Brazil was forced to cancel the 2021 carnival festival for the first time in history after the covid-19 pandemic swept through the country killing 679,894 people while the 2022 carnival festival was delayed due to fear of a resurgence of the omicron variant which never come.
On Friday, Brazil decided to officially open carnival festivals which will run through February 22 and signals a return to full-fledged celebration not seen before covid 19 pandemic.
More than 46 million people will join the festival according to the government for its annual celebration, a burst of exuberance held in the days before Lent, the 40 days when many Catholics fast and practice acts of austerity.
The local tourism agency estimates an economic boost of about $1bn in revenue for businesses like bars and hotels as millions flood into the streets of Rio de Janeiro and other big cities for music, sightseeing, and parades. Rio alone has awarded more than 600 permits for street parties known as “blocks”, with many more unofficial bashes expected to erupt in the days to come.
Even Brazil’s first lady Rosângela da Silva – wife of the newly inaugurated president is expected to attend the carnival.
Celebration As Brazil Return To Full-Scale Carnival Festivities
I'm a senior member at Forsige covering topics on diplomacy and foreign policy relating to Asia and the World.