Paraty, Brazil (AP) – Hundreds of muddy carnival revelers paraded Saturday in the sleepy seaside town of Paraty in southeastern Brazil have grown bigger and bigger since the first edition about 40 years ago.
The joyful partyers threw themselves into a sludge-like shoal in front of the Palathi Beach, and grey emerged from the sludge. They danced on the beach, gurgling the hymns of the cave – “UGA! UGA!” – marched along the sand.
“This is the best bloco. You rarely get muddy and then dance and sing. It’s sticky, it’s sticky and smelly, but it’s very good.
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The Brazilian carnival is a combination of world-famous parades at Samba schools, who spend all year preparing and quirky street parties, each with their own theme, aesthetic or musical style.
According to Paraty’s travel website, the mud party tradition dates back to 1986. Friends were playing in the mangroves at Jabaquara Beach and realized they were not recognised. They stroll to the city’s historic center and caused a sensation.
The following year, a group bubbled with the mud and presented itself as a prehistoric tribe of the carnival. The website says they carry skulls, vines and bones when they say the hymns.
So the mud party was born. It has become a beloved tradition in the years since.
Its growth has forced organizers and Paraty’s tourism office to raise awareness of the importance of not getting dirty with the city’s colorful walls, cars or bystanders before the event.
