We’re a little late in the year for Brazilian Carnival. Nevertheless, we will brazenly, even wildly celebrate the 100th Carnival of the Vanities by dispensing Mardi Gras beads of factual minutiae that none of you will actually read.

The Wednesday after the last day of Carnival (Tuesday) is called Ash Wednesday.

Carnival is usually held from late February to early March. Dates vary wildly, but most historians believe Carnival was introduced to Brazil in 1723, with the immigration from the island of Madeira, A?ores and Cabo Verde. It gradually changed along the years, assimilating local elements, especially from African culture. Among all popular manifestations in Brazil, Carnival is undoubtedly the most popular event and the parade which takes place in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous in Brazil and in the whole world.

On to the posts, you crazy whirlygigs, festooned parade-goers, and drunken revelers! On!

The Entrudo

The entrudo was a popular event which consisted of throwing water or fruit juices and flour on people.

The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro began more than 250 years ago, with the Portuguese feast called entrudo (from the Latin introito, meaning “beginning”). In Portugal, the entrudo became very violent, especially during the reigns of kings Dom Afonso VI (1656-1667) and Dom Jo?o V (1706-1750). At the end of the 19th century, other ways of celebrating carnival began to appear.

Nikita Demosthenes – John Kerry Lied And the Mainstream Press Is Ignoring the Story – Duh. What else would John Kerry/the media be doing?
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The Fladen Experience – Is it Wise to Date Your Classmates? – Only after you drop out.

Dean’s World – Rambling Essay On Sex, Violence, Manners, and Western Civilization – Saucy, salacious, and insightful essay from Mr. Esmay.

Confessions of a Political Junkie – Cloak & Daggar, Recap – How (not) to destroy a campaign opponent.

Outside the Beltway – Don’t Yield an Inch to George Bush – Don’t put James Joyner on any mailing list or he will eat you alive, like he does Mary Beth Cahill.

Solonor’s Ink Well – Who Shot Who In The What Now? – A new series of historical shooting incidents.

Z? Pereira

Jos? Nogueira de Azevedo Paredes was a famous drum player in the mid 1800’s

Z? Pereira was a group of people who gathered together in the streets, playing, singing and dancing. The origin of the group Z? Pereira is uncertain. Some people state that Z? Pereira was the nickname of the Portuguese Jos? Nogueira de Azevedo Paredes, who lived in Rio de Janeiro.

The Internet Ate My Homework – It’s Not Your Fault You’re Fat? – John Basedow is the answer.

Feste…a foolsblog – Oops! I did it Again! – Gave the UN our heart, now they’re screwing up again!

Give me spirit fingers dammit!! – Presidential pressies – Cheap gifts that suck and are for presidents.

Sneakeasy’s Joint – Why Would 30 Chickens Cross the Road? And special bonus follow-ups, Oh Deer, This Is Getting Serious! and Even Bees Do It! – To get put on a blog entry, of course.

Layman?s Logic – Afraid! Very, very afraid! – I would tell you about it, but there’s this weird video game sprite that’s been following me.

Tim Worstall – Bush and the F-102 – Bush was a badass for trying to fly the F-102. No, not in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The Pr?stitos

The “Cavalheiros da Folia”, was the first pr?stito which appeared in Rio de Janeiro.

The pr?stitos were satirical parades. They were composed of 8 floats and 36 gentlemen. But the real street carnival manifestation, with large pr?stitos, dates from 1854, with the foundation of the first two Carnival societies “Venezianas” and “Sumidades Carnavalescas”.

The Key Monk – Kerry Outwitted and John Kerry: Me Too! – It’s a Kerry double date!

Sometimes Thoughtful, Mostly Otherwise – Children/Heirs or Slaves? Which would you rather be? and Colossians ch1v19-23 – Some Biblical wisdom that most Christians miss. Good for non-believers, too.

The People’s Republic of Seabrook – It Could Have Been Us – Hurricane Charley whupped on some people, but not the PRoS.

INCITE – Goemagog – We’re a Republic, dangit!

Dodgeblogium – Three Norwegians, oddles of goth metal and me – Sounds kinky, but it’s not. Even though he uses “heaving metal” in the same sentence as “hot night”.

Patterico’s Pontifications – Liberal Bias in the Wording of a News Article – Compare and contrast, and then request Patterico begin writing for the NY Times or WaPo.

The Cord?es

Chiquinha Gonzaga was the first person to compose a song specially for Carnival.

The cord?es are famous in Brazil, dating from the end of the 18th century. Some people say that the first cord?o was the “Flor de S?o Louren?o” from 1885. Among the most famous cord?es from Rio de Janeiro, the “Cord?o do Bola Preta” was one of the most popular. “? Abre Alas!”, composed in 1899, was a great success of the cord?o “Rosas de Ouro”. It was from the song “? Abre Alas!” onwards that Carnival began to be celebrated with songs composed especially for this purpose.

D-42 – Teenager – The best analysis of a Better Than Ezra song that I’ve ever read.

point2point – Democrats Question Timing of Halloween – Call the Festive All Hallow’s Eve Worst October Surprise Yet.

Musings from Brian J. Noggle – Headline of Tomorrow – I got this yesterday, so this should show up in the newspapers today. Germans Angry Over Removal of American Troops, Start War. That’s a no-brainer.

Watcher of Weasels – Idiot-Americans: Like Kryptonite To Sanity – Somebody’s pissed at Oliver Willis and it’s not me. Please don’t hurt me Mr. Willis.

Mad Kane Notables – GOP Hits New York Song Parody; Mad Kane Will Blog Republican Convention – A rallying song for the Democrats.

Da Goddess – One Degree to Country Dick – Remembering Dick Montana.

The Corso

The corso became extinct when non-convertible cars were created.

When the convertible automobiles were created, the corsos appeared. People using costumes would throw confetti on each other from their cars, which followed each other in the streets.

The Big Picture – Appreciate the Power of This: “Let’s Go Back to the Facts.” – Facts? What facts? Kick, jump, it’s all in the mind…

Idler Yet – Is the presidential election a few weeks from being over? – We can only dream of that day.

Patriot Paradox – I’m No Houdini – No, you’re Nick Queen.

Blogo Slovo – First Time for Everything – Some Russian stuff about guns and government trim.

Considerettes – Gov. McGreevey’s smoke screen – It’s that whole “gay” thing, isn’t it?

Helloooo, Chapter Two! – News Flash: music critics suck – We know. So do the French.

The Samba Schools

Africans first started samba schools, adapting local instruments to play tribal beats.

The first samba schools began to appear in the 30’s. The first one that was founded was the “Deixa Falar”, in a district called Est?cio in 1928. Samba schools are associations of people who live in the same neighborhood, usually a popular community (”favela”) or a suburban area. They get together for samba meetings and rehearsals along the whole year. Adults and children from the same community work together to make the costumes, the floats and everything that is going to be presented on the avenue during Carnival.

Quibbles-n-Bits – Why John Kerry is probably lying and from Man Meets Baby, Why my daughter will call me a Geek – Because you are one?

Solomonia – Kerry, Cambodia and the SwiftVets – The Media’s playing “See no Cambodia, hear no Cambodia”.

Peaktalk – Pillars of Western Power – Deep thoughts by Peaktalk on Western Civ.

La Shawn Barber – Watch Out For Jim Crow – La Shawn smells a rat in the NAACP’s press releases.

Interested-Participant – Legal Prostitution in Bay Area? – He’s not talking about all those Berkely co-eds, is he?

The Post Carnival Celebracion

Late carnival revelers often stumble around looking for loose change to purchase cheap goods from street vendors.

These were the last of the last, submitted after the deadline, but because Carnival is so wild and free, they have still made the cut. May the year now pass like the wind until the next celebraci?n of heritage, culture, and a butt-load of great posts. Thanks for the opportunity to host!

Fringe – Please Don’t Sauce Me, Mommy – Tabasco as child disciplinary tool? Film at eleven.

Wicked Thoughts – Historical Insults – Loads of historical insults, good for any occasion!

Dissecting Leftism – Deserted Beaches — And Papal Encyclicals – Reading papal encyclicals on a deserted beach…ahh, the life!

Political Correctness Watch – Even Child Rape is Okay in the PC World – The strange case of PCness gone amok

Greenie Watch – The Asbestos Fraud – Those spiky fibers in your throat are illllluuuuusssiiiooon!

Gun Watch – Are Gun-Owners Cross-Eyed Nutcases? – I think we know the answer to this one.

QandO – Kerry’s Cambodia nonsense refuted – Another refutation of John Kerry’s Cambodia story. You could use calculus to prove he wasn’t there, for crying out loud!

Credits

Carnival information from Irene’s Corner
Carnival graphics by Jeremiah Lewis (aka Fringe). You may reuse them as long as you don’t link to the image on my server and let me know that you’re using it and where.

Carnival of the Vanities Schedule

August 25th – Ego
September 1st – Blogo Slovo
September 8th – Food Basics
September 15th Silflay Hraka – The Two Year Anniversary
September 22nd – The Eleven Day Empire
September 29th – Last One Speaks