King Momo, the character considered the owner of Carnival, received Friday the key to Rio de Janeiro from Mayor Eduardo Paes at a ceremony where he officially declared the pre-Lenten festival open.
The figure of King Momo, who has reigned since the year 1933, was on this occasion represented by bank employee Milton Junior, 29, who took the honor after almost 10 years in which practically without exception the same person played the monarch.
At the ceremony held at the Copacabana fort, Milton was accompanied by Carnival queen Jessica Maia, who was escorted by princesses Shayene Cesario Vieira and Charlene Valnice da Costa.
Together they awaited the arrival of the mayor as samba rhythms played and other traditional festival characters made an appearance, including representatives of the samba schools' old guard.
King Momo was welcomed with honors, amid the music of trumpets and drums and a shower of flower petals, to be given a replica of the key made be relatives of Candonga, an artisan of yesteryear renowned for his contribution to the festival.
Paes, attending his first Carnival as mayor, said during his speech that this is "the happiest day of my 50 days in the government."
The mayor also joked about ceding power to Momo and said that if during the next four days there should be any traffic problems in the city, "look for King Momo and not for Eduardo Paes."
Once the Carnival king was handed the key and the festival was officially open, the delegation wrapped up the ceremony by taking a ride on the gigantic ferris wheel installed in the fort to promote Rio de Janeiro's candidacy for the 2016 Olympic Games, as the crowd gathered there looked on.
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=328139&CategoryId=13003
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