the third week of april is also rio de janeiro's fashion week, an event of growing importance quickly becoming one of the most watched fashion functions around the world. 

annually in april and then again in october or november, fashion in rio is reprised by top fashion bazar, a must-see sale-out event where local and brazilian fashion designers offer both brazilian and international brands at huge discounts.  in a country where most of the population subscribes to some religious belief, religious events make up a considerable proportion of the cultural landscape. in rio de janeiro, where cariocas can blend their ability to enjoy life with their faith, this makes for a particularly vibrant religious festival scene.