My favorite was this parade float, which portrayed Lemanjá, a water goddess seen in many traditional Afro-Brazilian religions. This floats theme nods to the transatlantic slave trade. The water symbolizes purification and sorrow. On the back of the float, a message saying "All black people go to heaven" demonstrates a point of historical resistance for those taken across the Atlantic Ocean.
Carnaval can be broken down into the words carna- meaning meat, and -val, meaning festival. Carnaval's origins are tied with Brazil's deep Catholic origins. It is hosted right before Lent, which is the Catholic season of fasting (giving something up). In other words, it is the season to indulge.
This tradition is not directly connected to the environment, as it happens mostly in a city-like environment. The streets are filled with parades, floats, and celebrations.
