nowadays the carnival festivities represent some of the most well-known postcards of brazil to the world - rio de janeiro's carnival in particular is the most famous across the globe.

these festivities have became one of the greatest touristic attractions in the country, and bring an average of 1.1 million visitors to the city, generating huge revenues - thus, carnival has become a massive cultural and social hallmark.

the roots of the exuberance and irreverence of the festivities can be traced back to some pagan fertility rites in old europe - such rites, conceived to commemorate the vibrant force of life itself, were ridden with food and drinks and became very popular across the whole continent.