Dazzling photos show how Carnival is lighting up the streets of Brazil in 2020
Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images
This week, hundreds and thousands of people are flooding the streets of Brazil to celebrate Carnival with lavish costumes, floats, dances, and music.
Carnival dates back to the 18th century and signifies the beginning of Lent, or the 40 days leading up to Easter.
This year's festivities will run from February 21 to 29. These are the most dazzling images from Brazil's 2020 carnival.
The wildest party of the year kicked off in Brazil this week, and the photos are absolutely stunning.
Thousands have gathered in Sambadromes to watch dancers perform a mix of African and Brazilian moves, while others have been partying at all hours in the streets, adorning lavish costumes with sparkles and feathers.
Here are the most dazzling photos from Brazil's 2020 Carnival, and a look into one of the most colorful celebrations of the year.
Carnival in Brazil dates back to the early 18th century. For Catholics, it signifies the beginning of a 40-day period known as Lent.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
At the heart of Carnival lies the Sambadrome, a large stadium where thousands gather to watch performers dance the traditional samba.
Fabio Teixeira/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Source: Visit Brazil
Samba is a blend of African and Brazilian moves and is rooted in the South American slave trade. The dance originated when slaves from Angola and West Africa shared their love of music and dance with Brazilian locals.
Gilson Borba/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Source: Rio Carnival
In Rio de Janeiro, performers from the top 13 samba schools display their moves during a multi-day parade, and the audience determines a winner.
Fabio Teixeira/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider, Rio Carnival
Samba schools often include large floats in their performances.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
These floats are brightly decorated, massive structures that samba dancers perform.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
Floats and costumes are such an important part of the parade that some schools spend millions of dollars on them.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
The Sambadrome parade is an explosive mix of dance and culture that dates back to 1932.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
During the parade, women in different samba schools dress in lavish costumes and display themselves as "Carnival princesses."
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: USA Today
Each samba school also has a "Queen of Percussion," who performs non-stop to the rhythm of parade drummers.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
Samba schools have specific color schemes that they use to decorate their costumes and floats.
MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Rio Carnival
The parade processions begin with a "comissão de frente," which is a performance by a small group from each school that reveals the school's costumes and colors.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
Some samba costumes include animal themes, while others incorporate references to Brazilian culture and history.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
Makeup plays a big role in dressing up for carnival, and members of samba schools often paint their faces together.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Some even paint themselves to resemble members of the animal kingdom.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Business Insider
In Rio, some samba schools date back to the 1930s and 40s, while others were more recently established in the 1990s.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Source: Rio Carnival
These members of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school dressed up in the same costume adorned with glittering lights.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
But Sambadromes aren't the only places for celebration during Carnival. People also party in the streets, often forming wild dance circles around each other.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Street parties, also known as Blocos, attract hundreds of people to dance, drink, and listen to music together.
Fabio Vieira/FotoRua/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Source: Rio Carnival
During street parties, you can find people performing Frevo dances, a type of movement that involves leaping in the air and twirling colorful umbrellas.
NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Huffington Post
Street parties are meant to be a free celebration of carnival, where all people are welcome to gather in celebrations across the country.
Bruna Prado/Getty Images
Source: Visit Brazil
Dancers often perform wearing huge headdresses and costumes, but it doesn't stop them from missing a beat.
NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images
Brazil's Carnival has deep roots in African culture. Feathers, for instance, were used in African costumes as a symbol of rebirth, and wearing tribal masks have become an important part of today's celebrations.
LEO MALAFAIA/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Rio Carnival
In Paraty, a city outside of Rio, people celebrate Carnival with the "Bloco da Lama," or mud festival. Here, party-goers dunk themselves in mud and dance before going to Carnival parades.
DANIEL RAMALHO/AFP via Getty Images
Source: Africa News
Read the original article on Insider
