the event involves men, women and children, each dressed in a particular way signaling their part in it.  they are roughly divided into those who play, sing and dance.

although they enact mostly african religious traditions, the dress code is extravagant and colorful dresses (for the women) in styles that are reminding of women's fashions in the seventeenth century - the flashier at the time.

today maracatu is celebrated in rio de janeiro as much as all over the rest of brazil, particularly during carnaval - it has also spread to other parts of the world having followers in toronto, new york and berlin.