What is San Diego Brazil Carnival?
San Diego Brazil Carnival is a Brazilian Mardi Gras Ball with feathers, fantasy, stunning Samba dancers, music, dance, costumes, glitter, beads and masks. It signals the start of the San Diego Mardi Gras season that culminates on Fat Tuesday, February 16, with the San Diego Gaslamp Mardi Gras Celebration and Parade. Over the years, it has developed the reputation of being one of San Diego’s signature events and the premier Brazilian Carnaval on the West Coast.
How did the San Diego Brazil Carnival get started?
San Diego Brazil Carnival was started in 1993 by a native San Diegan who fell in love with Brazil & his Brazilian friends who wanted to share a part of their culture in their adopted city, San Diego. San Diego Brazil Carnival is known for being one of the largest and most authentic Brizilian Carnaval celebrations on the West Coast. It is an all-consuming party of fun, feathers, fantasy and outrageous costumes. San Diego Brazil Carnival is where "carnavalescos" come to dance to the non-stop pulsating rhythms of “Samba, Samba, Samba.” This year, it takes place Feb.13 at 4th and B Streets downtown, signaling the start of the San Diego Carnival Mardi Gras Celebration, which culminates with the San Diego Gaslamp Mardi Gras Celebration on Fat Tuesday.
What is the history of Carnaval?
Carnaval in Brazil, Carnival in the Caribbean, Karnaval in Germany and Carnivale in Italy have origins in ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks paid homage to Dionysus the God of Wine. This tradition was passed on to the Romans who celebrated Bacchanalia to honor Bacchus. Carnaval gives us a time to get away from the routine of life and celebrate our existence.
What's the difference between Carnaval and Mardi Gras?
Carnaval is the season of merriment, which always begins on Jan. 6. Mardi Gras known as "Fat Tuesday " is the single, culminating day of Carnaval, and it is always the day before Ash Wednesday.
Is Mardi Gras really connected to religion?
Many centuries ago, Catholics in Italy began the tradition of having a costume festival before the first day of Lent. Because the Catholic tradition was to give up eating meat during the 40 days of Lent, this celebration was called: carnevale, or “to put away the meat.” Carnaval has evolved into an annual "Celebration of Life." Elaborate and colorful Carnaval celebrations take place in Venice, Paris, Cologne, Rome, Venice and in nearly every country colonized by the French, Spanish and the Portuguese: Haiti, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil. Other large Carnaval celebrations take place in Trinidad, San Francisco, London, Goa, India, Toronto, San Diego and New Orleans. Carnaval is an explosion of dancing, music, lights, and colors.
Why does the date of Mardi Gras change?
Because it's connected to the moveable date of Easter, it can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25. Mardi Gras is scheduled 47 days preceding Easter and can occur on any Tuesday from Feb. 3 through March 9.
When was the first Mardi Gras parade held in New Orleans?
The first Mardi Gras was held back in Feb. 24, 1857. The Mistick Krewe of Comus, Carnival's first secret society, coined the word "krewe" and was the first to choose a mythological namesake to present a themed parade with floats, and to follow it with a tableaux ball.
Has Mardi Gras ever been canceled?
Yes, but not often. Since 1857, only 13 Fat Tuesdays have been canceled. Most cancellations were caused by wars: Civil War, WWI, WWII and Korean.
Who is Rex?
Rex is the King of Carnival in New Orleans, who appeared on Mardi Gras in 1872. Generations of New Orleanians and millions of visitors have hailed His Majesty and reveled in the glorious traditions of his rule - the Carnival colors of purple, green, and gold; the jewel in Rex's crown remains his annual glittering procession of floats on Mardi Gras morning.
What are
the Mardi Gras colors and theme song?
Purple stands for justice, green for faith and gold for power. They were introduced into the tradition of Mardi Gras with the first parade of Rex, the King of Carnival, in a daytime parade on February 13, 1872. In the first daytime parade, Rex also introduced the theme song of Mardi Gras, "If Ever I Cease to Love."
If ever I cease to love,
If ever I cease to love,
May the fish get legs,
And the cows lay eggs,
If ever I cease to love.
