New Year' Day
If you’re in Salvador on New Year’s Day, take part in the four-day-long Bom Jesus dos Navegantes. The highlight is an amazing boat parade. Around the northeast, the Epiphany is celebrated on the 6th.

Rio Carnival
This is one of the best months to visit Brazil as the world’s largest party, Carnival, takes place. The entire country comes to a halt for four days to enjoy the revelry, which is marked by lots of dancing, drinking, singing and mischievous behaviour. The best places to be during the celebration are: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Olinda. Rio’s Carnival is the most spectacular and visually dynamic.

The parade in Rio is comprised of a dozen or so samba teams, each of which puts on a lengthy show with up to 5,000 people singing and dancing in elaborate costumes on brightly coloured parade floats. Salvador's Carnaval is the second most famous in Brazil and the most popular with the Brazilians. It’s wise to book well ahead of time, as many hotels are fully booked by October. Expect all flights and buses to be full as well. Hotels will most likely require you buy a package covering the whole four days of the festival, and this is the best choice as travel within the country practically grounds to a halt.

Easter
Good Friday and Easter are widely celebrated in many towns around Brazil, but especially in the historic towns of Minas Gerais and Novo Jerusalem. Along with the festivities, there is a procession and play in Nova Jerusalem. Reservations are recommended if you want to visit these towns during this time, as hotels can get busy.

Tiradentes Day
This holiday commemorates the execution of Brazilian national hero Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier. He was a rebel leader in the 1789 revolt against the Portuguese.

Manaus Cultural Festivals
The city of Manaus is host to cultural festivals throughout June and July. During this time, you’ll find displays on the cultural tendencies of the Amazon population as well as the Middle Eastern influence. Dance performances are widespread, including: Boi-Bumba; quadrilhas caipiras (local square dance); Indian; north-eastern African dances; and pastorinhas (medieval religious theatre). It is advisable for tourists to visit the State of Amazonas Folk Festival held at the Manaus Cultural Centre first to gain an understanding.

Festa do Boi-Bumbá (The Bumbá Folk Festival) in Maranhão and Manaus
During June, square dances are held where relatives, neighbours and friends get together to have a good time and indulge in a variety of traditional local foods.

Festas Juninas This is a series of street festivals in June and early July that honour the saints John, Peter and Anthony. There are plenty of bonfires, dancing and mock marriages.

The Festa do Peão Boiadeiro
The largest rodeo in the world takes place in August in Barretos. It is marked by live Brazilian-style country music.

Independence Day
The nation’s Independence Day is celebrated on September 7 with parties and parades. It is largely a low-key affair in comparison to the other annual festivals.

Oktoberfest in Blumenau
Brazil holds its own unique version of Oktoberfest in Blumenau! The festival, staged by the descendents of German immigrants, is an authentic celebration complete with lots of beer drinking and bratwurst eating.

Cirió
Every October, the religious procession of Cirió takes place in Belém.

New Year’s Eve is best spent in Rio de Janeiro on Copacabana beach with the other 2 million visitors that will be there. There are concerts and performances all night long intersected with a brilliant fireworks display at midnight. African Candomblé followers dress in white and make offerings to the sea goddess Yemanjá. Ceremonies send off tiny boats filled with flowers, candles, mirrors, jewellery and trinkets, and are followed with dancing by candlelight. Book your room well ahead of time and arrive before Christmas.

New Year's Day: January 1
Carnival: February
Easter: March or April
Tiradentes Day: Apr 21
Labour Day: May 1
Corpus Christi: May or June
Independence Day: September 7
Our Lady of Apparition: October 12
All Souls Day: November 2
Proclamation of the Republic: November 15
Christmas Day: December 25