The last Easter eggs are still in the fridge.

And the Brazilian summer has already given way to the fresh autumn air.

In fact, nobody would think of celebrating carnival at this time of year, certainly not in a country as Catholic as Brazil.

But the longing of the Brazilians for the biggest and most exuberant festival of the year is stronger than the calendar discipline.

In addition, the carnival in Brazil is a million-dollar business with contracts that are usually concluded long beforehand.

When the authorities in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo had to cancel the carnival in February due to the high number of omicron cases, they left a back door open and set an alternative date.

So the festival of all festivals will take place for the first time this year after Easter.

Tjerk Bruhwiller

Correspondent for Latin America based in São Paulo.

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As is customary, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro handed over the key to the city to "King Momo", as the fool king is called in Rio, on Wednesday.

Everyone is welcome in the city, said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

“The greatest spectacle on earth is back.

Long live the carnival and the Brazilian culture.” On the same evening, the first samba schools filed down the avenue of the world-famous Sambodromos to take the spectators in the stands and in front of the screens into their shrill and loud glittering worlds.

However, the first evening was overshadowed by an incident.

A girl was taken to hospital in Rio de Janeiro with serious injuries after being pinned between one of the giant moving dance stages and a post.

Things really get going this Friday when the top league of samba schools perform.

In São Paulo, for the first time in two years, the lights of the Sambódromo go on again.

The pandemic will not be ignored, it should flow into the choreographies of the samba schools in one way or another.

It is not quite over in Brazil either, although the numbers and especially the serious cases have dropped to a very low level and the obligation to wear masks has been almost completely lifted.

One of the samba schools in São Paulo is dedicating its parade to one of the great samba musicians who died last year in connection with the corona virus.

Trend towards stronger social criticism

Several schools are said to have decorated one of their floats in memory of the victims of the pandemic.

The trend towards stronger social criticism seen in recent years is also likely to continue.

The carnival is the opportunity for fools' freedom and a stage that is otherwise not available to the samba schools and their members, who often come from humble backgrounds.

It was clear that there would be discussions about the post-Easter carnival.

The biggest polemic, however, did not go back to the event itself.

Rather, a dispute has flared up about the street carnival.

Neither the authorities in Rio de Janeiro nor those in São Paulo have approved the street carnival.

But many of the carnival blocks, which sometimes attract tens of thousands of revelers, have announced that they will take to the streets anyway.

According to one list, there should be at least 40 blocks in Rio, which should lead to a certain amount of chaos.

The authorities have shied away from responsibility by canceling the street carnival and have not organized a special contingent of security forces and cleaning crews.

In São Paulo, the blocks were offered a last-minute alternative date in July.

That would be after the real and the current post-Easter carnival then the third this year.

Nevertheless, around 50 blocks are expected on the streets of the metropolis at the weekend.

In contrast, things remain quiet in the traditional carnival metropolises of Salvador and Recife.

Large private festivals with well-known artists and sometimes hefty prices are planned in various cities.

Despite the enthusiasm of the Brazilian carnival movement and the yearning of the jesters for their most important celebration, the carnival will be limited.

Although the pandemic is no longer scary, it is still present.

In addition, many Brazilians find themselves in a difficult economic situation.

Unemployment and inflation inhibit joy, the date may contribute to it.

The biggest festival of all time, often talked about during the pandemic in reference to the first carnival after the Spanish flu in 1919, has to wait another year.