Brazilian Popular Parties

Brazil is internationally known for its popular feasts such as the New Year, Carnival, or June Feasts. These enthusiastic celebrations, which combine singing, music and much dance, attract millions of foreign tourists to the country every year. In them, it is almost impossible to remain as a mere spectator – everyone participates, everyone plays along. Accept this invitation and come celebrate life in Brazil. Those who visit, become fans.

Carnival
The joy of the carioca (Rio de Janeiro citizens) is contagious on those who visit Rio to participate in the Carnival – regardless of their origin. It calls on everyone to move their feet, let their arms loose, let their eyes shine and fully participate in this feast. be it in Samba schools, on Avenida Marques de Sapucaí, or in the street blocks, the order is one: fun.



In Salvador, Bahia State, the Carnival effectively begins in December, with the opening of the celebrations by the Conceição Beach feast. But it is in February that the merry makers of all ages fill up the capital of Bahia, animated by sound trailers – large and colorfully decorated trucks equipped with powerful loud speakers, from where singers sing and make people dance.

In the state of Pernambuco, we have the Olinda and Recife carnivals. Frevo dance emerged from this location, one of the most enticing rhythms of the nation. For a week, people go out on the streets in costumes and dance frenetically, next to traditional giant dolls and maracatus.

In São Paulo, the Carnival had been formerly a party restricted to saloons. Overtime, it conquered the streets, following the influences of the Rio de Janeiro Samba Schools.

New Year
New Year throughout Brazil is one of the most majestic and democratic feasts. People of all ethnic groups, social classes and creed forget their differences and embrace together the new year.

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, this celebration is quite exciting. there is homage paid to Iemanja, queen of the sea. There are those who jump waves to attract good fortune in the new year. People celebrate together, illuminated by a huge fire works event that decorates the skies of the Marvelous City at midnight.

June Feasts
The June feasts began as small celebrations in countryside towns, which celebrated Saint Peter, Saint Anthony and Saint John, greatly devoted to by Brazilian. Over the years, however, they began to grow until they became mega events, gathering millions of visitors in June and July.

The June circuit in the Northeast of Brazil is one of the most famous and traditional around the world. Caruaru, in the State of Pernambuco, and Campina Grande, in Paraíba, dispute the title of best feast in the country. The first is known as the “capital of forró”, a popular dance and music, while the other as the “Biggest Saint John in the world”.

In the cablocla (mixed white and indigenous) Amazon, the tradition of honoring the saints has a calendar that begins in June, with Saint Anthony, and ends only in December, with Saint benedict. They are market feasts, with bonfires, fireworks, much food and fun.

In the South of Minas Gerais, there is concern in celebrating the June feasts in the simple format of the countryside people. Contrary to the major cities, which have put aside the folkloric aspect of these feasts, the countryside keeps the tradition alive. During the event, typical meals are served by bonfire light, while dance groups entertain everyone.

Other celebrations
In addition to the national popular feasts, Brazil also offers regional celebrations that animated and conquer tourists from all over:

Parintins festival – Large folkloric celebration, mobilizes the Paritins city in Amazonas, around the fight between the "Caprichoso" and "Garantido" bulls, with allegoric vehicle parades, choreographies, and much music. The spectacle takes place annually in June.

Bumba-meu-boi of Maranhão – one of the most traditional merriments of Brazil, bumba-meu-boi is a vehicle staging a combination of theater, dance, music and circus. It is a very popular feast in São Luís, capital of the State of Maranhão, also taking place in June.

Oktoberfest – in October, the city of Blumenau enters into festivities, showing visitors from all over Brazil and the world its rich culture. With music, dance and typical cuisine, the party preserves the customs of German immigrants who settled in the region.

Micaretas – out of season carnivals. Created in the city of Feira de Santana, Bahia unpleased with the carnival, which did not take place that year due to heavy rainstorms. It was so successful that it became a national mania. Since the 1990’s, many Micaretas take place in many capitals of Brazilian cities, almost throughout the year.

More on Brazil:
Olinda - Pernambuco
Brazilian Carnival - Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian EcoTourism - Amazon (Amazonia)
Brazil - Business and Leisure
Arraial do Cabo - Rio de Janeiro
Costa do Sauipe - Bahia
Cultural Interchange - Education Tourism

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