travel info
The carnival of Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous outdoor parades in the World. It’s held every February in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and it attracts millions of people from all over the World. Its fame has made it a common news subject and it seems as if its popularity increases by the year, as more and more people flock to Brazil to see it. Not even the recession stopped it from growing, apparently and despite early news to the contrary. It seems as if announcing on television that the booking rates were down made a lot of people think that they still had time to book a hotel and go enjoy the Carnaval.
But the tradition of Carnaval, which literally means “goodbye to meat”, is not limited to Brazil. It supposedly marks the day right before you go on your fast before Easter. As you’re supposed to go on contemplation and enter a period of moderation before Easter, you’re allowed a day to be crazy and eat, drink and party in excess. All of the Southern European countries have a Carnaval tradition, from Portugal to Greece. It all seems to have a point in common: partying, eating and wearing masks. The masks were often prohibited in the pasts, since they allowed for an exacerbation of the excesses committed in anonymity, but now it’s often considered fun.
One of the greatest Carnavals, in fact the second biggest, losing only to the juggernaut of Rio de Janeiro, is the one in Tenerife. You wouldn’t expect such a small island to host such a huge event, but it’s a fact. That’s why, in fact, it’s so hard to find cheap holidays to Tenerife during February. People have often tried to outlaw the Carnaval in Tenerife, especially during the dictatorship period in Spain, but the people have always found a way around it and have always celebrated their greatest cultural festivity.
If you’re going or planning to go on holidays to Canary Islands, picking the Carnaval time can be great fun, or a huge mistake if you’re not into that sort of thing. Remember that it’s a semi-religious holiday, but it’s pretty much just an all-out party when night comes. There’s a lot of noise and a lot of drinking involved, so going to a neighboring island or just putting your holiday off for a couple of weeks might be the best choice if you’re really not in the spirit and you just want to have a relaxed holiday.
