Football is a religion in Brazil, but Carnival comes a close second. Cities and towns throughout the country host a week-long celebration each February, a final opportunity to bust loose before the onset of Lent, a 40-day period of abstinence and reflection. Carnival literally means “farewell to meat,” another worldly pleasure traditionally forsaken in the run-up to Easter. You’ll find carnivals across the Caribbean and Americas, including Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the icy annual celebration in Quebec City. In Brazil, Carnival is elevated beyond street parades, feasts, and celebrations: it is the highlight of the social calendar and a highly competitive performance sport, too. The most prominent, brightest and most boisterous example of this is found in Rio de Janeiro. 

Like a football league, communities across the city form large clubs (known as samba schools) that engage local performers, musicians, dressmakers, builders, volunteers, and organizational staff year-round. Each school selects a theme and will spend upwards of  $3.5 million (USD) each year to manifest its vision into a living parade with up to 4,000 people. Participants pay a membership fee based on a hierarchy, from $50 for a costumed spot on the floor to thousands of dollars for a prominent perch on the floats. Despite the appearance of a wild yet perfectly coordinated party, the schools compete in front of judges who grade each parade according to various criteria. Only 12 schools earn their spot in the Sambadrome each year, winning cash and national acclaim for their efforts. With the schools parading across two nights, the full event is televised live, becoming a hot-topic national conversation.