Our First Carnaval

The famous Carnaval is an annual celebration, held throughout Brazil the weekend before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent (the 40-day period before Easter). So, it's pretty much a religious party.

The biggest cities organize huge parades, led by samba schools, at public arenas called Sambodromes. They are open to the public, but you have to buy tickets to enter. Neighborhoods and smaller cities host smaller parties called Blocos, where it's basically a free-for-all. 

Disappointingly, this year's big Sambodrome event in Florianopolis was canceled due to lack of funding (read: corruption), but there were tons of street parties daily along with dedicated events just for kids. 

We ended up at the "Bloco dos Sujos" event, where it is tradition for the men to dress like women, and the women to dress like women. So, Geoff stretched out one of my dresses and, along with my parents who were in town visiting, we experienced our first Brazilian Carnaval:

Lots of live music, dancing, food booths and drinking.
This particular party started in the afternoon and
went on well into the night.

Translation: "If you want a kiss from the fat fairy, laugh!"

We don't know these people, but everyone is friends at Carnaval.

Normally a fan, Eri didn't like this particular Minnie.

My mom. Definitely the most attractive lady of the bunch.

Eri and Gramps taking in the craziness from the vantage point of the ice truck.

Street dancing.

More street dancing.

Uh oh. Girls needing their hair held by their BFF is universal...

... as is a lot of drinking-related behavior.

Kids' Carnaval. (Thanks for the par-tay dress, Cousin Macyn!)

Making a mask.
In Brazil, there is no such thing as too
much bedazzling, and that's why we love it here.