Rio de Janeiro carnival traditionally takes place immediately before the Christian season of Lent.
Lent is the period of preparation before Easter in many Christian traditions. Because its date is calculated in relation to Easter, carnival does not fall on the same calendar dates every year. Rio’s main celebrations generally culminate in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent in the Western Christian calendar.
The pre-Lenten timing helps explain why carnival is associated with temporary excess, music, costumes and public celebration. Brazilian carnival has also developed far beyond its European religious framework, incorporating African and Indigenous influences, regional traditions and modern popular culture.
The season is sometimes confused with Easter itself or with Advent, the period before Christmas. Those are different parts of the Christian calendar. Carnival’s date can also vary between cities and events, but the traditional Rio celebration is anchored to the pre-Lenten period.