Brazil, carnival and the art of celebrating

The city of Recife hosts the carnival in the streets and squares of the city center. Unlike the samba in Rio or the axé in Salvador, entry is free in Recife and Olinda.

The famous carnival in Rio is aimed primarily at tourists. The carnival in Recife, on the other hand, offers a more free style. African cultures, whose members once lived as slaves, have had a strong influence on it. In Recife, you can experience the lively spirit of the carnival directly on the street. You are in the middle of it. The carnival in Recife and Olinda is more impressive than just watching from the side of the road. Although the official carnival begins on Carnival Friday and ends on Shrove Tuesday, carnival parties take place as early as December.

One of the most moving moments of the Carnival of Recife is the ‘Night of Silent Drums’. It is a tribute to the African slaves who lost their lives in prison.

The event begins on the evening before Mardi Gras with the drums of the Maracatu. These drums play an important role in the event, as they do in African religious culture. The ritual reaches its climax at midnight, when the lights in the São José district are switched off and the public gather in silence in the ‘Pátio do Terço’.

The result is a mystical atmosphere of the lost Africa of the former slaves and their longing for their homeland. There is hardly anyone who is not overwhelmed by this emotional atmosphere.

Galo da Madrugada, in English ‘Cock of the Dawn’, opens the carnival on Saturday with the world's largest carnival parade. Everyone dances to the Frevo music. The Galo has held the title ‘world's largest carnival parade’ since 1995, confirmed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Every year, the event brings together millions of people. The 7-tonne, 28-metre-high rooster stands on the Duarte Coelho bridge and watches the hustle and bustle.

The trio elétricos (music trucks) play until late afternoon. In the evening, many people go directly to the centre of the carnival, in the old town of Recife. At Marco-Zero Square, the party continues until dawn.

Frevo is a music style from Pernambuco and is mainly played during the carnival in Recife and Olinda. The word ‘Frevo’ is derived from ‘ferver’ (to boil) and describes the lively atmosphere of this fast music.

The music genre Frevo originated from the marches of military bands. In the 19th century, civilian and military bands played faster and faster. The result was the Frevo.

Music stars like Alçeu Valença, Geraldo Azevedo and Elba Ramalho brought the Frevo to the concert stage. They combined it with the electric bass, guitar and drums. Frevo is a Brazilian rhythm that allows for a wide range of interpretations.

The dance to the Frevo consists of complex jumps and step combinations. An umbrella is held in the hand.

The dance of the Frevo developed from the Brazilian martial art Capoeira. As early as the 19th century, music groups hired Capoeira fighters to dance in front of the musicians. So ‘dance’ in quotation marks, because in fact they were also responsible for security. When two groups met on the street, there was often a fight between the supporters.

The umbrella comes from this tradition. Originally it was a large umbrella and served as a weapon. Over time it lost this function, but remains an important utensil in the Frevo.

The magic of Olinda's carnival is contagious. Many famous personalities visit the city every year. Carnival takes place in Olinda and it is truly beautiful.

Energetic groups fill the streets early on and dance to the rhythm of the Frevo orchestras. Olinda offers a street carnival where people move through the historic centre. The highlight is to follow them and go with the flow. This contact makes the carnival in Olinda unique.

The ‘Bonecos de Olinda’ are particularly special. These giant puppets made of papier-mâché, often over two metres tall, announce a carnival block. Up to a million people and over 500 groups celebrate here.

The street carnival in Recife-Olinda means frevo, colorful costumes and endless parties. Celebrations without end.