#a corinthian celebration

[mr-sadman]

Mr. Sadman presents : A Corinthian Celebration!

Welcome lovelies!! We hope that you join us for this weekend celebration, from July 12th to July 14th, all around our favourite teeth-eyed nightmare! 

Our stance on plagiarism and AI 

We do not accept nor condone the use of plagiarism, including the use of AI, whether in writing or art. If you are caught using either, you will be disqualified from the current event and barred entry for the other events the Mr. Sadman team puts forward.

Disclaimer : all images used in our graphics come from the Unsplash Archive (https://unsplash.com/about) which are free to use

General Rules and Information

Being a server member, while strongly advised, is not mandatory for this event. Our AO3 collection will be entirely open and unmoderated for everyone to post. We will be accepting late submissions, so fear not if you don’t have time to post everything you wanted to post! Additional events, such as watch-parties, fic read-alongs and game nights, will be held on the server.

The official tags for this year’s edition are : #A Corinthian Celebration and #A Corinthian Celebration 2024

For reblogging purposes, make sure your tumblr blog is visible in searches and don’t be shy to tag our account (mr-sadman)! Unfortunately, despite our vigilance, some posts can evade our attention, if that’s the case, please DM us and we will rectify the situation.

Official AO3 Collection : A Corinthian Celebration 2024 [link]

If you are under the age of 18, you will not be able to create explicit content for the event. Just to reiterate, Mr. Sadman is a 16+ server.

The Mr. Sadman Modteam is a firm believer of “ship and let ship” as well as the kinktomato (https://fanlore.org/wiki/Kinktomato). In accordance with the Server’s existing rules, we will not tolerate any discrimination and harassment in any forms whatsoever. This includes: queerphobia, homophobia, racism, content policing, hate speech, doxxing, shaming, etc, as well as hostility towards organisers and fellow participants. 

Since the event is a few weeks away, what can I do now?

Spread the word and the joy! We have decided to post the prompts early to give more time for people to get creative!

Without further ado here is this year’s prompt list : 

Friday 12th

Truth Serum

Corrupted

One Night Stand

Saturday 13th

Vampires & Werewolves

Starlight

Cybersex

Sunday 14th

Courting

There was only one bed

Bondage

FAQs/TLDR

FAQs : 

When is the event ? From July 12th to July 14th! While you should post the prompt for each day it is associated with, we will also be accepting late submissions, so have no worry!

Can I combine prompts? YES!! Be sure to indicate which days and prompts you are using in your description, otherwise, go free! You can post on either days associated with your prompts, or, if it’s a multipart work, on each corresponding day!

Is there any content restriction ? We accept all  works of all mediums - writing, art, collages, playlists, podfics, translations, video edits, etc. - , whether they are SFW, NSFW and/or triggering. Writers and artists- tag appropriately ; Readers and viewers - be mindful of tags!

Where should I post my work ? Anywhere from Tumblr or AO3!! We have accounts on both platforms and we also have an AO3 collection : A Corinthian Celebration 2024 [link]!

What tag should I use for visibility ? We recommend using both #A Corinthian Celbration and #A Corinthian Celebration 2024 as well as tag our account (mr-sadman) ! We will try our best to reblog every entry but if you see that we haven’t reblogged/retweeted your post yet, don’t be afraid to DM us! Make sure your blog settings are set so that your posts appear in searches - otherwise we might not see them!

Are polyamorous ships accepted ? Yes!! The more the merrier!

Are xReader / xOC works accepted? Yes!!!

Do I need to be a part of the server to participate? Absolutely not! This Corinthian Celebration is open to all! Although some additional events (such as a watch party, game nights and fic read-alongs) will be held on the server, submissions do not need to come from server members only!!

I need help, how do I reach a mod?

If there is something that is not covered by our rules masterpost and/or FAQ, you are very free to reach out to us in the Discord server’s dedicated channel or in Tumblr DMs! 

[angelsonoah]

"CORINTHIAN, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME-

It looks like I'll be in need of your rescue."

Finally. Stay where you are, my love.

The Corinthian grinned at the mirror, pleased by his neat appearance. How could he say no when his darling begged him so nicely to be saved from a bad man?

To be perfectly honest, it's been irritating the whole time Dream whined in Corinthian's head about this..particular immortal human. How many times Dream seek out an excuse to get away from the man's useless chatter? He'd been the one to ask this Robert person to meet each century.

The real problem is his pride wouldn't just let him back out that easily.

Once the revelation is out that the immortal man got involved in slavery, Dream decided it's enough, enough to require his assistance- no, he could just walk out by himself. Dream is charitable to give Corinthian the opportunity to be the knight in the shadow that he is.

If playing the role of a possessive, cruel, narcissistic fiancé made his Lord happy, then so be it.

It surely wouldn't cause any unnecessary trouble in the upcoming future at all.

Last entry for Corinthian Celebration 2024

Prompt: Courting

Thank you so much, @mr-sadman

for hosting the event, I had so much fun with them!

I know it's late but I made it!!!! :D I just find it hilarious, the idea that Dream actually whined all the time, he just does it in Corinthian's head, and obviously Cori can't tell anyone about it. What is a masterpiece for if not a tool to get him out of unwanted social interaction? Cori couldn't be any happier to spoil his whiny princess ☺️☺️☺️

[mrsdesade]

sketching Lara and the Corinthian as a warm-up for the upcoming Sandman event "A Corinthian Celebration 2024" hosted by @mr-sadman ! 🤍

[spockandthings]

Every bed is queen sized when your girl is in it | A Corinthienne Story

Written for @mr-sadman A Corinthian Celebration Day 3 - There was only one bed

2.7k ; Explicit ; No Archive Warnings Apply ; Human Modern AU, There was only one bed, Shower sex, Mutual Pining, Happy ending

Either the universe is conspiring against them or they are just very unlucky. The Corinthian and Lucienne must attend a work conference under their boss' orders and are forced to share a room and a bed for five nights. Will they manage to get through the experience unscathed?

[seiya-starsniper]

starting up my corinthian weekend reblog spree a tad late on day 1, but be prepared for CORINTHIAN MADNESS <3 <3 <3

[virgo-dream]

Happy International Asexuality Day to all my fellow aces! ✨💜🤍🩶🖤✨

It’s been about a year since I’ve realised I was ace. It was daunting at first, as figuring out your sexuality always is, but I was lucky to have found incredible friends in the Sandman fandom that helped me through those scary, doubtful moments, and celebrate me for who I am. I have truly felt part of the community for the first time, and this is an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.

For my fellow aces that are just starting to figure it out, or coming to terms with your Asexuality: you are loved, you are seen and you matter. It was incredibly important for me to understand this. And to my aro friends, you are as much part of this community as anyone else!

I hope this is the first of many Asexuality Days that I get to celebrate! ✨

[dream-of-the-bitchless]

The Price of Knowledge - A Corintheus Fic for A Corinthian Celebration

I'm very happy to present you all with this short piece to honour my favourite boy. Thanks to @mr-sadman for putting together this weekend celebration of the Corinthian. For detailed CWs, check out the AO3 link.

So without further ado, here's my contribution for Day 1 - Truth Serum. Enjoy!

The air tastes like dust and humidity. The guards have long been removed to give him privacy, yet he still paces the outermost chamber of the cell, uncertain. It is only after dawn breaks that the Corinthian mutters “fuck it” and walks past the iron bars that signal the entrance of the makeshift prison, a velvet pouch tightly grasped in his right hand.

He sticks to the shadows despite knowing his presence must’ve been felt hours ago. He strolls around the room, circling the glass sphere as if admiring a particularly intricate art installation, and a part of himself mocks his cowardice for not daring to confront the prisoner during the night. Not like it makes a true difference; it’s always night somewhere. But the knowledge that there’s light outside of that wretched chamber comforts him.

Still, nothing could’ve prepared the Corinthian for locking eyes with his maker after 50 years.

The emotions that swim in Dream’s bottomless pupils are as strong as they are contradictory. There is hope and relief and scepticism and rage. Most of all, there is confusion, but the Corinthian isn’t in a hurry to explain himself.

Instead, he uses the momentary respite from that gaze that he gets when Dream shifts his position to extend his hands towards the top of the glass and iron contraption that holds the Endless. There, the Corinthian feels his way around until he disengages a small hatch. As swiftly as the uncomfortable position allows him, the Corinthian empties the contents of the pouch into the sphere, promptly closing the hatch after he’s done.

A fine powder falls onto the Dreamlord like snow, dissolving in a matter of seconds and leaving no trace of its presence. Dream blinks a few times, but makes no other move. The Corinthian is almost disappointed. Still, he needs to know if it has taken effect on the captive.

“Morning, my Lord,” he croons, a smile parting his lips. Dream merely glances at him from under dark lashes, face tight, carved in marble, and for the first time, the nightmare notices how much thinner his creator looks, how much older and younger at the same time.

Dream’s body is all sharp angles and lithe muscle, the skin unblemished yet muted, almost translucent, allowing a glimpse at the human-like features that lie underneath. A pulse thrums at the neck, and the Corinthian takes a moment to admire the precision and rigour that went into the shaping of the Dreamlord’s personification. After all, his creator is not known for doing things half-heartedly.

A few beats later and the Corinthian composes himself, raising both brows at his maker. “No talking? What, you don’t want me to get you out of here?”

“I am under no delusion that you will aid me,” Dream snarls. “I have felt your presence here before, years ago. It was only after that I was placed in this crystal prison, the runes surrounding me reinforced. I would have to be terribly simple-minded to believe it a coincidence.”

The Corinthian considers the words, prepared to deny them, before ultimately choosing the bold route. “It’s been a while since then, isn’t it? Things could’ve changed—”

“But they didn’t.” Dream’s whole body tenses under his indignation, the sentence a declaration of facts. He turns his head to the side, avoiding the Corinthian’s eyes. “You’ve now seen me at my lowest. Take your fill and leave.”

The last look is almost pleading, and it disarms the Corinthian for a moment. You’re wasting time, dumbass. The effects of the powder won’t last forever, a part of him admonishes and it’s enough to get the nightmare back on track. He needs to focus if he expects to get the answers he’s looking for.

“Oh, I’ll leave alright. After a few questions, that is,” he says, crouching in front of the sphere until he’s eye to eye with his maker.

Understanding flashes in Dream’s eyes, his grave tone a warning in any other circumstance. “What have you done?”

“I’ve merely ensured that I get the full truth this time. No lying allowed.”

The Endless scoffs, humourless. “Attempting to poison me with faerie magic won’t get you what you want, I assure you.”

“This is no fae magic, Dream. And I’ll be the judge of that.” There is wariness in the deep blue gaze that pierces the Corinthian, and he wastes no time cutting to the chase. “What am I to you?”

The resulting words come out in quick succession, as if falling out of the Dreamlord’s mouth of their own volition. “You’re my masterpiece, my greatest creation. The one that has brought me the most joy and the most sorrow.”

“So, you admit that I’m nothing but an object of display, a tool, meant to look pretty and do its job and nothing more?”

“No,” Dream blurts out, and the Corinthian is morbidly fascinated by the mere idea of such a lack of control in his otherwise poised King. “You were never a mere tool, although I have wished to display you.”

The Corinthian arches a brow. “What for?”

“As a testament to my might and to my arrogance.” The Dreamlord gazes down at his hands, which are now trembling slightly, the rim of his eyes becoming red with unshed tears. The Corinthian needs to take a deep breath before continuing.

“The last time we met, in Berlin, you were going to unmake me. What was the plan after that?”

“To punish you for your trespasses. To ensure that you could not hurt any other mortals.”

“How?”

“I did not know, but you needed to be stopped. Unmaking you was paramount to their safety.”

“Were you planning to re-create me?”

“Yes, although I did not know when or in what form.”

“What would you have altered?"

“Ensuring your loyalty would have been paramount for a second iteration of you.”

Hearing that, rage surges inside the Corinthian, prompting him to stand up to his full height. He pounds on the glass with an accusatory finger. “You would have me brainwashed, lobotomised! You would take everything that makes me who I am!”

Dream’s eyes grow wide. “I would have you faithful.”

“You wanted a servant!” the Corinthian reproaches.

“I wanted a companion!”

The breath is punched out of the Corinthian’s lungs, his physical form too used to human gestures by now. Inside his crystal prison, Dream is on his knees, back straight and eyes watery. His expression is of shock, as if this was as much a revelation to him as it was to the Corinthian, and when the words keep coming out, his pupils dart around in alarm, evidencing the involuntary nature of his admittances.

“I longed for someone with a darkness not unlike mine, so that when they were confronted with my own, they wouldn’t leave.”

A huff leaves the Corinthian’s lips, and he shakes his head, disbelieving. “No, you—you wanted someone to order around, to be your guard dog.”

“I did wish for protection stemming from devotion, not from duty. And I hoped that devotion would, in time, transmute into love.”

“Oh, I see. You expected me to love you and worship the very ground you stepped on for absolutely nothing in return.”

Dream snaps his head up, a frown obscuring his face. “I was prepared to give you everything.”

“Another lie!” the Corinthian exclaims, his eye-mouths repeating the accusation. “You had all the time in the universe to prove yourself, and all I could ever aspire to were scraps of your attention when you got bored or others left you.”

“And what about yourself, Corinthian? When has anything been enough for you?”

The Corinthian lets out a humourless laugh. “That’s rich coming from a supposedly endless being. But let’s say I accept that claim. Then whose fault is it that I am the way I am?”

“I have never denied my part in your flaws—"

“No, no,” the Corinthian shakes his head. “You may have admitted that there are issues with the design, but you have not taken responsibility for them. Your only solution is to destroy me, to start from scratch because you fucked up the blueprints while I take the brunt of that fuck-up.”

“There are rules, Corinthian, and you were killing the very beings we’re supposed to serve.”

“You don’t serve anyone but yourself.”

A languid tear falls from the Dreamlord’s right eye. “It pains me to see what you have become.”

“You don’t even know who I am!” The Corinthian slams his fist against one of the iron fixtures holding the sphere, all three sets of teeth bared.

The expression on Dream’s face is one of deep sorrow, one the Corinthian has only seen him sport on three other occasions in their history together, and something in him snaps, all the rage he is feeling transforming into a stinging ache in his chest, the accumulation of eons of resentment, jealousy and pain hitting him all at once.

“You—”

He feels his legs slowly giving way under him, and he lets gravity pull him to the ground, half his body pressed against the glass on his way down until he too is on his knees.

“Did you—” he starts, unable to bring himself to finish, but Dream seems to understand.

“I did. I do.”

His smaller mouths gasp, and the Corinthian has to fight the tears that gather at the corners of them. “You’re lying.”

“You may tell yourself whatever you deem more tolerable, but I believe you have always known this, at your core. I whispered it against every bone of yours as I crafted them—"

“Stop!” the Corinthian screams, stopping short from slamming the glass once more, this time intending to break it.

He’s dropped his head, and his eyes are tightly shut, refusing to behold Dream’s current expression in fear that his resolve might crack under the force of the vulnerability and the tears that no doubt will be there. He made a deal, after all.

Truth is, he’s had that magical powder for years. He received it even before he had instructed Roderick Burgess on how to properly—and permanently—contain Dream of the Endless, thus fulfilling his part of the bargain. And yet, he had been sitting on it for 49 years, unwilling or unable to face his creator in a more equalised playing field.

Truth is, he had laughed when his benefactor warned him that he wouldn’t be able to back out of the deal, regardless of what happened during the confrontation. The Corinthian had laughed because he couldn't fathom anything that might motivate him to free Dream. This was his ultimate victory, his final “fuck you” to his maker and the only way to force Dream to be honest so he would finally say straight to the Corinthian’s face I made you to use you and throw you away. To either be a slave or to not be at all.

And yet, the Corinthian has to fight every grain of sand in his being to be able to stand up and remove himself from that damn glass. As he does, he adjusts his shades, askew after his undignified display. He smooths out his suit jacket, straightens his tie and grits all three sets of his teeth before taking in the sight of Dream once more.

The Dreamlord looks fragile, more naked than ever, and his eyes glint with a spark that the Corinthian cannot decipher. There are tear tracks on his face and his lower lip trembles. However, the tremor doesn’t translate to his voice when he speaks.

“I have not stopped hoping, Corinthian, that you may one day return to me. I recognise my lack of authority to demand anything, yet I wish that, if you take but one thing with you from today’s encounter, it is the knowledge of my undying faith in you,” Dream says, and the next moment, the blue in his eyes turns into the vacuum of space, galaxies forming at the centre of it. It reminds the Corinthian of his birth, of the first thing he saw as life was breathed into him. Then the Dreamlord whispers, “Know this, my nightmare: I will be waiting.”

The Corinthian doesn’t reply. Instead, he turns on his heel, storming out of the chamber as anger and something else rises in his chest, that last sentence echoing in every fibre of his being like a curse, like a prayer, like a dying man’s wish, and all the Corinthian wants is to leave Fawney Rig, never to return.

~*~

Outside, it rains. A lean figure dressed in a burgundy suit awaits on the steps leading to the Burgess’ mansion, and the Corinthian forces his features into an unaffected expression before confronting them.

“Well?” Desire interrogates, a satisfied smile on their lips giving away that they already know the answer.

The Corinthian’s voice comes out too nonchalant to be sincere. “Well, I fulfilled my part of the agreement and you fulfilled yours. There are no more debts between us.”

“C’est fini, then.”

“C’est fini,” the Corinthian drawls the last vowel, extending it for all its worth. When Desire doesn’t speak, the nightmare pulls out a cigarette so as not to have to fill the silence himself.

Golden eyes stare into the distance, taking in the gardens of the Burgess’ state. “And did you find what you were looking for? Learn anything new?”

“More or less,” the Corinthian ponders, suddenly feeling bolder. “I, for one, learnt that there’s very little you wouldn’t do to screw over your brother.”

The golden eyes gleam with a careful rage that seems to always be there, brewing right under the surface. “Oh, please. You are going to lecture me about morality now? I warned you when all of this started. No backing out, no matter what you learnt.”

“And I won’t. Relax.” The Corinthian exhales a puff of smoke, thus covering the sigh of his smaller mouths. “It just never ceases to amaze me how fucked up your kind can be.”

Desire barks out a laugh, their voice dripping condescension. “Corinthian, you misunderstand me and Dream. What you see is the way we communicate.”

The Corinthian raises a brow, internally cursing the moment he got involved with a pack of overly powerful beings who behave like schoolchildren. However, when Desire speaks again, there is a vulnerability in their gaze that the Corinthian had never before been privy to.

“You don’t deserve to know this but I’m still going to tell you. I have tried in the past to do things differently, to approach our familial relationship from a more cordial angle. But Dream is…unreachable. His pride will always stand in the way. So, what am I left with, but the shame, and the rage, and the grief.” They frown, and the Corinthian can almost see all those emotions play out in the amber of their eyes, before they close after an exasperated sigh. “Perhaps that sounds more like something you would understand.”

And the Corinthian can indeed understand that. He could also say something; that he relates to it; that he resents Dream for the same reasons. Instead, he drops the butt of the cigarette to the ground, stomping it with his patent leather shoes.

“I gotta go now,” he says, starting his way down the stone steps.

“I feel for you, in a way—” Desire calls out, making the Corinthian pause, “knowing what you know and not being able to do a single thing about it. Finding out too little, too late. But alas, that’s the nature of desire, isn’t it? It’s no longer fun once you get what you want.”

The Corinthian swallows dryly and resumes walking. And although he cannot see them, he can still feel those golden eyes following him long after he leaves Fawney Rig.

[walkswithmyfather]

“We shall all be changed --in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible.” —1 Corinthians 15:51-52

“Something remarkable happened to the crucified body of Jesus Christ early on Easter Sunday. In a flash of glory, His body was totally transformed. It wasn’t simply resuscitated. Some kind of electrical glory supercharged it, and when Jesus opened His eyes, He had an incorruptible body. It was the same body, but now it was glorified and eternalized. No more pain. No more aging. No more decay or corruption. It was equipped for life on both earth and in heaven.

According to Philippians 3, God will transform our earthly bodies to be like the glorified body of Jesus. The resurrection is more than a resuscitation. It’s a supernatural transformation of our bodies. We will be raised incorruptible. We’ll be equipped to live on earth or in heaven. Our bodies will be mature but not old, responsive but not sick, natural and yet supernatural.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides the proof, the provision, and the pattern for our resurrection. We will share the glory of Easter with Him!

Rejoice! Our best days are ahead of us!”

He is Risen! Happy Easter! ✝️🙏🕊️🙌

[This is a beautiful Easter devotional by Dr. David Jeremiah. You can read the rest of his great Easter devotions here.]

[bojackson54]

"Almost Famous": The Cosmic Guide to Being Known

Our culture loves celebrities, doesn’t it? We celebrate people we see on movie stages and concert stages, people who are well-known. (That’s where “celebrities” comes from, people whom we celebrate.) There are whole businesses built around tracking the, photographing them, and giving us every detail that can be known about their lives. With the pervasive presence of cell phones and security…

[tom4jc]

Rattlesnakes And Horseflies (guest post)

The following post was written by David Porter, a friend and missionary. Once I nearly stepped on a rattlesnake. My dad loved hunting and I trailed behind him for many a mile through the forests of southwestern Arkansas, where I grew up.  One day, when I was about ten, I walked along beside him thinking about, I don’t know what, when suddenly Dad yelled, “Stop!” You have to understand that Dad…

[mr-sadman]

A Corinthian Celebration

Here is a small little recap/reminder of our lovely prompts for the weekend

As always, we accept late entries, more details to be found on our Masterpost

[angelsonoah]

Dream of The Endless is infamously known for spoiling the Corinthian rotten, the residents thinks he goes too far when the Dreamlord himself giving away one of his eye just because his masterpiece won't stop demanding to have some part of his power. Accusing him of spoiling the Nightmare though, will anger him enough to unmake you.

Day 2 entry for Corinthian celebration 2024

Prompt: Starlight

@mr-sadman

[kmac4him1st]

Curve Ball

This is a great family prayer, it is relevant to all families and God is speaking some amazing wisdom for us to pray through for our family. Enjoy Your Prayer Time! God bless your family!

Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs 6 or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight!  Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter…

[spockandthings]

Come with me | A Corinthienne Story

Written for @mr-sadman A Corinthian Celebration Day 1 - Corrupted

1k ; Teen ; No Archive Warnings Apply ; Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Past Relationship

Lucienne is a patient being. But what happens when something makes her resolve crumble?

[garden-of-thoughts-fruit-of-lips]

When recognizing a mistake, don't you instinctively strive for improvement? Similarly, when life knocks someone down, don't they inherently seek to rise stronger than before?

Our inner light is the greatest source of guidance. Is it not fitting that celebrities are called stars, shining bright? When we close our eyes, darkness fades, revealing our own radiant potential. Didn't the dragon's tail sweep away a third of the stars and hurled them to earth, reminding us God's Word is our eternal illumination?

Please pick a color to read. Or read them all 📚

Revelation 18:1

Revelation 21:23

Ezekiel 43:2

Genesis 2:1

Genesis 1:26

John 1:4

John 1:5

Revelation 12:1

Romans 12:2

Revelation 22:5

John 8:12

John 5:35

Isaiah 60:2

Psalms 36:9

Psalms 119:105

Matthew 5:16

Proverbs 4:18

Proverbs 6:23

2 Corinthians 4:4

Revelation 12:4

2 Corinthians 11:14

[fireheartwraith]

There are a lot of different traditions during Carnaval, but the allegoric cars players have been building are known to be part of the Parade of the Samba Schools, so I thought I'd explain how it works!

For starters, the Parade is a competition. Each team is called a samba school and they have their own flag and history. People can be really hard or die for their teams! Some are connected to soccer teams, like Gaviões da Fiel (the school) is connected to Corinthians. The two main parades (of this type of carnaval) happen in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Each school has one hour to completely walk across the sambódromo, and in that hour they have to tell a story or message. That is one of the things they are judged on! The criteria are the drums, the samba-enredo (enredo literally means plot, but this is a genre of samba), the evolution (how the story develops), the harmony (is everyone singing together? Do the people in the parade know the lyrics?), the plot itself, the allegoric cars and accessories, the costumes, the opening act, and the mestre-sala and porta-bandeira.

The parade is divided into sections called alas, and each one of them functions as a chapter in the story being told and have their own separate choreography. The first one is the Comissão de Frente (the opening act). They set the tone for the rest of the team and the public, so it’s common to see celebrities here to get the audience hyped.

Another crucial part is the drums. They are setting the beat that everyone is dancing to, so they shouldn’t make any mistakes. To both hype them and keep the pacing is the Rainha da Bateria (the Queen of the Drums). She’s a woman dancing samba in very minimal clothing but very heavy accessories. This is a very prestigious spot, the dream of any passista (this is what the samba dancers are called). Since they are the face of the parade, celebrities are sometimes given the position, and not all of them deserve it.

There are other passistas atop the allegoric cars, but they are not the only type of dancers. There’s the Ala das Baianas (ala of the baiana women): older (usually black but not necessarily) women dancing in traditional clothing. Honestly one of my favorite parts of the parades.

But my favorite part is the mestre-sala and porta-bandeira. There are several throughout the parade, but only the first one is graded. They are a couple: the man is the mestre-sala dancing around the porta-bandeira (literally 'flag carrier'), who dances with the school flag, and wears a big skirt, usually in the school colors. I wanted to be one when I was a kid, they dance doing twirls and it just looked like so much fun.

There are other unnamed alas, of course, and the allegoric cars.

The samba schools are very tied to black history and black communities, so their stories are usually very powerful. Like the year they represented a former president as a blood sucking vampire with the presidential sash, or this year, where they showed a statue of a known slaver graffited and on fire. Seriously, some of these cars are insane, and most of them have moving parts while also being light enough to be pushed or motored across the sambódromo, but sturdy enough to support all the dancers on top of it. A true feat of engineering! See the size of the woman near the statue's feet compared to the whole thing?

Most people celebrate carnaval by going to street parties called "bloco de carnaval" (basically a mini parade with live music), but these huge parade still get a big audience, despite streaming so late at night.

Here's this year's presentation from Vai-Vai if you're curious to see everything in motion! Originally, I had put a link to Estácio de Sá's presentation, but some politicians want to apply sanctions to Vai-Vai because it represented cops as demons. A few days later, a white man attempted to kill a black man, and the black man was arrested despite witnesses telling the cops what really happened. When news broke out, they kept him in prison on claims of "resisting arrest." So, why is it wrong to say cops are devils?

Anyways, the Vai-Vai presentation is about celebrating blackness and black creativity and resilience. Happy Carnaval! The winners this year were Mocidade Alegre in São Paulo and Unidos da Viradouro in Rio de Janeiro. You can look up their presentations if you want to.