.thoughtCarnival

Carnival has been rooted in the Carioca soul since the colonial times. The entrudos were pranks and festivities or representations, a tradition probably brought by the Portuguese that took place throughout the city in the days preceding Lent. Citizens took to the streets in groups and threw at one another, among other not always pleasant things, eggs and ‘limões de cheiro’ – wax balls filled with perfumed water, later replaced by ‘bisnagas’ and perfume-launchers. Many people did not like this practice, which was repressed and, in the mid-19th century, gave way to the large carnival societies, which would have been, along with the ranchos – another very popular carnival practice at the beginning of the 20th century – one of the inspirations for the emergence of current samba schools. We also had the corso – carnival associations that promoted parades in automobiles, with many masked people. And, in the middle of this history, there is a place for Light: the tram soon proved to be a quite suitable vehicle for carnival processions. This photograph was taken during the 1960 carnival, but this practice had already lasted three decades. Large masks and banners, in addition to other decorative elements, celebrated the company itself and its employees, especially the mechanics and drivers themselves.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a group of people in front of a monumental structure. From left to right, the individuals are arranged in two rows. In the front row, everyone is wearing white shirts and light-colored trousers, some with straw hats. In the back row, there is a central figure dressed in colorful attire, holding a baton and a sign that reads "Rei Momo da Light." In the background, there is an elaborate structure with grotesque faces and ornamental details. To the right, there is an old building with a deteriorated façade.

Here is another float decorated for the 1961 carnival. They were true allegorical floats.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a carnival parade. In the central part, there is a train decorated with festive elements, including masks and colorful adornments. On the left, adults and children watch the event. On the right, other spectators stand near the platform. In the background, there are buildings and trees. The number "8270" is visible on the upper part of the train.

The confetti battles, an old tradition, were reinvigorated when they began to also take place on the Light trams, becoming yet another classic of the Rio carnival. Everything seems to have started in the 1920s by the initiative of scattered groups, and the company, wisely, entered the history starting in 1928 according to the account extracted from the Revista da Light: “This year's carnival brought us a surprise: the confetti battles on the trams. We were very grateful for the innovation, as it represents an expressive demonstration of popular sympathy for the Company, a loving demonstration of friendship toward some of its employees. The “Group of the Squeezed” took the initiative for this original and entirely new festival for Rio. The “Group of the Squeezed” was born from the sympathy that old Ivo, who has worked on the same line for 22 years, initially as a coachman in the days of the São Cristóvão Company and later as a driver for the Light, managed to win among the passengers. His delicacy, his attentions toward everyone, the absolute correctness of his conduct earned him general sympathy and later friendship, and for the daily passengers, the journey became more pleasant when taken alongside the kind and friendly veteran.”

Image description: The image is a black-and-white newspaper page containing several photos and texts related to carnival. The spatial layout is vertical, with photos in columns and texts surrounding them. At the top, there is a prominent headline mentioning "Uma original e expressiva demonstração da sympathia popular" ("An original and expressive display of popular sympathy"). Below, there are more texts and photos of groups of people in different settings. One of the photos shows a carnival float with the inscription "S. JANUARIO" and "HOMENAGEM ao Grupo dos Apertados" ("TRIBUTE to the Grupo dos Apertados"). Another photo shows a crowd in front of a stage, possibly during a performance. There are also images of people in festive costumes, some holding flowers, and a photo of a smiling man.

In the Light magazine of March 1928, we read: "As the number of friends of old Ivo grew, and the size of the benches did not, they squeezed together so that a few more could share in the pleasure of the ride, and thus the Group was formed, which today consists of 30 full-fledged "Squeezed Ones," 12 of whom are young ladies, but including associates and aspiring members, its total rises to about 80 people." And still regarding the motorman Ivo Costa who started it all, another excerpt from that report is worth transcribing: "As the French song says, friendships are cultivated with small gifts, and feeling this way, every Friday the "Squeezed Ones" chip in so that our friend Ivo can have a "codfish with plenty of sauce." When the time for confetti battles came, the "Squeezed Ones" decided to hold theirs on their own streetcar and also pay one more tribute to the excellent motorman." The sign on the front of the car read: "Tribute to the codfish-with-sauce eater on Fridays, Mr. Ivo Costa. Group of the Squeezed Ones."

Image description: The image is an old black-and-white photograph. On the left, we see a series of small thumbnail images, possibly depicting people in different situations. In the center, there is a large trolley with people inside and on its external platform. A sign hanging on the platform reads "HOMENAGEM" (TRIBUTE). On the right, there is a circular photo of a person wearing a hat. Below this photo, it reads "O 'comedor de bacalhau com molho'" ("The 'codfish in sauce eater'"). The surrounding text mentions "Uma original e expressiva demonstração da sympathia pop AS BATALHAS DE CONFETTI NOS BONDS" ("An original and expressive demonstration of popular affection THE CONFETTI BATTLES ON THE TROLLEYS"). Below, it reads "A primeira batalha. O bond de São Januario, repleto de foliões desce a avenida do Mangue" ("The first battle. The São Januário trolley, full of revelers, goes down Mangue Avenue").

The Leme tram was another of the many throughout the city that promoted the famous battles of streamers and confetti during carnival, including the distribution of prizes to the masked revelers. The cars were pre-rented and made the round trip to the Centro. But in the Centro and in the Zona Norte, it was common for the revelers to simply invade the passing cars, thus integrating them into the festivities. During these periods, passengers, motormen, and conductors already took to the streets properly prepared for these encounters and there was no alternative; it was time to join the revelry!

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a train packed with people during carnival. The image shows a crowd of people pushing their way out of the train cars, which is stopped at the platform. Most of the people are wearing the light, colorful clothing typical of carnival. On the left, we see passengers clinging to the train's railings, while on the right, others are hanging out of the windows. In the background, there is a tall building with many windows. At the top of the train, "(2458)" is written.

In the street carnival, there were the dirty blocks, more spontaneous and maintaining a certain spirit of the old entrudo. But the plot blocks began to emerge, more planned and organized around a theme. They went out through the streets of Rio and received the spontaneous adherence of many Carioca revelers and tourists. It was truly a great fun; memorable moments. The composer Lamartine Babo, who worked at Light in the early 1920s, was one of the founders of one of these employees' blocks, the Papa-Tudo, which left from Larga Street (today Marechal Floriano, where the company's headquarters is located) on Carnival Saturday and went to the Hotel Avenida where the famous Cruzeiro gallery was located and today stands the Avenida Central building, on Rio Branco Avenue.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a group of people celebrating in the streets. The image shows a lively crowd, with some individuals raising their arms and dancing. On the left, we see a building with signs mentioning "Ministério da Justiça," "Escritório de Obras," "Imprensa Nacional," and "Polícia Marítima." On the right, there is another building with the inscription "S Luiz Durão." The group is walking along train tracks, suggesting they are in a city with rail transportation.

In this photograph, one can see the block of the Turma da Light leaving the Triagem workshops to liven up the neighborhood streets; the group is surrounded by a rope and just ahead follow the block's pullers, all men dressed as women.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a carnival procession. The image shows a crowd of people walking along the street, some of them holding parasols. On the left, there are colonial-style buildings with white façades and open windows. In the center, several people dressed in typical carnival costumes are dancing and interacting with one another. On the right, other onlookers watch the festivities. The background features more buildings and a green hill.

As can be seen, the street carnival of the Light employees took other directions, now independent of the trams, which were progressively being replaced by buses – which also had some participation in those demonstrations. And we cannot forget to mention the balls, starting with those promoted at the Rio de Janeiro Athletic Association – Club do Leme, among other balls, featuring the presence of the King Momo and including costume contests. But returning to the streets and to conclude, here is a report from Revista Light about the 1934 carnival ‘in the streets of the Light City’ in Triagem when the blocks “Apito Maldito” and “Tentação da Carne ou Gênio do Mal” paraded.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white newspaper page, dated March 1934. It features photos of a carnival parade in the "Cidade-Light." At the top, there is a large photo showing people dancing and having fun. Below, there are three smaller photos: one shows a giant figure with a load on its head, while the other two show crowds walking through the streets. The page contains text in Portuguese, mentioning carnival blocos and festive events.