News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tuesday. November 1, 2022: When it comes to carnivals, we all know that Latin America rules – and they’ve proven it time and time again! Latin America is said to be one of the most multi-ethnic and culturally diverse regions, and many of the carnival celebrations there are proof of that. But the main question is, which carnivals are the best and brightest? If you want to have a truly memorable and exciting time, these are the carnivals to visit. Here is your ultimate list of the most popular carnivals in Latin America:
Carnival: Its Origin and History
Carnaval – or more appropriately, Carnaval in Portuguese and Spanish, is a religious occasion marked by four days of festivities – usually from Saturday to Tuesday. It is held in February (before Lent) and is seen in almost every country in South America, such as Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay, and every country celebrates it big – and we mean big! – of dance, energy and music.
The most popular
- Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Many people would surely agree – if there is only one Carnival event you can go to, the best Carnival event is none other than Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It’s the Carnival to end all Carnivals, and if you’re looking for the ultimate Carnival, this is it. After all, it is the most exciting event in the country (and in the entire region) and attracts more than 2 million people from all over the world every year.
In Rio, parties abound – you can find everyone partying, on the streets, in the clubs, on the beaches and more. And the grand finale is the Parade, with over 200 Samba schools competing for the prize. If you want to party like never before and have your own Carnival at home, you can do so with the help of funfair booths for hire like We Are Tricycle.
- Festival of the Sun in Peru
The Festival of the Sun, or Inti Raymi, in Peru is another exciting holiday to watch out for. This happens every 24th of June and is held in Cuzco. The city is filled with processions accompanied by music, flowers and dancing and everyone is celebrating in style. For the Incas, the Sun was the supreme god and the Incas sacrificed animals to him – although this is no longer practiced, the festival ends with a “mock” sacrifice on top of a hill called Sacsayhuaman – and there are many dances, processions and street parties held throughout Cuzco in the last week of June.
- Day of the Dead in Mexico
Another very popular event is Mexico’s Day of the Dead, which was even made into a Disney movie! This ever-popular holiday takes place on the first and second day of November, celebrating two occasions – All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which honors those who died as children and those who died as adults respectively.
Like all Carnival events, Day of the Dead is a day of celebration, and despite its sick name, it’s an event that’s lively and happy—and you’ll never find a more lively celebration (and unique!) in the south. America.
