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Get your dancing shoes on, the Rio Carnival starts today!

Huge floats, skimpy outfits and of course, SAMBA! The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2015 starts today! Bringing in 835 million in tourist dollars to Rio.

Huge floats, skimpy outfits and of course, SAMBA! The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro 2015 starts today! Bringing in 835 million in tourist dollars to Rio.

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The world’s most famous carnival is none other than the Rio Carnival, the biggest in the world with two million revelers on the streets each day. Its number one rule is that everyone has to have fun and it’s not hard, with amazing floats, outlandish costumes, music blasting and the party mood that abounds in Rio during carnival time.

Let’s get wild, put on your sexiest outfit and explore some facts about the Rio Carnival.

 

1. Party till you drop

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The Brazilians don’t mess around when it comes to a party – we’re talking a wild all out party that rages over four days. It’s just before the start of lent, which makes sense to get all the partying done before then. They say that the carnival can be traced back to old Roman and Greek celebrations welcoming the start of Spring. Most historians agree that the first Carnival in Rio de Janiero took place in 1723.

 

2. Sambadromo

sambadroma

The Sambadromo was designed and built in 1984 by architect Oscar Niemeyer, to provide Rio with an urban venue to serve as the permanent grounds of the Parades of Samba. Prior to the Sambadromo, bleachers were built on both sides of the main street and taken down after the carnival, this was viewed as many as an economic waste. The Samabadromo originally only provided seating for 70,000 spectators but with new upgrades it can now hold 90,000 spectators.

Here’s a little taste of what happens in the Sambadromo:

 

3. Sexy doesn’t mean naked

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Although the outfits are getting smaller and smaller, and some outfits leave very little to the imagination, full nudity is penalized in the Sambadromo (although some of the costumes are really pushing it). However, everyone pretty much likes to flaunt some booty during the carnival.

skimpy

 

4. The carnival is huge for tourism

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The carnival knows how to pull in the crowds, in 2010, Rio received 800,000 visitors during Carnival. It’s grown to become a 950-million-real industry for the city. A quarter of a million jobs are created by Carnival each and will generate about $835 million AUD for local hotels, restaurants and bars.

 

5. Dizzying acts

bahianas

A group of elderly ladies, called baianas, participate in the Carnival, and their role is to turn in circles throughout the whole parade. It’s not uncommon that these ladies get too dizzy and fall over.

 

6. It’s all about the Samba

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The carnival highlight is the Samba Parade, a fierce competition between Rio’s samba schools – there are nearly 200 of them. This parade is held in the Sambodromo and the schools are judged not only on their dancing skills but also on their floats, costumes, dancing and music. Some schools spend up to $6 million AUD on costumes and preparations.

 

What’s your favourite festival/carnival to attend?