*Carnival*Brazil*

The carnival celebrations can be dated back hundreds of years in Europe. Carnival, a festival held to celebrate culture, religion and spring is carried out all over the world. In Europe and South America, people gather in the streets, play music, wear masks, throw masquerade parties and balls and celebrate their cultures. Due to immigration, in Brazil, the Carnival has changed and taken different direction with African influence. A hundred years ago with the existence of slavery, carnival was the only free day period slaves were free. Carnival has become such an important and popular festival that parades are held, costumes have become more lavish and intense and a new music has been created in the Carnival culture that now exists. The idea of wearing costumes and masks came from Europeans who would attend these festivals. The ideas of glass and class structure was non existent when everyone was covered in costume and masks. These festivals take place all over the world and the only the thing the United States has comparable is Mardi Gras and Halloween. The idea of celebration and festival that unifies the country are beautiful. With the European influence our country has it amazes me that we have nothing similar to Carnival.