Pictures courtesy of modices.uol.com.br
This year carnival in Brazil happens between the 1 - 7 of March, and all people can talk about is the preparation for balls, costumes and parades. Carnival is a symbol of Brazil and the biggest popular celebration in the country. In recent years, mainly in Rio de Janeiro, samba schools take part in organized parades in the 'Praça da Apoteose' defining the Brazilian carnival as it is known worldwide.
The street carnival had almost disappeared in Rio, however it has recently seen a strong revival by the hands of kids who restored the tradition of playing carnival with DIY costumes, confetti and serpentines. This new generation of carnival goers is responsible for reimagining the carnival parades and getting inspiration from different themes - ranging from professions, vintage bands, personalities and street names.
Rio now hosts the largest street carnival in Brazil - and probably the world - with more than 300 carnival parades, also know as 'blocos,' registered. Part of the success of this new street carnival wave is due to social networks like Facebook and Orkut. There's even a Google Map with all the blocos divided by neighborhoods, and most of them are also being "checked-in" on Foursquare.
Expect to see: multicolour sequins, lamé and foils, colorful headbands and strong make up similar to Jeremy Scott's beauty looks at New York Fashion Week. Black Swan-inspired costumes are also expected!
