The festivities, which take place in Brazil from February 28 to March 8, attract tens of thousands of people and generate considerable revenue, particularly for the textile and tourism industries.

Rio de Janeiro's massive Sambadrome erupted in noisy celebrations Sunday as the news broke that Brazil won its first Oscar, in the middle of the first day of its famous samba parades.

Brazil’s Carnival muse this year isn’t one of the divas or drum queens parading with the Rio de Janeiro samba schools.

Rio de Janeiro held the first day of its famous Carnival samba parades Sunday -- with many attendees also eying activities all the way in Hollywood, where Brazil could take home its first Oscar. Oscars buzz can be found all over the streets of Rio,