By Jack Wynn
A Carnaval celebration filled with music and various festivities organized by the University of Maryland’s School of Languages, Literature and Cultures brought students and faculty together on Feb. 25.
The event included a series of presentations and discussions regarding cultural history, as well as engaging activities such as dancing, playing unique instruments and appreciating a culture unknown to many in attendance.
“[The event taught me] new perspective,” said Ben White, a junior accounting major. “I had heard of the Carnaval before but I don’t actually know anything it involved. Especially just being able to meet other people who know what it involves is great as well.”
The recommended attire, listed simply as “costumes,” invited students to express their creativity and interact with the celebration in their own individual way. Students who did not bring their own costumes could borrow masks provided at the event or ingratiate themselves in the many streamers, posters and other decorations.
Carnaval, a festive season in Spanish and Portuguese culture, typically lasts for a week and concludes with a final celebration commonly known as Mardi Gras. It is an opportunity for societal renewal and togetherness in the days before Lent.
“[I hoped] we could share a moment of happiness,” said Barbara Zocal Da Silva, an assistant clinical professor at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. “A moment to learn something new from the speakers or presenters who are not from our language school, but also to share this moment. Because everywhere Carnaval is celebrated is a moment to stay with your friends… so we can share this moment of joy. I wouldn’t exactly say happiness, but joy.”
Part of this sense of joy was created by musical events during the celebration. Working with Professor Josanne Francis from the UMD’s School of Music, students could learn how to play the steelpan, an instrument often played in Trinidad and Tobago during Carnaval.
Students were also treated to various foods and had the opportunity to decorate their masks with glitter and other colorful materials. Some even learned Jongo, a dance commonly performed during Carnaval in Brazil.
“Having joy is a form of resistance,” said Jorrin Ellison, a junior psychology major, referencing a presentation given by her professor. “Having joy in general, especially in such a hard time for a lot of people, is important. So I think that’s a big thing [students should take away].”
In addition to the positivity and joyous celebration, the holiday carries great importance. It allows those observing to reflect on their community and work towards progress.
Da Silva, who helped organize the event alongside Portuguese and Brazilian Studies minor Program Director and Advisor Thayse Leal Lima, emphasized the importance of using events like Carnaval to gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.
“We are discussing race, minorities, in general the Americas [and] how the Carnaval is a special moment to recapture our society,” Da Silva said. “We can create a little bit more of empathy in general. So, learning different languages [also] gives a boost, in a sense, of learning about and being more aware of what is happening beyond us and our own country.”
Featured image: School of Music Steelbands Director Josanne Francis conducts a steelpan performance. Photo by Anika Stikeleather, February 25, 2025.