The fascinating history and evolution of carnival: from ancient times to today
The origin of Carnival is a controversial subject. Some historians associate the beginning of Carnival celebrations with ancient rituals performed to praise good harvests, ten thousand years before Christ.
Historical influences
Others say it began later, in Egypt, in honour of the goddess Isis and the bull Apis, with dances, parties and people wearing masks. There are those who attribute the beginning of carnival to the Greeks, who celebrated the return of spring and worshipped the god Dionysus.
Others trace it back to ancient Rome with its Bacchanalia, Saturnalia and Lupercalia in honour of the gods Bacchus, Saturn and Pan.
Origem e História do Carnaval no Brasil
Hiram Araújo, in his book Carnaval, reports that the origin of carnival cannot be established with certainty, but that it must be related to agricultural cults, Egyptian festivals and, later, to the cult of Dionysus, a ritual that took place in Greece between 605 and 527 BC.
Characteristics of carnival
But one thing they all have in common is that, like all great festivals, they have a history linked to astronomical or natural phenomena. Carnival is characterised by parties, public entertainment, masked balls and folkloric events.
Etymology of the word “carnival
The word carnival also has several versions, and there is no consensus among scholars. Some argue that it comes from carne vale (farewell to meat!) or carne levamen (removal of meat).
This interpretation of the etymological origin of the word takes us back to the beginning of Lent, which was originally not only a time of spiritual reflection but also a time of abstinence from certain foods, including meat.
Another interpretation of the etymology of the word is that it derives from currus navalis, a pre-Christian expression meaning naval carriage. This interpretation is based on the typical early spring diversions of maritime processions or allegorical floats in the shape of boats, both in Greece and Rome.
Carnival in Brazil
In Brazil, Carnival was called Entrudo, influenced by the Portuguese who brought carnival games and celebrations in 1723. Many attribute the beginning of our carnival to the celebration held by the people to commemorate the arrival of the Royal Family. People took to the streets to celebrate with music, wearing masks and costumes.
We can present the following as notable facts in the history of Brazilian Carnival:
- 1786: The floats arrive for the wedding of Dom João and Carlota Joaquina.
- 1846: Appearance of Zé Pereira (bass drummer), who left behind the cuíca, tambourine, reco-reco, tambourine and frying pan, instruments that accompanied the ‘sujos’ (dirty) blocos.
- 1855: The first association to parade, the Congress of Carnival Experts.
- 1870: The intersection of rhythmic influences such as lundu, polka, maxixe and tango creates a type of music with characteristics of samba.
- 1840: The masked ball at the Hotel Itália (Largo do Rocio, RJ), held by Italians.
- 1873: Parade of the first ranch, the Dois de Ouros.
- 1899: The birth of the carnival music, the Abre-Alas by Chiquinha Gonzaga.
- 1902: There are now more than 200 carnival groups.
- 1917: The first recorded samba, Pelo Telefone, by Ernesto dos Santos (Donga) and Mauro de Almeida.
Evolution of samba schools
In 1928, the first samba school, Deixa Falar, was founded, followed soon after by Mangueira. In 1929, parades began in Praça Onze. The first competition between samba schools took place in 1932, organised by the journalist Mário Filho.
In 1942, the parades moved to Avenida Presidente Vargas. In 1963, schools became the focus of Brazilian Carnival and in 1974, the Rio parade moved to Avenida Rio Branco until 1984, when the Sambódromo was inaugurated.
Current carnival
Carnival is currently celebrated on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. In Bahia it is also celebrated on Thursday of the third week of Lent, changing its name to Micareta. This festival gave rise to several others in the states of the Northeast, such as Fortal in Fortaleza, Carnatal in Natal, Micaroa in João Pessoa, Recifolia in Recife, Micaru in Caruaru and others.
Today, Carnival has become a major tourist attraction and is undoubtedly Brazil’s largest popular festival.
Related articles
- History and Chronology of the Carnival in Salvador, Bahia
- King Momo, Pierrot, Harlequin and Columbine – Carnival characters
Bahia.ws is the largest tourism and travel guide for Bahia and Salvador.
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