Lavage de la Madeleine 2022, the Brazilian festival turns 20

Every year, Brazil comes to La Madeleine for a festival called Lavage de la Madeleine. The 2022 edition gathers fans of the Brazilian culture from September 1 to 4, 2022, in the Parisian streets. Do not miss this festive event that will provide – among others – a great and festive parade with music and dancing on Sunday September 4!

Every year since June 2002, Brazil goes to Paris and calls for Lavage de la Madeleine. Music and dancing gather a few thousands of people and celebrities from the cultural Brazilian world, especially coming to share the special features of this great and festive nation.

From Capoeira to samba, without forgetting drums or the recreation of the “Lavagem de Bonfim”, this event is an invitation to discover popular Brazilian traditions. This traditional ritual revolves around a major parade involving floats, batcuda and more folkloric groups joined by the audience dressed in white. The dancing parade ends up with the washing of the steps of the Eglise de la Madeleine.

For the record, this tradition – dating all the way back to 1773 – comes from Salvador de Bahia where churches of the region were cleaned, and especially the one of Nossho Snehor du Bonfim. Note this tradition was named Brazilian intangible cultural heritage in 2013, by the Brazilian government. Today, it is the second biggest event in Bahia, after the carnival.

About 16 groups of dance and drums will walk with the parade in the streets of Paris whilst dancing and singing, claiming for PEACE in the world. Careful though, this is not a carnival, the event creator Roberto Chaves specifies. No bikinis but white clothes for a walk for peace. And as per usual, this year’s sponsor is French-Brazilian TV celebrity Cristina Cordula.

The parade will be held on Sunday September 4, 2022. This year, it will start at 11 a.m., at the Place de la République, on the West side, and leave at 12 p.m. Covering 4 kilometers, it will take you all the way down to the Eglise de la Madeleine, where the famous and symbolic ceremony of the “washing” of the steps will be held. The steps will be washed at 2 p.m., Place de la Madeleine, by the Rue Tronchet, and the event is to end at 3 p.m.

If you want to train and learn choreographies of the parade, note a Brazilian dance workshop with Zumba and Samba Reggaes is proposed on Saturday September 3, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with ADENISIA NASCIMENTO, ALESSANDRA CABRAL and RONNY GOMEZ. Allow €50 the pass for 3 dance classes.

In addition to the parade, a closing party expects you from 5 p.m. at the Palais Maillot. Enjoy the musical and festive Brazilian atmosphere delivered by RODA DE SAMBA BOKALOKA band.

Guests of the night: BIANCA COASTA, EMILIAH & ITALO COUTINHO

DJ entertainment: MARIO, CYBER JUNIOT and REBECA EPISCOPO