A gente trabalha

O ano inteiro

Por um momento de sonho

Pra fazer a fantasia

De rei ou de pirata ou jardineira

E tudo se acabar no quarta-feira

A felicidade, Vinicius de Moraes et Antonio Carlos Jobim, 1958.

The Río Carnival, with its pagan origins, successfully brings together the entire community of Río de Janeiro in a large communal event. Officially it lasts a few days, but in reality it goes on for over a week. During the carnival, all classes of the population, regardless of beliefs or origins meet up in a unique period of partying.

Before participating in the Río Carnival, we had never seen celebrations of such vast proportions (it is the most internationally broadcast event in the world), which succeeds in blending, engaging and uniting all the social classes.

It is a unique and magical phenomenon that carries a positive message around the world: It is possible to stir up common feelings of magic and music among all people! The carnival traditions offer means of release for those feelings usually repressed by society and civilization which open the barriers between people. We were also surprised to find that the strength of this tradition and the importance of its liberating function contribute to bring peace between the communities, to the point that order, power and religion sit together harmoniously. Taking part in the preparations, rehearsals and the parade itself was a truly miraculous experience.

It is a moment when public life is interrupted, no one works, the routine of daily life doesn’t exist; and all this on the scale of an entire nation… The social function of the carnival is perfectly suited to the demands of urban life that thrive in major cities with mass culture. However, the enthusiasm, accepting the trance, the lawful explosion and overflow in some ways need a diverse society in order to work well. In Europe, all this would be inconceivable. To really understand the carnival, you need to live it once in a lifetime.

The carnival, in its current form, was born thanks to a meeting between the folk songs, the dances of the African slaves that flocked to Río de Janeiro, the then capital of the country, and the tastes of the Portuguese court (located in Brazil) for lavish ceremonies. Since 1808, (with the arrival of Juan VI of Portugal in Brazil) the floats paraded in the Campo de Santana where boxes were placed in advance to allow the court to attend the festivities. Thanks to this peculiar Brazilian magic, the dance and folk songs of the slaves, (Congos) blend with the lavish festivities of the court. Thus the Río Carnival was born!

Dazzled by the festive nature of this international event and surprised that it includes all strata of society, we have decided to make the Río Carnival accessible for our clients. Since 2010, large samba schools (Portela*,Unidos da tijuca*, Santa Cruz,…) and their presidents have contacted us to go through with hem the original and authentic services we can offer. As of the 2011 edition of the Río Carnival, we are offering our clients the chance to experience this astonishing baroque festival from first hand.

Bandas*, Blocos*, balls in the biggest palaces in the city, festivals in the blocks and of course parades of samba schools in the sambodromo, special costumes, music and dancing bursting from spectacular floats: *Behold all the magic the Río Carnival can offer… and see the magic Aristeia offers its clients.