“Bloco da Lama” – A Traditional Mud Carnival Party in Brazil

A woman, covered in mud, dances during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. Revelers in the seaside colonial town threw themselves into deposits of black, mineral-rich slime, emerging covered head-to-toe in the sludge. Bikinis and trunks disappeared beneath the mud, which highlights both gym-pumped pectorals and beer-fed guts. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A mud covered reveler wearing a cow’s skull as a mask poses for a photo during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

People covered in mud attend the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A man jumps into the mud during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A mud covered reveler wearing a grim reaper costume enjoys the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A man holds up a skull during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A mud covered couple dance during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. Legend has it the “bloco” was born in 1986 after local teens hiking in a nearby mangrove forest smeared themselves with mud to discourage mosquitoes and then wandered through Paraty. The party grew year after year, but revelers eventually were banned from parading in the colonial downtown after shopkeepers complained pristine white walls were stained with the hard-to-remove mud. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

People covered in mud dance during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A reveler wearing a costume plays in the mud during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

People covered in mud dance during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

Revelers cover a freind in mud during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A mud covered reveler plays in the mud during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A mud covered reveler dances during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

A mud covered reveler poses for the picture during the traditional “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival party, in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, February 14, 2015. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)