In The Community
The Arrival of Carnival in Latin America
Photo by Ugur Arpaci on UnsplashThe roots of Carnival can be traced back to Europe, where pre-Lenten festivals were celebrated as a way to indulge before the 40-day fasting period of Lent. The festival, introduced by Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors in the 16th and 17th centuries, was originally a religious and seasonal celebration marking the end of winter and the transition into spring. However, when Carnival was introduced in the Americas, it quickly evolved under the influence of all the different cultures of the region.
Indigenous communities incorporated their own rituals and symbolism into the festivities, often blending them with Catholic traditions. African influences were introduced through the rhythms, dances, and masquerade traditions of enslaved people brought to the continent. Over time, these elements merged, transforming Carnival into an expression of identity, joy, and even resistance, with each country developing its own unique interpretation of the celebration. For example, in Brazil, the blending of European, African, and indigenous cultures can be seen in the samba music, feathered costumes, and dance styles of the Rio Carnival.
Carnival became a form of cultural resistance and awakening, particularly in the Caribbean, where it contributed to cultural decolonization and political independence. In many places, Carnival was a way for oppressed communities to subvert social order and express freedom.Carnival Across Latin America: A Unique Blend of Traditions
Photo by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández on UnsplashThe fusion of cultures in Latin American Carnival is evident in its music, dance, costumes, and spiritual traditions, which reflect a diverse heritage. The rhythms of samba in Brazil, soca in Trinidad, cumbia in Colombia, murga in Argentina, and Andean pan flute in Bolivia all stem from African influences blended with European instruments and indigenous beats.
Elaborate costumes and masks, rooted in African masquerade traditions, add layers of symbolism that often merge Catholic and Andean mythologies. Beyond the spectacle, Carnival also carries spiritual significance in many Latin American countries, including Bolivia and Brazil.
Though tied to Catholic traditions, Carnival has evolved into a broader reflection of Latin American spirituality and identity. It’s why each country has its unique traditions that reflect its unique history and cultural diversity:
Brazil: The Spectacle of Rio de Janeiro
Photo by Jordy Neves
Brazil's Carnival is the most famous in the world. Rio de Janeiro hosts extravagant samba parades featuring giant floats and thousands of dancers. Salvador’s Carnival, on the other hand, is known for its African influences, particularly in its blocos afro (street groups) and trios elétricos (musical trucks) that take the festivities beyond the parade route and into the city’s streets.
Colombia: Barranquilla’s Battle of Flowers
Photo by CAMILOFORE2 - Wikimedia Commons
The Barranquilla Carnival, the second-largest in the world, is a UNESCO-recognized festival that highlights Colombia’s cultural diversity. The Batalla de Flores (Battle of Flowers) marks the beginning of the celebration, featuring elaborate floats, traditional dance performances, and music such as vallenato and cumbia. The festivities end with the Burial of Joselito Carnaval, symbolizing a return to everyday life.
Bolivia: The Devil’s Dance in Oruro
Photo By Rotcivrosas - Trabajo propio, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia is one of the most spiritually significant, featuring the Diablada, or Dance of the Devils. It’s also one of UNESCO's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This dramatic performance, which includes hundreds of masked dancers, tells the story of the battle between good and evil, mixing Catholic and Andean religious perspectives. The festival reflects Bolivia’s Indigenous heritage, where the storytelling traditions of the Andean people really shine.
Ecuador: A Celebration of Water and Color
hozinja, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ecuador’s Carnival incorporates both Catholic and indigenous traditions, mainly through the Pawkar Raymi festival, which celebrates the Andean New Year. One of the things that make the Ecuadorian Carnival stand out is the tradition of throwing water, flour, and even colored powders at participants—a practice rooted in indigenous purification rituals.
Argentina: Murga and Street Theater
TitiNicola, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Argentina’s Gualeguaychú Carnival is one of the country’s most well-known celebrations. It features elaborate parades that rival those of Brazil. Argentina’s Carnival is also known for murga, a street theater tradition in which performers use music, satire, and dance to comment on political and social issues. The performances are highly energetic and rooted in working-class culture.
Venezuela: The Devils of El Callao
LHommeDuMonde, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
UNESCO has recognized El Callao's Carnival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is Venezuela’s most vibrant and popular celebration. The roots of the Carnival can be traced to its Afro-descendant population, specifically the communities of enslaved Afro-Venezuelans and working-class immigrants from Trinidad who labored in the gold mining region of El Callao. The Carnival runs from January to March and features parades and concerts, where thousands of people take to the streets.
Dominican Republic: A Carnival with Political Commentary
Idobi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Dominican Carnival includes elements of African heritage and European masquerade traditions, with Califé as one of the most recognizable figures. Califé is a satirical character who mocks politicians and public figures. It originated in the 1940s and was created by a tin worker named Inocencio Martínez and delivers poetic, theatrical commentary on current political, social, and cultural issues. By combining artistic expression with social commentary in this way, the Dominican Republic's Carnival uses festivity as a means of cultural resistance, celebration, and critique.
Carnival as a Symbol of Latin American Identity
Jorge Mejía peralta from Managua, Nicaragua, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Carnival is not just a great time, it’s an expression of cultural identity and history. Across Latin America, it has transcended its religious origins to become a moment of collective celebration, artistic expression, and even activism, with each country bringing its own perspective.
For many, Carnival represents a time when the barriers of social class, race, and history momentarily dissolve, making space for shared traditions and community. It highlights Latinos' ability to embrace their complex history and transform it into something joyful, beautiful, and uniquely their own.
So, whether it’s the grand spectacle of Rio or the intimate traditions of a small town like El Callao in Venezuela, Carnival is a celebration of heritage and Latin American spirit.
- Exploring the History of Dia de San Juan's Water-Throwing Ritual ›
- Celebrating Culture: Latine Festivals and Events You Shouldn't Miss ›
Rising Global Temperatures
Photo by Mehdi MeSSrro on UnsplashIn 2015, scientists warned that global temperatures would continue to rise due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.62°F (0.90°C) above the 20th-century average, making 2015 the warmest year on record at the time and setting a worrying precedent. Over the past decade, those predictions have largely materialized.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global surface temperature was 1.09°C higher in the decade between 2011-2020 compared to the period between 1850-1900. By 2023, the global mean surface air temperature had risen 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels according to some estimates, briefly exceeding the critical 1.5°C threshold.
January 2025 was the warmest January on record, with temperatures 1.75°C higher than the late 19th-century average, surpassing previous records. This trend is expected to continue, with 2025 likely to be one of the top three warmest years globally. Scientists warn that sustained warming above the 1.5°C threshold will bring irreversible environmental and socio-economic consequences.
Arctic Ice Decline
Photo by Annie Spratt on UnsplashIn 2015, projections also indicated a sharp decline in Arctic sea ice due to rising global temperatures. Recent observations confirm this trend. The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report suggests that the Arctic is likely to be practically ice-free in September at least once before 2050 under intermediate and high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. However, some studies project this could happen earlier, potentially by the 2030s. Satellite imagery and climate monitoring data have also revealed drastic reductions in Arctic ice cover, further reinforcing the dire warnings issued a decade ago.
Increased Frequency and Intensity of Extreme Weather Events
Photo by redcharlie on UnsplashA decade ago, a consensus among several climate models and assessments, including those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other research institutions, predicted a surge in extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, and floods. This has become a stark reality. The IPCC reports that hot extremes have become significantly more frequent and severe, while cold events have diminished.
Countries across the globe have experienced record-breaking heatwaves, devastating droughts, and unprecedented flooding, reinforcing the assessment that climate change is accelerating faster than previously expected. 2024 was marked by severe heatwaves around the world, with climate change contributing to an additional 41 days of dangerous heat on average.
The Amazon Basin experienced severe droughts, leading to significant wildfires and disruptions in ecosystems. There were also record-breaking floods in 2024 in regions like Europe, Asia, and Brazil. Hurricanes like Helene and Milton in the U.S. were also intensified by warmer ocean temperatures. In 2025, the World Meteorological Organization warns that record-breaking heat is likely to continue. The frequency and intensity of hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones is also likely to increase.
Irreversible Climate Changes
Photo by Hans Hamann on Unsplash10 years ago, scientists cautioned that certain climate changes would become irreversible on timescales of centuries to millennia. This has proven true with the continued melting of glaciers and the warming of oceans. Even if emissions were drastically reduced today, some effects, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the acidification of oceans, are expected to continue well beyond the 21st century.
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding
Photo by Jonathan Ford on UnsplashOne of the most widely accepted climate predictions involved rising sea levels due to melting ice caps and thermal expansion. Over the past ten years, sea levels have steadily risen, increasing coastal flooding risks. From 1993 to 2024, global sea levels increased by 111 mm, with the rate of rise more than doubling over the past three decades, from 2.1 mm/year to 4.5 mm/year.
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report suggests that under the highest emission scenario (SSP5-8.5), sea level rise could reach up to 1.6 meters (about 5.25 feet) by 2100, but this includes low-confidence, high-impact processes like marine ice sheet instability (a process where marine ice sheets, which are grounded below sea level, become unstable due to warming). More typical projections suggest that the sea level could rise from about 0.65 to 1.01 meters (2.1 to 3.3 feet) under the SSP5-8.5 scenario.
Sea level rise has already led to more frequent flooding in coastal areas, with some cities already experiencing annual extreme sea level events. Low-lying regions, particularly in Southeast Asia and island nations, are among the most vulnerable, facing increasing displacement threats.
Need for Emissions Reduction
Photo by Marcin Jozwiak on UnsplashA decade ago, climate experts stressed the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to keep global temperature rise below 2°C, with an ideal target of 1.5°C. However, global emissions have not declined at the necessary rate. Instead, the gap between emission levels and climate targets has widened, making it increasingly difficult to achieve the goals set under the Paris Agreement.
The 2021 IPCC report labeled the situation as a "code red for humanity," emphasizing the need for immediate, widespread emissions reductions. In 2023, global temperatures had reached 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels, and 2024 became the first full year above the 1.5°C mark.
Extended Wildfire Seasons
Photo by Mike Newbry on UnsplashClimate models also anticipated that rising temperatures and drier conditions would extend and intensify wildfire seasons. In the past decade, wildfire seasons have become significantly longer, particularly in the western United States, Australia, and parts of Europe. Climate change has contributed to doubling the area of forest burned in recent decades, and projections indicate that wildfires will continue to increase in frequency and intensity by 2050. The number of wildfires is forecast to rise by up to 30% by 2050 and by 50% by the end of the century.
The financial and human costs of wildfires have escalated, with record-breaking damage seen in multiple regions. Recent examples include the devastating economic impacts of wildfires in regions like Los Angeles, which resulted in over 40,000 acres burned, more than 12,000 structures destroyed, and at least 24 fatalities reported, with total property losses estimated between $95 billion and $164 billion. The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires were among the most destructive in recent history, with insured losses potentially surpassing $20 billion, exceeding the $12.5 billion from the 2018 Camp Fire. The frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires have increased significantly, and climate change has played a crucial role in creating conditions conducive to these situations.
The Final Takeaway
Photo by Markus Spiske on UnsplashThe past ten years have proven the accuracy of most climate predictions made in 2015. The world is experiencing rising temperatures, worsening storms, longer wildfire seasons, and irreversible environmental changes. While climate scientists and policymakers continue to push for urgent action, the reality of 2025 highlights the challenges ahead.
Many of the climate impacts that were once hypothetical are now unfolding in real time. The need for immediate and sustained efforts to mitigate further damage has never been greater. As NASA stated, “Effects that scientists had long predicted would result from global climate change are now occurring, such as sea ice loss, accelerated sea level rise, and longer, more intense heat waves.” The evidence is clear: climate change is not a distant concern, but an immediate crisis that demands global attention.
- Clothes Waste: A Landfill Visible from Space ›
- Tulum's Dilemma: The Environmental Toll Behind the 'Eco-Chic' Facade ›
