costumes in rio's carnival are a descendent of old european tradition, with a clear african and indigenous influence.

african traditions in fantasias call for putting together natural objects to create masks and costumes based on an idea or spiritual virtue.

very importantly, the feathers in carnival costumes represent the human ability to rise above difficulties and strife, or expectation to travel to another world of rebirth.

feathers are not used in the streets, but they are used extensively in the costumes at the sambódromo, normally reserved for the queens of the parade or the passistas.