Carnival Monday

About Carnival Monday

Carnival Monday in Brazil falls on the Monday before Ash Wednesday and is a movable date tied to Easter. It is one of the peak days of the country's Carnival season, a period of street parties and samba celebrations. Though not a formal national public holiday, almost all businesses, shops and offices close, and the day is widely treated as a de facto holiday.

Across Brazil the day is filled with street parties known as blocos, where crowds in costume follow music trucks through the streets. In cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, samba schools rehearse and parade, while Salvador hosts massive trios elétricos. People dance, sing and gather with friends and family, and public transport and services run on reduced schedules.