2010 Carnaval Brasileiro February 20, 2010

Carnaval in Brazil derives from the medieval Christian revels in Europe held just prior to the forty days of Lent. This annual festival of flesh was further enriched in Brazil by African rhythms, especially the samba. Carnaval is an all-consuming nationwide festival in Brazil, celebrated by all social classes over a period of several days, or weeks in reality. It is a social cathartic for Brazilian society, particularly for the sweating masses of urban poor dancing in the summer streets.