new years' eve celebrations are barely over but in true carioca's spirit a new one starts right on january first - the world peace and universal fraternity day, inaugurating a summer month of heat and blue skies.

on this day, the archbishop of rio de janeiro, holds a colorful mass for the holy mary with a choir and an orchestra at the saint saint sebastian cathedral, the futuristic cone-shaped church capable of holding twenty thousand people - huge multi-colored glass windows remind worshipper of the spectacular fireworks rio just had.

january 6th is the epiphany (dia de reis) - a roman catholic holiday celebrated twelve days after christmas, marking the arrival of the three magi or wise men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby jesus christ - around the world it is often the unofficial starting of carnival season.