Carnival is a four-day celebration before the start of Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Christian Lent. The idea behind Carnival is to enjoy life to the fullest by feasting, drinking, and dancing before the fasting period. It takes place during the first or second week of February and is celebrated around the world.
The biggest carnival happens in Rio where parades take place and turn the city into a big street party. Hundreds of elaborate floats glide down the streets, with costumed people on top throwing plastic beaded necklaces down to the people below.
Alongside the floats are marching samba bands playing traditional Brazilian Carnival songs whose fast beats get everyone in the streets dancing. Every samba band and float must choose a theme that is taken from history or literature and decorate their floats according to this theme. The result is samba bands and floats trying to outdo each other in wild, ornate costumes and intense music. Balls also occur where people attend dressed in lavish costumes and masks. Many consider Carnival to be the world’s biggest and best party.
In 1840, a hotel owner changed the carnival celebration forever by hiring musicians and dancers and throwing a lavish masked ball. Only the rich could afford to go, so the poorer people partied in the streets. This celebration escalated into the huge street party that Rio is today.
The climax of this four-day celebration is Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, when the biggest floats and loudest samba bands take to the streets. Carnival is a lot of fun, but caution must be taken. It gets very crowded and hot, and there are some people who drink too much alcohol which can lead to fighting and other dangerous behavior. Still, with a little common sense, Carnival is an event to be enjoyed and if attended, can be one of life’s best memories.
本篇選自「前進美澳！英文交換【遊】記」。此內容轉載自【寂天英語學習充電報】，歡迎訂閱！
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