Brazilian Carnaval is the biggest popular cultural manifestation in the country. Initially, it lasted three days: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday right before lent. However, through the years it has been extended to up to a week of pre-carnaval festivities.

Carnaval came to Brazil in the 17th century brought by the Portuguese. In those early days, it used to be a somewhat aggressive way of playing, with participants throwing balloons full of water (and sometimes other smelly liquids) at each other. Throughout the years, the water was replaced by the use of confetti.

During the first years of the Republic, people began to organize the first group in order to dance and celebrate in the streets to the music of wind and percussion instruments. At the end of 1800s, a woman composer, Chiquinha Gonzaga started the tradition of composing music especially for the occasion. This has become one of the most important characteristics of the Samba Schools. Since its inception, carnaval has been eminently a street celebration. However, in the big cities, it has also become a celebration, which takes place in clubs and sambadromes.

The Samba Schools, which started officially in the 1920s, are the greatest contribution by Rio de Janeiro to Brazilian carnaval. While Samba Schools exist throughout the country, the ones in Rio de Janeiro are well know for being the largest, best organized and responsible for the most beautiful and most elaborate parades.

The preparation for the parade begins several months before the actual parade, which takes place traditionally on Monday. Every year each Samba School chooses a theme, which will be reflected in its theme song, floats and costumes for that year. The manufacture of the floats and costumes normally takes several months. Approximately, three months prior to Carnaval, the Samba Schools start rehearsing for the parade.

Samba School parades follow a strict formation and are judged accordingly. The specific items to be judged are the Board (members which best represent the school, often the oldest), Master of Ceremonies and flag Bearer (the couple who carry the school's flag normally among the best dancers), Percussion (responsible for carrying the beat using solely percussion instruments), Theme Song (a samba which tells the story chosen by each school as a theme for their parade), Harmony (the way the schools tell their story, including how the different sections make the parade flow), Floats and Costumes (how well the floats and costumes help the schools tell their story).