This February, Brazil Carnival kicks off on Friday the 13th and goes through the 17th, also known as Fat Tuesday. This legendary celebration is said to have evolved from an ancient Greek spring festival that honored Dionysus, the god of wine. Over time, the Catholic Church adapted it to be a last bacchanal leading up to Ash Wednesday and the 40 days of Lenten austerity. There are different Carnival celebrations all over the world but the Brazilian Carnival in Rio is by far the biggest. Rio’s Carnival dates back to 1723 and the Portuguese Entrudo, when street celebrations where held, and revelers doused each other in water, limes and mud.
