Carnaval in Recife (AfroPop Worldwide)

Carnaval in Recife, 2018

It's that time of the year: Carnival in the Caribbean, Hispanophone Latin America, and Europe, Carnaval in Brazil and Portugal, Mardi Gras in parts of the US, all marking the rise of the Lenten season. Over the years I've periodically blogged about Carnival celebrations, with the last such post, a search tells me, coming in 2012, my final year in Chicago. Those snowy Midwestern winters often provoked thoughts of getting far away and celebrating at a Carnival celebration, but the scheduling has never panned out. Glancing through news sites during the last several weeks, I've begun noting photos of preparations for Carnival and the big events themselves, fermenting once again my desire to attend one.

In lieu of doing so this year, I am posting a few photos from a Carnaval celebration in Recife, one of the oldest and major cities in Brazil's northeastern region. The Recife Carnaval is an important and culturally distinctive Carnaval in Brazil (the other key ones are in Salvador da Bahia and Rio de Janeiro), with the ethos that all attendees are participants, an Afro-Brazilian religious performance, Maracatú, at its core, and a drag parade to open it. Recife's local frevo music also serves as one of many soundtracks for the Carnaval blocos.

Since I'm in cold--and snowy (sigh!)--New Jersey and not Recife, the photos are courtesy of Banning Eyre, and are featured on AfroPop Worldwide.  I'm only going to share a few of the photos, all of which are copyrighted and belong to AfroPop Worldwide and Banning Eyre, so please do head over to AfroPop Worldwide's blog to see the rest. Banning Eyre says a bit not only about the Carnival events, with a bit of background about Recife Carnaval, but also notes how Brazilian's faltering economy is effecting the celebration.

If you have photos of Carnival or Carnaval celebrations, in Recife or anywhere else, please do share the links in the comments section here!

Side street maracatu!

Frevo on parade

No means no, My body is not
your plaything. Women's empowerment
is surging in Brazil, as elsewhere.

Carnaval/Carnival/Mardi Gras 2012

Last night and today, more snow, more cold, more winter here in Chicago. The quarter has only a month or so to go; so too, and sooner, I hope, this season and its weather.

Short of being here:

Colgate sign, shoreline, Jersey City (Ellis Island in background)

I wouldn't mind being here:

Beija-Flor samba school revelers
in the 1st night of the Rio 2012 Carnaval parade
in the Sambodrome (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)

Portela samba school revelers
in the 1st night of the Rio 2012 Carnaval parade
in the Sambodrome (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Porto da Pedra samba school revelers
in the 1st night of the Rio 2012 Carnaval parade
in the Sambodrome (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)

Vila Isabela samba school revelers
in the 1st night of the Rio 2012 Carnaval parade
in the Sambodrome (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)

Or here:

15th edição do Concurso de fantasia Gay 2012
Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (Photo from Dois Terços)

Scholar and activist Dr. Luiz R. B. Mott
15th edição do Concurso de fantasia Gay 2012
Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (Photo from Dois Terços)

15th edição do Concurso de fantasia Gay 2012
Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (Photo from Dois Terços)

Carnaval do Salvador da Bahia 2012, Brazil
(Photo from Dois Terços)

Or here:

Noite Para os Tambores Silenciosos
Carnaval de Olinda 2012, Brazil
(Passarinho/Preifeitura Olinda)

7th Running of the Bonecas Gigantes
Carnaval de Olinda 2012, Brazil
(Luiz Fabiano/Preifeitura Olinda)

Noite Para os Tambores Silenciosos
Carnaval de Olinda 2012, Brazil
(Passarinho/Preifeitura Olinda)

Carnaval de Olinda 2012, Brazil
(Ádria de Souza/Preifeitura Olinda)

Or here:

Second Sunday, Carnaval Vegano 2012
La Vega, Dominican Republic
(Activao.com)

Second Sunday, Carnaval Vegano 2012
La Vega, Dominican Republic
(Activao.com)

Second Sunday, Carnaval Vegano 2012
La Vega, Dominican Republic
(Activao.com)

Second Sunday
Carnaval 2012, La Vega, Dominican Republic
(Carnival Vegano)

Or here:

Queen of Carnival Chariss Bovell's
"Mother of Humanity - The Weeping Madonna"
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2012
(www.tntmirror.com)

King of Carnival Roland St. George's Ralliez-Vouz A Mon Panache Blanc
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2012
(www.tntmirror.com)

Gerard Weekes portrays "Malak Yahweh - The Praying Mantis"
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2012
(www.tntmirror.com)

Rose Marie Kuru Jagessar's "Wachiwi-I Dream of a Bustle Dancer"
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2012
(www.tntmirror.com)

Or here:

Gran Parada de la Vía 40
Carnaval de Baranquilla, Colombia 2012
(elheraldo.co)

Gran Parada de la Vía 40
Carnaval de Baranquilla, Colombia 2012
(elheraldo.co)

Gran Parada Carlos Franco
Carnaval de Baranquilla, Colombia 2012
(elheraldo.co)

Gran Parada Carlos Franco
Carnaval de Baranquilla, Colombia 2012
(elheraldo.co)

Or here:

Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
2012 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade
(Kim Welsh/Offbeat.com)

Mayor Mitch Landrieu (at right)
Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
2012 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade
(Kim Welsh/Offbeat.com)

Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial (l)
and UN Ambassador Andrew Young (r)
Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
2012 Mardi Gras Parade
(Kim Welsh/Offbeat.com)

Krewe de Vieux
2012 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade
(Kim Welsh/Offbeat.com)

I'd even take here, though it doesn't appear to have been that much warmer. But the beads, beats and free-flowing beer do make up for the chill, and they do appear to be having fun, probably even more so than what I remember from years ago.  Chicago, time to get on it....

Soulard Mardi Gras 2012 Celebration
St. Louis, Missouri
(Steve Truesdell/Riverfront Times)

Soulard Mardi Gras 2012 Celebration
St. Louis, Missouri
(Megan Gilliland/Riverfront Times)

Soulard Mardi Gras 2012 Parade
St. Louis, Missouri
(Steve Truesdell/Riverfront Times)

Men in heels race
Soulard Mardi Gras 2012 Celebration
St. Louis, Missouri
(Bryan Sutter/Riverfront Times)

2011 Carnavals, DR

One of these days, I swear, C and I are going to experience Carnaval (or Carnival) in Dominican Republic, Brazil, Trinidad, Panama, France, somewhere!  Or even Mardi Gras (well, I've been to my native city's version of Mardi Gras, which is tiny but a lot of fun). Here are some videos from the Dominican Republic's Carnavals, which are underway. Talk about a cure for the winter doldrums (though the thaw has begun and the mountains of snow are slowly receding, but still...).

Via Monaga blog
Carnival in La Vega, Dominican Republic

Carnaval in Santiago de las Cabelleros, DR

More Dominican Carnaval videos
Carnaval in Santo Domingo Este
Carnaval in Santiago, DR (note the pack of Michael Jacksons!)

Musician Johnny Ventura singing, Carnaval in La Vega

Carnaval in La Vega

Carnaval in La Vega's Zona 2 (Hood)