Brazil Carnival

Opening Wing in the Carnival of Brazil: Origins & Definition

A carnival parade in Rio Brazil is made up of a series of conventions and criteria, which somehow regulate the amazing show watched by millions of people around the globe. Some of the evaluated criteria include the size of floats, parade timing, and harmony within the samba-school members, which are analyzed by a judging commission. The opening wing or “Comissao de Frente”, to use the original expression in Portuguese, is also one of these criteria examined by the carnival judging panel, to help determine the parade contest winner of each year. To understand why this element became a mandatory element in Brazilian parades, we have to go back at least 150 years in the history of Brazil´s Carnaval. Below we will provide a small summary of the opening wings ´origins, innovations and present characteristics so readers can enjoy the carnival culture in Brazil with more comprehension.

In the midst of 1850´s, before samba-schools formally existed, street carnival guilds called ‘carnival societies’, or in Portuguese, “sociedades carnavalescas” used to march in Rio´s street Carnivals. These organized clubs and samba associations celebrated Carnaval the old way, in a procession, and revelers would wear rich European costumes. These were the first carnaval groups assembled somehow in a parade. During these days, in the beginning of the caravan, men rode horses and wore tailcoat and top hats ahead of the floats literally opening the parade / procession, and greeting spectators. Later, horses and carriages were substituted by open cars at the procession, in what would be called “Corso de Carnaval”. In essence, the samba-schools from today “borrowed” the idea from the Carnival Societies of the last quarter of the 1800´s in Brazil.

Isnard Araújo and Candeia, two famous samba scholars, wrote in a book called “Escola de Samba – Arvore que Nunca Esqueceu Raiz” – that the first samba-school to present a formal opening wing during an official parade was Portela. This fact was confirmed by Hiram Araújo, another renowned samba historian in Brazil, and by carnaval researcher Amaury Jório in the book “Escolas de Samba em Desfile”. From that moment on, other samba-schools started to have a “Comissão de Frente” on carnaval parades. Brazilian journalist Francisco Duarte, listening to testimonials from Unidos da Tijuca Samba-School founders, said that ahead of parade there was usually a live animal: “once there was a frog, another time a little she donkey, and finally, in 1936, a school member was there in a dragon costume greeting and opening way through people”. After this live animal, escorted or carried by a samba-school member, there was an opening float, usually a boy carrying a signboard made of painted cardboard. Preceding the Opening Wing, circus type clowns known as Tico-Ticos wearing satin suits came up, carrying their big walking sticks and cages.

First Innovations at Parades

Vizinha Faladeira, the first Samba-School to win a carnaval contest in Brazil, made a “small revolution” in the Carnaval of 1935, and their great novelty was exactly the Opening Wing, elegantly composed by 12 limousines. In 1936, Vizinha Faladeira Samba-School was again innovative and brought the Comissão de Frente on horses, just like the way Great Carnaval Societies (Grandes Sociedades) used to do.

From 1938 on, the Opening Wing became part of the official regulation for the parades. It was then formed by distinguished samba-school members, like directors from the board, patrons, elder samba players, or important people from community. This group had the mission to present the school to the jury to the carnaval crowd and authorities, while receiving applause from samba enthusiasts. They would go marching by foot.

Throughout the years, the Opening Wing always found a way to evolve and present a different look throughout its outfits, posture, in the presentation, and members / components. In 1965, in the Carnaval of the IV Centenary, Salgueiro Samba-School presented “little donkeys” as Opening Wing (typical from the “folguedos” – typical popular festival from several regions of Brazil). The first time though women came on a “Comissao de Frente” was in 1969 by Samba-School Imperatriz Leopoldinense. They represented the Africans and the theme was “Brazil, lovely flower of three races”.

In 1978, another historical curiosity: Estação Primeira de Mangueira Samba-School presented two Opening Wings during their parade. The first, which would be analyzed by the jury, was formed by women, and the second, formed by the elders from the samba-school like Cartola, Nelson Cavaquinho, Grande Otelo, and others. Today, Comissão de Frente may be formed by men, women, or even children. They are fancy dressed, they come in white tie, black tie, suits, or costumes, whatever the parade-theme requires.

In case the samba-school chooses costumes according to the theme, the Comissao de Frente may go on parade developing choreography, dancing the samba, or simply walking slowly. There are regular and specific rehearsals for their members. Comissao de Frente has its performance ahead the school or after abre-alas ( opening float) and has a maximum and a minimum number of members, which is determined by the parade contest regulation.

Since the Opening Wing became a requirement for the contest judgment, samba-schools always give it special attention today, hiring choreography specialists, teachers and dancers, so as to avoid losing points in this contest criterion. In 1990, the Liga Independente ( Samba Association ) reduced the score value in its judgment criteria, same as occurred to Mestre-Sala and Porta-Bandeira, but, in 1991, the scores values became just like the other requirements. Whatever the “samba scholars” might think of in terms of criteria, keep an eye at this interesting portion of the parade. Just like in movies, the Opening Wing maybe a film preview, providing us small hints as to what the parade show will demonstrate us ahead!

costumes for carnival in brazil ?!?!!!?

whats some information on the costumes from carnival in Rio de Janeiro or Brazil in general ? are there any significance to certain accessories (feathers, beading, colours) or any other information on the clothing that they wear ? thank you

The most famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro is made by a series of samba schools who compete against each other for the best parade. Each school selects a theme and all the clothing has to mean something in that theme. All the parades have to have certain elements which compose the parade such as: the baianas (baianas in Rio carnival have big elaborate costumes http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3575/3349779565_9da850b344.jpg and normal baianas are like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Caetit%C3%A9_baianas.jpg ), the queen of the drums (rainha da bateria), the floats, and the Commission of Front (abre alas), flag holder and master room… What color, style and ornaments they choose, has to mean something to the theme the samba school chose. For instance, if they choose a jungle theme parade, they have to make everything so that it reminds you of elements of the jungle. Also, each samba school’s “master room” and the flag holder wear the colors of their samba school flag http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Unidos_de_Vila_Isabel.jpg

In the carnaval as Salvador, people pay a great deal of money to be in a “block” parade. When they do that, they receive a shirt and they have to wear that shirt so that the organizers know that they belong to the “block”. These people have an almost VIP place next to the sound truck where the singers are. This truck slowly moves down a vast avenue. So what these people wear means that they are part of a group that paid to be closer to the singers.

http://arquivos.tribunadonorte.com.br/fotos/22207.jpg

http://www.moderna.com.br/moderna/didaticos/ei/aventuradeaprender/images/Salvador1.jpg

In Recife, many groups of people dress in the frevo costumes and dance frevo.

http://www.365diasviajando.com/fotos/carnavalrecife.jpg

More on that here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frevo

And the last type of costume I can think of is the crazy costumes people wear in some street carnivals: transvestites, mosters, clows… These are worn as pleased by people for fun. But you can just go with your regular clothes to party.

I think there are more costumes that may mean something in carnival, but I don’t know them that well. I’ll leave it for someone else to describe.

Carne Carnival Cheap Eats I have some bad in people. One was a clown. You do not expect, even as clowns, let alone fall in with them, but that was brilliant, in a Charlie Chaplinish way. Or early Woody Allen, that is: Everything you need to do is take him to see and pee pants.

Brazil Tours

Destination Guide to Explore Natural Beauty of Brazil, Amazon

Travel to Brazil is like being in perpetual motion. It’s up to you… dancing samba at the world famous Carnival in Rio de Janeiro or experiencing capoeira on the beach with music that evokes its African fight-dancing origins. The musical rhythm is transported into sports…playing volleyball on the beach or watching a football match at Maracana stadium can be more than a sport and become an eternal dance. The pace of Brazil is unique and deep, earning the title given by some as the sexiest and most vibrant nation on the planet, a magnet that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Brazil’s natural wealth is felt in all directions. The vast wealth of the Brazilian Amazon passes through its economic center of Manaus. The city is the door to the Amazon basin, attracting visitors from throughout the world on an Amazon River cruise or to one of several Amazon lodges into the surrounding jungle. A great diversity of wildlife can even be found on the edge of Manaus, home to a variety of rare animals, such as the Pied tamarin, an endangered primate.

Straddling Brazil’s border with Bolivia and Paraguay, the Pantanal is the world’s largest freshwater wetland, a Texas-sized seasonally flooded plain drained by the tributaries of the Paraguay River.  About 80 percent of the Pantanal is in Brazil. In the wet season (Nov-Apr), rivers swell and spill over to cover vast alluvial plain for months. As the waters recede (from May onwards), the land begins to dry and the situation slowly reverses. In winter (Jun-Aug), temperatures can fall at night, however the summers are hot and humid. The annual floods, fed by tropical rains, create a giant nursery for aquatic life, including 260 species of fish, from the giant pintado to the tiny, voracious piranha. The receding waters attract a great influx of birds and other animals – one of the hemisphere’s greatest natural phenomena. Over 650 bird species have been spotted, including the hyacinth macaw, jabiru stork, plumbeous ibis, both blue-throated and red-throated piping guans, rhea, toucans, cuarasow and roseate sponbill, making birding in the Pantanal a must. Another impressive sight is the jacaré (Yacare Caiman), a tame relative to the alligator.

After a tour of Rio de Janerio, follow the Route of Gold as it rambles along rugged mountains from the beautifully preserved colonial gold mining towns of Ouro Preto and São João del Rei to the ancient seaport of Paraty. This bounty of gold provided the wealth to build the royal colonial seat of Rio de Janeiro as well as the Old World capital, Lisbon. The richest deposits of gold ever found in the Americas even financed England’s Industrial Revolution!

Traveling around this country is more than just sightseeing in Brazil! It is having a time to smell every tropical flower and caipirinha in hand, get to know the warm-hearted Brazilian people!

Select one of pre-designed Brazil tours or a custom tour of Brazil and all South America travel! For more information you can visit our online resource at Southamerica.travel

Monster Mash: Art Institute of Chicago sues over new wing; Kennedy Center gets big donation
– Lawsuit: The Art Institute of Chicago is suing a London engineering firm for what it calls delays and shoddy engineering in its Modern Wing addition that opened last year. (Chicago Tribune) — Windfall: The Kennedy Center for the Performing…

Rio De Janeiro Brazil

Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

Rio De Janiero is the second biggest city of Brazil and also is the capital city of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The city is sometimes referred to “The Marvelous City”, due to its history, culture and beautiful natural beauty scenes. The city has also served as the capital of the country for many years. From 1808 to 1821 Rio de Janeiro was also the capital of the great Portuguese Empire. Inside Brazil Rio de Janeiro is commonly called as just Rio. The city is mostly famous for its natural heritage and beaches. But provided with these facts Rio is still considered as a very violent city because of some major social issues and problems.

Geographically the exact location of the city is the Brazil’s Atlantic coast. Most of the covered area of the city faces the south. The city is very much abundant in rocks, stones, trees, forests, and natural greenery. Rio totally covers an area of about 456.5 square miles. And the population is believed to be close to 6,136,652.

The climatic conditions are very hot and humid throughout the year in Rio. The temperature mostly stays above 40 degrees. The south side is much cooler side of the city because of the cool breezes coming from the ocean. Basically the south side of the city is mostly visited by tourists because all of the beaches of Rio are located in the south. The city enjoys a long run of rainfall which mostly happens during the months of December to March.

Rio de Janeiro faced a real boost in the economical field when it was the capital city of Brazil. Many international organizations opened their offices in the city which was a huge jump in the economy. When oil fields were discovered in the city then major oil and gas companies invested heavily in the city. Today Rio de Janeiro produces oil which is used in the whole of Brazil. Telecom sector was also very much attracted by the rapid growth and they started to open their headquarters in Rio. Many multinational companies such as IBM, Coca Cola and many others have offices within the city boundaries.

Rio is considered as the cultural capital of the country. Rio itself is considered as a history book of Brazil. Music is really an important factor in the culture of Brazil. The traditional song of the city is named as “Cidade Maravilhosa” which in English means the marvelous city. It is considered as the anthem of Rio de Janeiro.

In the field of sports, the recent event which took place in the city was being chosen as a destination and place for conducting 2016 Summer Olympics. Rio de Janeiro is also scheduled to be a venue for 2014 Football World Cup. The final of the world cup is decided to be played in Maracanã Stadium which is considered one of the biggest stadiums of football in the world. Rio has also held many formula one races. The city successfully hosted some of the major formula 1 championships such as the “The Brazilian Grand Prix”.

Discover Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

Brazil drop Santos teenager Neymar over indiscipline
Santos teenager Neymar, who made an exciting Brazil debut last month, has been dropped from October friendlies as a disciplinary measure, coach Mano Menezes said on Thursday.

Brazil Holidays
AUSome – Rio de Janeiro Holidays

Brazil Dating Questions:

what is the country with the biggest number of public holidays?

like i am from Brazil and here the people say no other country has as much holidays as us, but id like to know if tha is true or if that is a myth?

The US has plenty of holidays. We have friggin’ holidays for EVERYTHING. We have Valentine’s Day in February, then we have Sweetest Day in October. They’re identical, except Sweetest Day was created by the Hallmark card company. Today is Flag Day. Two weeks ago was Memorial Day. We also have President’s Day, Labor Day, and about 50 other ones, lol.

Here’s a list of Federal holidays that we get time off work for. We also have religious holidays (Easter, Christmas, Hanukah), St. Patrick’s Day, etc. I’m telling you–people here will celebrate for ANY reason, lol.

http://www.opm.gov/fedhol/2007.asp

How To Enjoy Your Brazil Travel

Summer starts in December and ends in February in this South American country. So before going on a trip to Brazil, one has to have enough information on what to bring. Here are a few tips to help in deciding in what to prepare for a trip to this fine country.

* Protect your photo equipment and other equipment sensitive to humidity.

Humidity is high in Brazil. Sealable plastic bags are also useful, so make sure to bring some.

* Bring your medication and prescription.

If you brought some medication, make sure you declare it at the Customs. There are also some drugs that can be bought from the chemist without a prescription.

* Buy mosquito repellent and sun block when you get there.

These are of good quality and are suitable formulated for the conditions of the country.

* Get Hepatitis shots before leaving for Brazil.

Hepatitis A, B and C cases are prevalent in Brazil. Also, always wash your hands before eating. Use appropriate disinfectants and antiseptics.

* Pack light

Most air carriers have a luggage limit of 20 kilos. Having your clothes washable and mix-matched for different look is more advisable than carrying more clothes. When not on a business trip, pack casual clothes as most Brazilians dress casually.

* Keep copies of all your important documents.

You may leave copies of these with a friend back home, or keep copies in a separate location from the originals. You can also email the copies to yourself.

* Bring a pair of sandals

If the reason for the trip to Brazil is the beaches, then a pair of sandals, together with one’s bathing suit and hat is necessary.

* Bring some deodorant and perfume.

One sweats too here and these essentials are very handy.

* Never leave your belongings unattended.

If you can settle for disposable cameras, then, do so.

* Learn some Portuguese.

Knowledge of Portuguese can help when communicating with the locals. English, Spanish, German, French and Italian are also spoken in tourist areas.

* Have valid entry documents.

One’s passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Foreign tourists are given a maximum of 180 days to stay in 1 year. Renewals for 90 days may be obtained from Policia Federal.

* Have some cash handy.

Major credit cards- MasterCard, Visa, Amex and Diners – are accepted, as well as traveler’s checks. Cash will be needed if you are going outside the major cities.

With these guidelines, one can look forward to having an enjoyable travel to Brazil.

Brazil Carnival Dates
Brazilian Carnaval – Rio de Janeiro

Brazil Dating Questions:

when is carnival 2008?

I’m going to be in Brazil in March of ’08…I keep finding that Carnival is 40 days prior to Easter, but when I find actual dates of activities in Brazil…I keep finding February only. Please help!

it comes in second week of Feb

What Is Rio Carnival 2011 And How Can I Get Involved?

Are you looking to have a wild and unique experience? Are you looking to cut loose in 2011 and explore other cultures and events? If so, then you should consider the unique experience known as Rio Carnival 2011! Rio Carnival 2011 is one of the largest Carnival 2011 events of its kind in the world. This event takes place at different times each year. In 2011 the exact dates are from March 5th to 8th.

Rio Carnival 2011 generally takes place 40 days prior to Easter in the states.  During this time residents in Brazil close down all stores and businesses and focus on this unique and enriching time from day to night! It includes non-stop parties, festivals, and plenty of street bands events designed for the whole family. It is in fact one of the best Carnival 2011 events and is also one of the fastest booked events in Carnival history.

How Can I Get Involved In Rio Carnival 2011?

If you are curious about getting involved in Carnival 2011 in Rio, then you should begin planning immediately. The best way to do this is to immediately make use of a booker who can assist you with planning out every aspect of your Rio Carnival 2011 trip. If you don’t book early, you could actually miss out on some of the biggest attractions during this Carnival 2011 event.

For instance, the Samba Parade is one of the largest and most spectacular events during this time. It is a 9-hour event that is one of the highlights of this type of adventure. However, tickets for this event quickly sell out months before the event takes place. Therefore, you will want to make use of a professional booker in order to quickly ensure that you are able to attend these types of highly anticipated and famous events.

Additionally, when you book in advance for Carnival 2011 you may be able to acquire significant discounts that you will be unable to obtain if you are booking at the last moment. That is why many people book their trip to this event immediately after experiencing it the first time, just to ensure that their spot is saved for the following year and so that they can save themselves extra money.

Where Can I Find A Booker For This Event?

Brazil Bookers is one of the most professional and reputable booking services that you can make use of in order to plan your next trip to Brazil with Carnival. They are experts when it comes to Brazil events and parties.  You can make use of their services by registering Online or by contacting them via telephone. From their highly effective website you can also speak with LIVE agents directly Online to discuss your travel plans.

If you want to save yourself money, time, and effort when it comes to planning your next journey to Brazil, you’d be doing yourself a favor by relying on the unique and specific Brazil booking services offered by Brazil Bookers.

Brazil Travel

Magnificent Travel Destinations on the South American Continent

If you are interested in adding new intriguing and exciting destinations to your travel itinerary, don’t miss the opportunity to spend your holiday in South America. By choosing to travel to this magnificent continent, you will have the chance to discover remarkable cultures and civilizations with a great history behind them, driven by the temperamental but also very welcoming Latin spirit. Some of the most prominent and important countries in South America, representing true symbols for the South American continent, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Panama have a very well-developed potential for tourism, attracting overwhelmingly large numbers of tourists each year.

These magnificent countries have known great progress and development in the last few decades, despite their struggled historical past, dominated by political conflicts and interests. Nowadays, these splendid countries on the South American continent are among the most requested holiday destinations, enchanting visitors with a wide variety of tourist sites and resorts, both old and modern remarkable architectonic structures, large and imposing metropolitan areas, all revealing the ingenious, innovative and hard-working character of their inhabitants.

The remarkable economic achievements of these major countries in South America are direct proportional with their high potential for tourism. Thanks to their great history, culture, music, as well as the amazing beauty of their urban and rural establishments, and not to mention their accomplishments regarding the much-treasured Latin passion – football, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama have become extremely popular worldwide. Their continuously increasing popularity has determined a pronounced development of their tourism, drawing millions of tourists towards their borders.

If you decide to travel to Brazil, you will be amazed by the staggering beauty of this great South American country. Among the most requested Brazil travel destinations are its capital, Brasilia, and major cities such as Sao Paulo, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. Famous for its majestic carnivals, magnificent natural resorts, tropical climate and the exuberance of its inhabitants, Brazil is a highly requested holiday destination. Renowned as an important center for tourism of the South American continent, Brazil attracts overwhelmingly large numbers of visitors each year. Brazil has a well-developed and extended network of airports, air travel facilitating the visiting tourists’ access to major cities and various other locations between or beyond the borders of the country. Thanks to modern infrastructure and the variety of airports present here, flights to Brazil are the quick and comfortable way of traveling to this intriguing region of South America.

Similar to Brazil, Argentina is also a major center for tourism in South America. The most popular Argentina travel destinations are its capital – Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata – the main tourist resort situated on the Atlantic Coast, La Plata, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, Cordoba, Mendoza and San Juan. Combining the Latin mentality with European cultural influences, Argentina is a welcoming country for anyone who wishes to discover new interesting locations. Thanks to the well developed network of airports present here, the best way to travel around the country is by air. Apart from being very comfortable, Argentina flights have the benefit of being inexpensive as well. Travel to Argentina and you are guaranteed to have the time of your life!

Although they are much smaller in size than Brazil and Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama are also important tourist centers of the South American continent. Vacations in Colombia, Venezuela and Panama are exciting and intriguing experiences for both regular travelers and occasional visitors. The most requested Colombia travel destinations are Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali, Villa de Leiva, San Augustin and San Andres. Among the most desired Venezuela travel destinations are Caracas, Puerto la Cruz, Isla Margarita, Isla El Grand Roque, Isla La Tortuga, Merida and Puerto Ayacucho. Popular Panama travel destinations are Panama City, Bocas del Toro, Boquete, Isla Contadora, Guadalupe, Isla Bastimentos, Isla Taboga and Almirante.

Whether you decide to visit these countries for the beauty of their tropical landscapes, shores and beaches, for their ancient cultural resorts and the variety of historical tourist sites or simply to interact with the exuberating, welcoming locals, spending your vacations on the Latin American continent is definitely a remarkable and unforgettable experience!

So, if you want to find out more information about colombia flights or about colombia vacation you can click these links. Also you’ll find valuable advices about venezuela travel.

Knife removed from Brazil man’s head after 3 years
A man in northeastern Brazil is recovering after surgeons removed a 4-inch (10-centimeter) blade that had been stuck in his head for three years following a bar fight. Edeilson Nascimento, a 29-year-old tire repairman, tells reporters Friday he is feeling great after the three-hour surgery earlier this week. Brazil – Surgery – South America – Travel and Tourism – Knife