Photos: Carnival begins in Brazil

Posted Jan 28, 2013

Pre-Carnival, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts.

The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty days before the beginning of Easter, in the days immediately before Lent. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term “carnival,” from carnelevare, “to remove meat.” Carnival has roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Catholicism became a farewell to things in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ’s death and resurrection.

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Revelers dance in the streets during the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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A girl dressed as the fictional heroine Wonder Woman and bathed with kid's spray foam is steadied on top of a barricade to get a better view of the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Revelers pose for photos during the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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A reveler dressed as fairy tale character Snow White fixes her hair during the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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A reveler dressed as superhero The Mask, shows off his moves in the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Revellers many dressed in their comic superhero of choice take part in the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Revellers take part in the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Revellers take part in the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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A reveller dressed as a character from the science fiction film Avatar holds his ripped drum at the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Revellers dressed as Wonder Woman, center, and The Simpsons' character Duffman, right, take part in the 'Desliga da Justica' carnival block parade, a pre-Carnival celebration, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties gathering 5 million carnival enthusiasts and requiring authorities to set up 16,500 public toilets around the city. Only two weeks before Carnival official start, running this year from Feb. 9-12, Rio residents and tourists are certainly warming up. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Eduardo Rasberge, 48, known as Suitcase Woman wearing a decorative suitcase on his head, topped with a replica of the Eiffel Tower, makes his way to the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Rasberge said, inspired by singer Carmen Miranda, the Suitcase Woman has been a Carnival regular for the past 30 years. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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Eduardo Rasberge, 48, known as Suitcase Woman paints his face as he prepares for the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. The Suitcase Woman has been a Carnival regular for the past 30 years, honoring women and inspired by singer Carmen Miranda. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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Eduardo Rasberge, 48, known as Suitcase Woman wears a decorative suitcase on his head while posing for a photo during the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Rasberge said inspired by singer Carmen Miranda, the Suitcase Woman has been a Carnival regular for the past 30 years. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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Eduardo Rasberge, 48, known as Suitcase Woman wearing a decorative suitcase on his head, topped with a replica of the Eiffel Tower, makes his way to the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Rasberge said, inspired by singer Carmen Miranda, the Suitcase Woman has been a Carnival regular for the past 30 years. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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Revelers make bubbles with a bubble blowing gun during the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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Eduardo Rasberge, 48, known as Suitcase Woman wears a decorative suitcase on his head as he dances in the streets at the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. Rasberge said inspired by singer Carmen Miranda, the Suitcase Woman has been a Carnival regular for the past 30 years. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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Eduardo Rasberge, 48, known as Suitcase Woman wears a decorative suitcase on his head while posing for a photo during the Banda de Ipanema block parade, a pre-Carnival event, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. The Suitcase Woman has been a Carnival regular for the past 30 years, honoring women and inspired by singer Carmen Miranda. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)