Latin America & Caribbean - Peoples & Places, Customs, Traditions, Anthropology - General & Miscellaneous, South American History
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Overview
For weeks the people of the Brazilian town of Olinda have been sewing costumes, painting masks, and creating giant puppets—preparing for carnaval. Like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, carnaval is a five-day festival of parades, dancing, and singing. But unlike Mardi Gras, Olinda’s carnaval still celebrates the traditions and folklore of the people and the shared cultures—indigenous, European, and African—that make up Brazil. As generations have done each year, the people of Olinda and their visitors give themselves over to the music, dance, and joy of carnaval.
Text and photographs present the traditions and rituals of the annual celebration of Carnaval as experienced in the small Brazilian city of Olinda.
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Without following one person or family, as he usually does, Ancona visits Olinda in Brazil to show how one town celebrates Carnival. The five-day celebration takes place near the end of February and the three main cultures of Brazil: indigenous, European, and African, blend in songs and dances. Specific to Olinda is the creation of giant puppets made to resemble characters from myths and from popular culture, which are propelled by a single walker inside. People dance in "blocos" or neighborhoods, crazy and elaborate costumes are worn, and band or drum music fills the air. Ancona's photographs are pristine, bright, and close-up so that details of fabric, faces, and jewelry shine out. There is no glossary but Portuguese vocabulary is defined in the text and an author's note briefly explains how the holiday was imported from Europe and elaborated upon in the Americas.Book Details
Published
October 4, 1999
Publisher
Harcourt Children's Books
Pages
48
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780152017934