|
Rio's Carnival kicks off as mayor gives
key to the city to King Momo
[March 01, 2025]
By MAURICIO SAVARESE
RIO DE
JANEIRO (AP) — Rio de Janeiro's mayor handed over the key to the city to
its Carnival monarch on Friday, opening King Momo's five-day reign over
the festivities.
“Don’t call
me. Call King Momo until Ash Wednesday comes,” Mayor Eduardo Paes,
wearing shorts and a Panama hat, told Carnival revelers as drummers and
veteran members of local samba schools celebrated and sang traditional
songs. “You should come for this guy. He's going to be in charge of the
whole thing.” |
Carnival King Momo, Kaio Mackenzie, front right, and Queen Thuane de
Oliveira, hold the keys of the city at a ceremony that officially kicks
off Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP
Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) |
|
Momo's tenure is symbolic of society being turned upside down
during Carnival. His role is inspired by Greek mythology. Momus
is the personification of satire, mockery and irreverence.
This year’s Momo is 28-year-old Kaio Mackenzie, from the
working-class Mangueira community. Rio’s Carnival queen and
princesses joined him, dancing to samba music as they held the
city key aloft and confetti poured down upon them.
Some street parties have already been sweeping through Rio’s
streets in the lead-up to Carnival, but the five-day
celebrations will see almost city-authorized 500 bashes in the
city. There are dozens more informal parties roving about.
On Friday afternoon, one of Rio's most traditional street
parties, Carmelitas, took hold in the hilltop Santa Teresa
neighborhood. It was founded in 1990 and many of its revelers
come out dressed as nuns and priests of the region's Carmelites
Convent.
“I love it," said Maxime Poulain, 25, a French tourist. “A week
ago it was already amazing, and I'm hoping this week to be even
more.”
Charlotte Albiston, 30, a British tourist, was also enjoying the
street party despite the 32 Celsius degrees (90 Fahrenheit) that
turned her face red.
“I've been to Rio a few times, but this is my first time during
Carnival. It is a different energy,” she said.
Some in the street party paid tributes to Pope Francis, who is
hospitalized in Rome. Earlier Friday, the Vatican said the
pontiff had a bronchial spasm and his prognosis remains guarded.
The city's 12 top-flight samba schools will present their
Carnival parades at the city's Sambadrome between Sunday and
Tuesday.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
|
|
|
