Carnival in Rio de Janeiro: in Brazil, the "flesh festival" is in full swing
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Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 18, 2023. AFP - CARL DE SOUZA
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1 min
In Brazil, the city of Rio de Janeiro is reviving its street carnival after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Until Tuesday, February 21, the city will live to the rhythm of the carnival blocos, these street brass bands with contagious energy that criss-cross the city and attract a large number of Brazilian and foreign tourists every year.
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With our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro,
Sarah Cozzolino
They've been waiting for this for three years.
Gabriel and his friends are big carnival fans.
This Saturday, they all went out in red tutu, cheekbones full of glitter.
We need to be happy.
After a very serious pandemic, we need to celebrate the fact of having survived these years and this government.
They welcome the return of the left to power.
For the next few days, they plan to party in the streets from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
But Clara, 19, will remain cautious.
Carnival is the feast of the flesh.
So people use it to go beyond the limits, to do lots of crazy things.
But I think it's important to know how to enjoy the carnival while keeping your energy.
Lucas is part of a carnival bloco that will parade on Tuesday.
Between authorizations and the unpredictable weather, he is both in a hurry and stressed by the event.
In Brazil, the year does not begin until after Carnival.
So the return of the carnival, for me, it's like we finally started the year well this time.
Because in Rio de Janeiro, the whole city is suspended in carnival.
Banks, businesses and even schools will not reopen until Thursday.
►Also read: In Bolivia, the long-awaited Oruro Carnival is back this Saturday
In Haiti, the carnival to advocate peace
The Haitian capital is also at carnival time.
The festivities kicked off this Sunday and will run until Wednesday, February 21.
Qunze million gourdes (93,000 euros) have been released for these three days of celebrations which aim to advocate reconciliation for peace.
Port-au-Prince wants to preserve the tradition despite the insecurity situation that the country is going through.
Artistic parade and musical floats.
For the president of the organizing committee, Yves Pénel, this great national popular festival which generally brings together thousands of Haitians, is an opportunity to invite the population to reconciliation with a view to a climate of peace: "Port-
au -Prince is a city full of artists, it is necessary to organize cultural activities like the carnival to train young people.
This can help with a change of mentality.
The carnival is the best way to do it, to talk about peace.
The city cannot be handed over to those who indulge in violence.
This is an opportunity to show the whole world that Haiti is capable of beautiful things as well
."
While kidnappings continue to rage in Haiti, the carnival festivities will take place exceptionally between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., in order to allow carnival-goers to move, hopes the municipality, in safety.
In Port-au-Prince,
Marie André Belange
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