The history of Brazilian Carnival is more in-depth and interesting than many people might think. Carnival is much more than just parties. The pre-Lenten festivities known as carnival originated in Italy in the 1400s. The tradition quickly spread among Catholic countries in Europe and was eventually adopted in the Americas, taking hold especially in the devoutly Catholic nation of Brazil. Brazil's Carnival is a celebration held annually from the Friday to Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period before Easter. On some days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstain from eating meat and poultry. This is where the term "carnival" comes from, carnelevare, which means "removing the meat". Carnival has its roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia which was adopted into Catholicism becoming a farewell to things in a period of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for the death and resurrection of Christ. Brazilian Carnival has gone from being a simple celebration before the silence of Lent to a major production. It can be traced back to Christian traditions, African influences, and Brazilian Indians. Each part of Brazil has developed its own particular style for carnival. The history of the carnival has multiple influences. The modern history of Brazilian Carnival begins in the 1800s. During the 1800s a shoemaker named José Nogueira de Azevedo began organizing parades with his friends and family. In 1855, a more organized parade called the Grandes Sociedades, or Great Societies, was held. In 1870, a more common parade began, complete with the tradition of wearing masks and costumes. Samba schools are a big part of 20th century Brazilian auto... middle of paper... and something from the food stands that line the festival area. After the parade, most festival-goers indulge in the country's most famous dish, feijoada. Feijoada can be produced in an infinite number of varieties. However, in Brazil it almost always contains black beans and always includes a mix of salted, smoked and fresh meat. Some types are a little spicy due to the sausages while others are absolutely mild. Some people's feijoadas are thick while others are more like a traditional stew. Regardless of the variation, it is customary to serve this stew with white rice, black bean and hearts of palm salad, hot chili peppers, and orange slices. I chose this holiday because it has many parties, different types of music and amazing costumes. It is a huge festival that attracts many people from different places simply to have fun and enjoy themselves.