Millions of revelers took to the streets on Friday to participate in Rio de Janeiro's Carnival festivities, a centuries-old celebration which came to a close on Tuesday.
The city was abuzz with bright costumes and elaborate parade floats throughout the five days of merriment. Rio's many samba schools showed off their skills in the Sambadrome for the top spot in a fierce annual competition while street parties (called blocos) raged for hours throughout the metropolitan area.
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Trash collectors went on a three-day strike during this year's festivities in an effort to increase their salaries. The city is dependent on the workers to clean up the massive mess left by party-goers and officials met Tuesday to negotiate an agreement.
Carnival is a period of merrymaking that precedes the somber season of Lent, which traditionally begins on Ash Wednesday. This year, Carnival started on Feb. 28; Ash Wednesday is on March 5. Traditions during this time vary in different countries, but most celebrations are known for their flashy costumes, large-scale parades and and loose regard for social conventions. The U.S. generally celebrates Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.
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