Home » Culture, history and religion of the Brazilian Northeast » King Momo, Pierro, Harlequin and Colombina – Carnival characters

Rei Momo, Pierrô, Arlequim and Colombina are the best known and most traditional Carnival characters and can be seen at parties and in marchinhas.

The colourful costumes of these characters gave rise to the costumes worn at Carnival balls and are part of the joys of this popular festival.

Video – Brazilian Carnival and Commedia dell’Arte characters

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História do Rei Momo - Carnaval00:57

Pierrô, Arlequim e Colombina - Carnaval - Commedia dell’Arte03:13

CARNIVAL CHARACTERS

1. KING MOMO

Rei Momo is the figure of a big, smiling and charismatic man, the symbol of the Brazilian Carnival. There are various myths about how he arrived in Brazil and became an important figure in national folklore during this festive season.

Son of Sleep and Night, he was concerned only with scrutinising the actions of gods and men, even going so far as to reprimand them. Considered the God of Mercy, he had a very jocular character.

He was depicted with a mask in one hand and a ridiculous figure in the other, to suggest that he removed the mask from people’s vices and laughed at their folly.

He was elected Judge of the Works of Neptune, Vulcan and Minerva: none of them he considered perfect.

• He criticised Ne ptune because when he composed a bull, he didn’t put horns on it.
• He criticised the man forged by Vulcan because he did not make a window in his heart to see his secret thoughts.
• He criticised the house built by Minerva because it couldn’t be moved (according to Greco-Roman mythology).

King Momo also has a connection with ancient popular theatre, being an actor who performed in popular farces. He was one of the court jesters who entertained the Portuguese masters and lords with pantomimes and satires.

2. HARLEQUIN

A character from the ancient Italian comedy, Commedia dell’Arte, the Harlequin wore a multi-coloured costume made of lozenges. At first, his job was to entertain the audience during the interval with jokes and buffoonery.

Later he became part of the plots of comedies and one of their most important characters.

Harlequin is Colombina’s lover and is described as farcical, trickster, braggart, quarrelsome, cynical and passionate.

3. COLOMBINA

The main female character in Commedia dell’Arte, Colombina is Harlequin’s lover and Pierro’s companion. She is described as:

• flirtatious, cheerful, futile, beautiful, smart, seductive and voluble.

She wore silk or white satin dresses, a short skirt and an elegant cap. 3.

4. PIERRO

Also from the Commedia dell’Arte, the Pierro is naive and sentimental.

His costume includes

• wide trousers and jacket, decorated with pom-poms and a ruffled collar.

Who are Pierro, Harlequin and Colombina?

Learn about the origins of three of the main characters of Carnival, who first appeared in a Manners Satire that was very popular in Italy.

They are characters from the Commedia dell’Arte, a style of theatre that originated in 16th century Italy and is known for its social satires and improvisations.

In the plot, they form a love triangle:

• Pierrô loves Colombina,
• Colombina loves Harlequin,
• and Harlequin also wants Colombina.

This style emerged as an alternative to the Commedia Erudita, written in Latin, which was inaccessible to the majority of the population. Thus the story of the Trio enamorado became a real popular entertainment with roots in carnival jokes.

Performed in the streets and squares, it satirised the lives of the powerful. Other Commedia characters included:

• Pantaleon, a greedy merchant;
• The Doctor, a pompous intellectual;
• The Captain, a cowardly and tyrannical officer;
• Isabella and Oracio, children of the bosses;
• Various other servants.

The plays followed a fixed plot, but with a lot of improvisation, requiring comic talent and agility from the actors.

“To this day, Commedia dell’Arte is a very rich method of learning and training actors.”

A typical moment in the play was the lazzo, a pause with acrobatics, extra jokes or political satire, outside the main action. The plot would then pick up where it had left off.

Outstanding characters of the Commedia dell’Arte

1. Pierrot

His original name was Pedrolino, but in 19th century France he was renamed Pierrot. He was the poorest of the servants, wearing clothes made of flour sacks, his face painted white and no mask.

Suffering from love for Colombina, he was the constant butt of jokes. His image influenced the circus clowns.

2. Pantaleon

The most famous of the Patrons, he represented the Italian elite. Known as The Old Man or The Merchant of Venice, he was a tyrannical miser and a clumsy gallant, ridiculed by his servants.

3. The Harlequin

The servant of Pantaleon, he was cunning, lazy, insolent and pretended to be naive. He would leap onto the stage and move around with dancing steps and acrobatic movements.

She loved to do tricks and then escape with agility. His trademark was his colourful diamond outfit.

4. Colombina

The maid of Pantaleon’s daughter, she was beautiful and refined, the object of Harlequin’s desire and Pierro’s love. To win Harlequin’s heart, she sang and danced gracefully in the shows.

See History and Chronology of the Carnival of Salvador de Bahia.

Traditional carnival figures

Bahia.ws – Tourism and travel guide for Salvador, Bahia and the Northeast

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →

Published on 13/05/2022 · Updated on 19/04/2025

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