Definition

Carnivals are important yearly celebrations that generally take place in Catholic nations the week before Lent.

Before the 40 days of fasting, beginning on Ash Wednesday, throughout which believers of Jesus Christ brace themselves for the Easter festivities of Christ having risen from the dead, excesses stored up during the year are extravagantly consumed.

Such occasions often include fun symbolic social role reversals and a brief easing of sexual norms.

Explanation

Carnival usually features public festivities, including parades, open-air parties, and other shows that incorporate characteristics of a circus. People can put aside their normal individualism while wearing elaborate costumes and masks, heightening their feeling of group cohesion.

The grotesque body costumes that display exaggerated features like big noses, tummies, mouths, or elements of animal parts are its common characteristics. Other ingredients include:

• Abusive language.
• Distasteful acts.
• Portrayals of illness and gleeful death.
• A general reversal of everyday roles norms and guidelines.

Example

One of the biggest events of the year is Carnival in Brazil. Every year, various Brazilian areas have their unique celebrations, a time for music, dancing, and an abundance of delectable traditional and cultural cuisine.

Carnival is a celebration of the many unique and rich cultures Brazil has to offer and the mingling of several foreign traditions. It is historically observed with parades and fancy dress, becoming more popular yearly.

Big dancing and marching groups are known as samba schools which is the main part of the carnival. Each year, during Carnival week, they fight for a prize and contribute to celebrating Brazil’s societal culture.

Brazil widely celebrates this event, and it is celebrated relatively differently in each location, with a varied emphasis on the main attractions. Brazil’s northeastern area has participatory parades, while the southeast is famed for samba events.

Samba, marchinha, frevo, and axe are just a few of the musical and dance styles prevalent throughout the carnival.