Everyone knows Carnival for it's parties, colors, fun and music but what most people don't know (at least the ones that had never been there) is that Carnival is a competition between 12 "schools of samba". First of all, it's origin is religious. It happens every year 40 days before Easter to celebrate the start of the fast (well... we don't fast no more but the party is still there just in case, right?). At the beggining the schools of Samba were owned entirely by the gambling mafia, nowadays it is mixed with the drug dealers money and also private investor and I can say, regardless to whom owns it, it is indeed the biggest show on Earth! It is a 5 days holidays, and for 3 entire nights you can indulge yourself, the parade starts ate 7PM and finishes around 6 in the morning. Each school has 1 hour to pass in the "Passarela do Samba" otherwise it looses points. Throughout the runway there are 3 groups of judges, giving the school grades for the Theme chosen, the music, the musicians, the costume, the dance, the allegoric cars, harmony, rhythm, pace etc etc. It is a real business and a very rich industry. Fans and curious tourists come from all around the globe to check this beauty made by so many talented (and rich) people. That is definitely one of those things you must do before you die!
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