Characters revive in the emblematic carnival of Olinda, in Brazil

Olinda (Brazil) (EFE).- The deceased ‘O Rei’ Pelé and Queen Isabel II ‘revived’ this Monday in the traditional parade of giant dolls in the city of Olinda, one of the most emblematic events of the Brazilian Carnival and who this year avoided politics.

The former Brazilian striker and the British monarch, who died on December 29 and September 8, 2022, respectively, were part of the hundred huge figures that invaded the historic center of this tourist city in the Recife metropolitan area.

The Olinda dolls, which portray great national and international personalities, paraded down the steep slopes of this town of colonial architecture, in the midst of a massive party animated by the comparsas.

This year, however, the organizers decided not to take political figures for a walk in order to avoid friction between the attendees.

Sport and news present in parades

In 2022, Brazil experienced a tense and polarized electoral process that led to the victory of the progressive leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against the far-right Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), who unsuccessfully sought re-election.

In this sense, neither President Lula nor Bolsonaro, nor the popular former anti-corruption judge and now senator Sergio Moro, were included in this year’s “guest list”, as confirmed to EFE by cultural producer Leandro Castro, one of the organizers. of this symbolic party.

“Los foliões”, as those who accompany the troupes in their costumes are called in Brazil, were able to enjoy a long list of current soccer stars, such as Neymar, Vinícius Júnior and Richarlison, and other sports.

There was also no lack of characters from El Chavo del Ocho, one of the most sought after by the crowd, as well as icons from the world of cinema and music, such as Roberto Carlos.

European tradition adopted in Olinda

The giant dolls of Olinda are a European heritage that has its origin in the processions of the 15th century, when they accompanied religious processions, a celebration that Brazil adapted and mixed with its own roots to this day.

The first to take to the streets of Olinda was the “Homem da Meia-Noite” (Midnight Man), which has been encouraging visitors since 1932 in this great party full of irony.

The historic center of Olinda, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1982, is about 15 kilometers from Recife, capital of the state of Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil.

As in Olinda, other parts of Brazil continue this Monday celebrating Carnival with noisy street troupes, drawing thousands of people in the main cities of the country, especially in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.