Source: CCTV.com

02-22-2009 09:24

Rio de Janeiro's annual massive street party -- carnival -- officially began on Friday, as the mayor handed the keys to the Brazilian city to the portly King of Carnival - King Momo.

Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, symbolically relinquished control of the city. He handed over the keys to King Momo as samba dancers on stilts threw confetti on the journalists gathered around.

The tradition of electing "King Momo" has been going on since 1965.

This year the honor fell upon Milton Junior, who wished "everyone lots of happiness, health and zero violence" as he took control of Rio for the duration of the carnival.

To be declared carnival king, a candidate must display charm and personality and know how to dance the samba.

In the city's Santa Teresa neighborhood, dancers from the "Las Carmelitas" samba group, dressed as nuns, joined thousands of other carnival-goers to fill the narrow cobbled-stone streets.

The samba group, which began performing in 1991, pays homage to the Santa Teresa convent of the same name.

More than four-hundred street parties are expected to take over Rio de Janeiro this carnival, attracting more than sixty-thousand tourists and residents.

 

Editor:Qin Yongjing