The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the history of the micareta in Brazil, from its origin as a mi-carême (mid-lent celebration) to its current expression. Although this research is in part a synthesis of the rare publications on the subject, most of the data comes from extensive historical archive research, carried out mainly in the Brazilian national and local press. The micareta is an old festival (started in 1908) and its history is closely linked to the carnival in Salvador. It resulted from an evolution of the trio elétrico and from the Bahian trio bands. Tied in with the successive waves of expansion of the micareta throughout Brazil, five distinct developmental stages are discussed. Their salient features reflect the gradual commercialization of the micareta.
Carnival; marketing of culture; cultural industry; cultural history; mi-carême; micareta; trio elétrico