Students studying abroad during their spring semester have to take advantage of the Carnaval celebrations. Celebrated throughout some parts of South America and Europe, Carnaval is a pre-Lent celebration that encourages individuals to unite and bend social norms. In the United States, the celebration which most mirrors this mentality would be New Orleans' Mardi Gras.
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| Microphone and instruments in hand, Gualeguaychu's Carnaval band warmed up the crowd! |
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| From 10-11pm, this band set the tone and made guests excited for the night's festivities. |
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| So much Fun! |
From the large festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, to the beach parties in Montevideo, Uruguay, most of Latin America's Carnaval celebrations occur throughout January and February. Located only a few hours away from Buenos Aires, Gualeguaychu is the home of Argentina's biggest Carnaval celebration.
Gualeguaychu is located in the province of Entre Rios. Aside from a few river beaches, Carnaval is Gualeguaychu's main attraction. Given the city's small and walkable size, students can easily make a day trip out of Gualeguaychu. They could take an early morning bus and arrive to the city around noon, walk around, attend Carnaval, and take a 3am bus back to Buenos Aires. The Carnaval celebration starts around 10pm and ends around 1am. Following this schedule will give students more than enough time to see the city, enjoy the celebration, and make it back to their bus home.
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| The intricate costumes are also an important part of any big Carnaval celebrations... |
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| From designing, to sewing, to finding models... |
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| Some residents in Gualeguaychu may spend over a year making various outfits for the Carnaval parade. |
From the amazing costumes, floats, and dance routines, Carnaval is not a holiday to miss. After all, it's not everyday an American student gets the chance to experience such a phenomenal celebration!
Elena P. is the Spring 2018 MOJO Photographer in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is currently a Junior studying Media Production at Ithaca College.