Carnaval at Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

All information taken from RIO Carnival.

This series of blog posts will describe twelve different holidays and related foods from around the world.  It will describe history of the holiday, how it is celebrated, and some typical recipes that are at the events or of their country. Enjoy! 

Carnival (Carnaval in Portuguese) is celebrated in towns and villages throughout Brazil and other Catholic countries.  Rio de Janeiro has been the place to be during Carnival.  It is the biggest Carnival festival which every other carnival is compared to, and one of the most amazing artistic events in the world.  Foreign visitors number to around half a million every year. 

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Rio Carnival shows entertainment for many people around the world and gives an opportunity to learn about the true culture of Brazil.  It is an event where people dance, sing, party and have a lot of fun.

It begins with the crowning of the Fat King (King Momo), who is presented with a giant silver and gold key by the city's mayor.

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Rio Carnival is a 5-day celebration, 40 days before Easter. It starts on Friday and finishes on Fat Tuesday. It is usually in February, when summer in Rio is at its hottest. 

When Carnival takes over the whole city of Rio; the streets, restaurants, clubs and other venues, it is also known as the Samba Parade. 

Residents of the favelas are often members of a local samba school and are deeply involved with the performance and costumes of their groups. Gays and drag queens come and help out and become very involved in Rio Carnival. Carnival and samba are Brazilian passions alongside soccer.

 

http://www.destination360.com/south-america/brazil/rio-de-janiero/rio-carnival-photos
http://www.brazilmycountry.com/image-files/brazil-carnival-costumes5.jpg

The roots of Carnival "trace back to the ancient Romans and Greeks who celebrated the rites of spring." Across Europe, people annually gave thanks by throwing parties, wearing masks and dancing in the streets. Some of these traditions were carried over to the New World.

http://www.riocarnival.net/rio-carnival/history

The Portuguese first brought the concept of "celebration or carnival" to Rio around 1850.  Over time, they acquired unique elements deriving from African and Amerindian cultures.

By the end of the 18 century the festivities created competitions. People would not just dress up in costumes but also perform in a parade accompanied by an orchestra of strings, drums and other instruments. These competitions became the main attractions of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

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The list is endless and depends on where you are, but some of the foods you might encounter at a street vendor might include:
Pão de Queijo, which are cheese puffs; Pastel de Carne, Queijo or Camarão, which are similar in look and taste to deep fried beef, cheese, or shrimp turnovers; Bolinho de Aipim, which is a ground beef surrounded by deep fried cassava dough; Pão de Batata, which is a potato bread filled with either ground beef, chicken or sausage; Esfiha, which is an Arabic-influenced food best described as a folded pizza; Churros, which is a doce de leite filled dough that is fried and covered with cinnamon. 
Quindim is a popular traditional Brazilian custard that is baked and is primarily made of sugar, egg yolks, and ground coconut that is typically presented as an upside-down cup and has a yellow color.

Brazilian Pasteles

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Esfihas

                        http://poracaso.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Esfihas-Salgadas.jpg

Quindim

http://www.brazilmycountry.com/image-files/quindim.jpg

Churros

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Considered to be the national dish of Brazil, feijoada is a stew of beans (usually black beans) and a meat, typically beef or pork.

The dish is best when "cooked over a low flame in a thick clay pot. The final meal is served with the beans and meat pieces covered with a dark broth." It tastes strong and moderately salty but is not a spicy dish. It is often served with white rice, chopped fried collard greens (couve mineira), roasted cassava flour (farofa), orange slices, and with a pot of hot sauce on the side.

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Here is a link to a video to see what carnival is like:

http://youtu.be/kTc3pv7d5vY

Check back next Wednesday for a another exciting blog of another country's holiday traditions and related foods!

Works Cited

Food - FAQ - Rio Carnival. RIO. Retrieved January 20, 2015.

Rio Carnival: The Guide for Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Brasil. Retrieved January 20, 2015.