There is a huge attraction to see whenever Brazilian parades and the Carnaval is celebrated. One important element is the Porta-bandeira, which also means flag-bearer. The special person designated to carry and present the flag actually spends a lot of time practicing and brings honor to the school or group he or she represents. Being tasked as the flag-bearer is also one of the most distinguished roles that a person can have when commemorating the samba and Carnaval in Brazil.
Initially, you have to determine the various attributes and skills needed to become a Porta-bandeira. The person has a special function to present in the best manner in front of a judging panel. The samba-schools banner is an important part of the festivities and each of the big schools is represented accordingly. The flag is raised and displayed through a set of motions and what appears to be a dance during the parade. The old Mangueira samba-school particularly uses the pink and green tones on its banner together with its name Primeira de Mangueira.
Whenever there is a carnaval contest in Brazil, every samba school should comply with the requirement of presenting the banner during the parade, which occurs either in February or March. The flag-bearer in most occasions is a woman. Her specific duty is to wave, twirl and showcase the flag in a unique way. In some cases, there will be some men around her to offer protection.
The Porta-Bandeira part of the parade is a special class of the samba-school parade. The flag bearer is always the center of attraction during the event.