In the modern world, we tend to consider ourselves good party-goers. The truth is that we are amateurs compared to some people throughout history. In many societies, life was tough, and to prevent people from going crazy, certain times of the year were designated as times to let loose, go wild, and celebrate. This is what historians call a safety valve – a way to release all the 
social pressures that accumulate in society throughout the year.
Perhaps the most famous of these events is Carnival, and perhaps the most famous example of Carnival is in Brazil. Brazilian Carnival is a festival lasting approximately a week, ending on Ash Wednesday, a Christian holiday that marks the beginning of Lent. It is something very important to many people and part of their heritage.
Brazilian Carnival is inspired by the Portuguese tradition of celebrating life before the solemn period of Lent, which involves abstaining from life’s luxuries and strict adherence to spiritual and religious principles involving 
prayers, penance, charity, and repentance. The Carnival celebrations date back to the early 19th century when Portuguese colonists in the country indulged in food, drink, dance, song, and parades before Lent. By the late 19th century, the celebrations became more widespread, and large-scale street performances and parades began to be organized, attracting large crowds to enjoy the festivities. Since then, there has been no turning back, and today Brazilian Carnival generates enormous revenue for the country from tourism.
Brazilian Carnival offers unique flavors in the different regions where it is celebrated. The 
most popular celebrations take place in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The parades are the main attraction of the festival. These parades are mainly organized by the samba schools of the city and held at the “Sambódromo,” a stadium built specifically to host the annual parade.
But many neighborhoods in the city also have their own parades, the “blocos,” involving participants in costumes, with lots of music and dance.
In Bahia, the carnival is heavily influenced by African culture and incorporates traditional African music such as reggae with Brazilian samba. In Pernambuco, Carnival is again associated with an African influence. The carnival in the capital of Pernambuco, Recife, is considered one of the largest carnival parades in the world. In São Paulo, similar to Rio, the samba schools compete against each other and present different themes related to the 
history, culture, and politics of the region. Other places in Brazil, such as Vitória, Minas Gerais, and Manaus, also celebrate Carnival in unique ways.
Over the years, Brazilian Carnival has become highly popularized and currently attracts crowds from all corners of the globe to Brazil every year. The largest volume of attendees arrives in Rio de Janeiro, also known as the “World Capital of Carnival.” Every year, on average, about 500,000 international tourists 
come to Rio to participate in and witness its colorful carnival celebrations. Other parts of Brazil that celebrate carnival also receive a huge volume of tourists. In 2015, the number of tourists at Rio’s Carnival skyrocketed to 977,000 and generated $782 million in revenue for the city. São Paulo also welcomed nearly a million visitors during its carnival period in 2015. Other locations in Brazil that host Brazilian Carnival also receive a significant number of tourists 
during the carnival days, accompanied by enormous tourism revenue.
Check out some interesting facts about our carnival:
• Rio’s Carnival is recorded in the Guinness Book as the largest carnival in the world.
• It’s no secret that Brazilians love beer, but during carnival this love is even greater: 10 million liters of beer are consumed every year just in Salvador during the event.
• There are over 2 million people in the streets every day during carnival in Rio.
• Although Carnival is the most important festival in Brazil, the largest celebrations take place in Rio, São Paulo, Salvador, Recife, Olinda, and Manaus.
• One of the greatest things about Carnival is that the participants in the Samba Parade often come from local communities, such as the favelas. They train and make their costumes and floats all year round. Each area has its own samba school 
and competes against its local rivals during carnival.
• Held at the Sambódromo, the schools are judged on their elaborate floats, costumes, dance, and music. This is a very important competition, and some schools spend over 4 million dollars on costumes and preparations.
Source: World Atlas