Brazil Faces Somber Carnival as Country Faces Deepest Recession

Brazil is famous for their parties and people who have an infectious exuberance about them. However, at this year's Carnival, there might be a somber tone about the professionally upbeat performers and Brazilians, as the country is facing its deepest recession it has seen in years.

According to a report with The Guardian, Brazil is bracing itself for what is to be the worst recession it has seen in centuries. Many businesses have suffered in light of the recession, and some samba schools across Brazil are forced to cut costs ahead of next month's show at the Sambódromo.

One school, for example, is forced to cut back on the number of floats and dancers. Cheaper alternatives to material for costumes will also have to be used. Other schools are also forced to renegotiate current contracts in order to cut back on costs.

The Mangueira school's director Junior Schall said that many of the samba schools were forced to cut back on costs because of many "unpaid debts." He added that the debilitating financial "strangulation" was caused by failing sponsorship and lack of local government funding.

While he said that this year's Carnival might be OK, he feared that the future seems bleak for Brazil, and the business of the main samba schools. He added that in the coming decade, they will have to rethink the entire way they do Carnival. While he admitted that he was saddened by the harsh reality, he said that it might become "unviable" in the near future.

Austerity does not come naturally to lovers of Carnival, but admittedly, attitudes are going to have to change now that Brazil's economy remains uncertain.

2015 was a particularly devastating year for Brazil with the corruption scandal, worst environmental disaster the country has seen in ages and impeachment battle against President Dilma Rousseff making headlines. Last year's disasters have impeded businesses, and have shaken the confidence of many consumers.

Sponsorship for the samba schools is also hard to come by, Shcall says. A report with Bloomberg says that almost every major company is in retreat. Investors are scared away by the ratings of the companies.

Recent anti-government protests have mostly been limited to the middle class, and have been known to diminish in size.

Despite the modest budget this year, organizers promise that next month's Sambódromo will be more vibrant than ever.

"The idea isn't to diminish carnival, but to carry out a great spectacle within the budget that will be even more dynamic," Schall says.