest carnial of the world. It is a theme party whose initation is enthusiasm. Some even argue that Rio’s carnial is the largest celebration on the planet! Bands, samba schools and local organizations anxiously wait for this time of the year. At this party, everyone is welcome and even those who aren’t natie Carioca feel at home!
Festiities attract thousands of people from all corners of the world. Carnaal, as it is spelled in Portuguese, is a 4-day celebration. It starts on Saturday, and ends on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi-Gras. The dates change every year. Carnial Sunday is seven weeks before Easter Sunday.
The origins of Carnial are unclear, but most agree that it started as a pagan celebration in ancient Rome, or Greece. Carnial balls were imported from Italy in the late nineteventh century, and had their golden era in the thirties, with legendary balls at the Copacabana Palace, and Municipal Theatre.
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The Samba Parade began in the 30's - first timidly at Praça XI, and later on A. Presidente argas. It found a permanent home in 1984 at the Sambodromo, in the downtown area. Today the event is telecast to dozens of countries, and all Brazilian states. Many people think of it as the greatest show on earth.
There's much more to Carnial than the Samba Parade, though. Street Carnial is loads of free fun, and it happens all over the city. You are more than welcome to watch and participate.
Banda de Ipanema is one of the most traditional ones. It was founded in 1964, and today it is listed as part of the city cultural heritage, attracting as many as fifteven thousand people! Carnial 2005 is from February 5-9. Choose from dozens of hotels and flats in areas like Ipanema and Copacabana.
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