Carnival Celebrations

The films from the Pathé-Baby at the beginning of the 20th century bring carnival to life.

Carnaval de ruaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Street parties and revelry, n.d.

The Rio de Janeiro carnival is more than a simple celebration.

Matéria da "Revista da Semana" (1931)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Revista da Semana magazine, 1931

It is profoundly linked to the identity of the city, and is a vibrant expression of its history, culture, and spirit.

Foliões em baile de carnaval não identificado (1954)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Rio's carnival past

In the Paschoal Nardone Collection, there are several images that hark back to the past, depicting the traditions and customs that molded the Rio de Janeiro carnival celebrations at the beginning of the 20th century.

Carnival car paradeGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

The float parade on Beira-Mar and Rio Branco avenues

The rising popularity of motor vehicles added a new dimension to the Rio de Janeiro carnival. This video illustrates how the people of Rio celebrated by driving their cars through the streets, and the evolution of this festive tradition.

Carnival car paradeGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Costumes: a carnival classic

The Rio Carnival is a vibrant demonstration of creativity, and nowhere else is this more evident than in the costumes!

Carnival 1928 (1928)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Carnival scenes in 1928

In this 1928 carnival film, you can see the strange elaborate costumes worn during carnival festivities at the beginning of the 20th century.

Integrantes de escola de sambaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Members of the Samba School, n.d.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival through images from the General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro. Click here to discover the evolution of this iconic celebration in the first decades of the 20th century.

Credits: Story

Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo Paes

Secretary of State
Eduardo Cavaliere

General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Rosa Maria Araujo

Documentation Center
Maria Thereza Kahl Fonseca

Curatorship and editing
Conrado Werneck Pimentel

Text revision
Pedro Paulo Malta

Interns
Luísa da Costa de Oliveira and Marcelle Araujo Lins

Film digitization
LUPA/UFF - University Laboratory for Audiovisual Preservation

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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Rio de Janeiro: City of Culture
Uncover its past. Celebrate its people. Explore its places.
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