Brazil’s Carnival celebrations have kicked off with a bang, as thousands of revelers took to the streets for raucous parties and glitzy parades. In Rio de Janeiro, the popular street party “Friends of the Jaguar” drew tens of thousands, with attendees dressed in leopard- and jaguar-print clothing.
Dancer Dandara Abreu said that the event allows for artistic expression and freedom. Meanwhile, Sao Paulo’s samba schools kicked off their parades on Friday evening, honoring Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous traditions. The theme of one school was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote about social injustice.
In Rio, another traditional street party, Carmelitas, took place in the bohemian hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Revelers dressed as nuns and priests paid tribute to Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized with double pneumonia. The city’s mayor handed over the key to the city to its Carnival monarch, King Momo, marking the start of his five-day reign.
King Momo’s symbolic role is inspired by Greek mythology, representing satire, mockery, and irreverence. Mayor Eduardo Paes told revelers that they should come for King Momo, who will be in charge of the festivities until Ash Wednesday.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-day-inside-brazils-wild-carnival-parties-119319921