Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Carnival in Brazil
Brazil Carnival
Reading Comprehension for February 5
Carnival - or Carnaval, as it's spelled in Brazil - is a party like no other. It is a holiday celebrated in many parts of the world. But no one celebrates it quite like the people of Brazil. For Brazilians, Carnival is a time to eat, drink, party, and dance as much as humanly possible for four days!
It may be hard to believe, but the hard partying of Carnival is part of a religious celebration. During the spring, many Christians around the world remember the death and resurrection of the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection are remembered on Easter Sunday in March or April. For many Christians, Easter ends a 40-day season called Lent. Some remember Lent by giving up a usual part of their daily lives, like eating meat or another kind of food.
To prepare for this time of sacrifice, there is another celebration, and it is called Carnival. Many Americans also celebrate it under a different name - Mardi Gras. The date of Carnival changes year to year, because Carnival and much of the Christian religious calendar is based on astronomy. In Brazil, Carnival starts on Saturday and lasts until the following Tuesday. That Tuesday is the last day before the Lenten season.
