Mud carnival fills Curuca streets

Revellers in the northern Brazilian city of Curuca turned out for the 37th Pretinhos do Mangue Ecological Carnival Block, coating themselves in thick mangrove mud in a procession that blended festivity with environmental messaging. The event, themed around women's roles in society and the community’s relationship with local ecosystems, showcased traditional music, dance and symbolic acts linking cultural identity to mangrove conservation.

Participants paraded through Curuca’s main streets covered head to toe in dark mud; organisers and local authorities emphasised safety, designated activity areas and cleanup plans, and reported no serious injuries. Minister of Cities Jader Filho, who joined the procession also smeared in mud, praised the carnival’s ecological focus and urged revellers to refrain from crab fishing during mating season to protect biodiversity.

The block highlights a distinct regional carnival tradition that contrasts with Brazil’s large, televised parades by foregrounding grassroots culture, communal participation and environmental stewardship. Vendors and families lined the route while performers and residents used the occasion to celebrate community ties and draw attention to the mangroves’ ecological value. Organisers stressed that the muddy ritual serves both as a releaseful, egalitarian celebration—where all participants are equally marked—and as a platform for local conservation appeals.

Health and safety teams monitored the event, advising participants to wear old clothing and providing washing stations; municipal crews stood ready for post-event cleanup. The celebration is part of a broader pattern of locally rooted carnival customs across Brazil that blend folklore, humor and collective identity with occasional ecological advocacy.

The Pretinhos do Mangue event drew visitors and boosted local commerce during the carnival period while reinforcing messages about responsible resource use. By putting mud and mangroves at the center of the spectacle, Curuca’s carnival renewed attention to the social and environmental bonds between the community and its coastal ecosystems.