Two Special Celebrations

The Rio Carnival is special because it is the biggest and wildest party on Earth. It usually starts on Friday in early March and continues for about a week. The carnival has two parts. In the main part of the celebrations, dancers from samba schools compete, and people pay money to see these competitions. In the less formal part of the party, people go into the streets of Rio, join dance groups there and enjoy themselves. The first Rio Carnival was in 1723.

Chinese New Year is probably the oldest tradition that people still celebrate. It started in China about 3,000 years ago as a way of welcoming spring, but then it slowly changed to celebrate the new year. The celebrations start in late January or early February and last for 15 days. During the celebrations, people clean their homes, pay back their debts and visit relatives. They also decorate the streets and have parades in them.