Performers from the Salgueiro samba school parade in the Sambadrome on February 13, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations culminating on Fat Tuesday before the start of the Catholic season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. 

Performers from the Uniao da Ilha samba school wait on a float to parade in the Sambadrome on February 12, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations culminating on Fat Tuesday before the start of the Catholic season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. 

Revelers march during the Carmelitas 'bloco', or block party, on February 9, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially began today. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations culminating on Fat Tuesday before the start of the Catholic season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday.

Revelers from the Beija-Flor samba school march during a street practice along Copacabana beach on January 28, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In spite of a funding cut from Rio's new Evangelical mayor, Carnival festivities appear to be more or less on track. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations culminating on Fat Tuesday before the start of the Catholic season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. 

Revelers gather during the pre-Carnival Banda de Ipanema 'bloco', or block party, on January 27, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In spite of a funding cut from Rio's new Evangelical mayor, Carnival festivities appear to be more or less on track. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations culminating on Fat Tuesday before the start of the Catholic season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday.