King Momo facts for kids
King Momo (also called Rei Momo in Portuguese or Rey Momo in Spanish) is like the fun king of Carnival celebrations! He is a very important part of many parties in Latin America, especially in Brazil and Colombia. When King Momo appears, it means the Carnival has officially started.
Each big Carnival usually has its own King Momo. He is often given the key to the city, which is a special honor. This shows he is in charge of the fun! Traditionally, the person chosen to be King Momo is a tall and a bit chubby man. This is because the very first King Momo was described that way.
In countries like Argentina and Uruguay, Rey Momo is often a huge doll. This doll is made from papier-mâché over a frame of wood or wire. It's so big that it rides on a truck during the parades! This doll-king leads the Carnival with a group of dancers. Even as a doll, Rey Momo looks happy, wears bright clothes, and has a big belly. In the past, these dolls were sometimes burned at the end of Carnival, but this is not done much anymore for safety.
In Goa, India, which was once ruled by Portugal, a person is also chosen to play King Momo for their Carnival parade. For example, Sixtus Eric Dias was chosen in 2021.
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Where Did King Momo Come From?
King Momo gets his name from an old Greek god called Momus. Momus was known as the god of blame and criticism, but over time, his character changed to become a symbol of fun and celebration for Carnival.
Famous King Momos of Rio de Janeiro
The King Momos in Rio de Janeiro are probably the most famous. The tradition of having a special king for the Carnival there started way back in 1933. Here are some of the people who have been King Momo in Rio:
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1933-1948 | Paper Mache Doll |
| 1949-1950 | Gustavo Mattos |
| 1951-1957 | Nélson Nobre |
| 1958-1971 | Abrahão Haddad |
| 1972 | Edson Seraphin de Santana |
| 1973 | Elson Macula |
| 1974-1982 | Edson Seraphin de Santana |
| 1983 | Paolo Vicente Paccelli |
| 1984 | Roberto Barbosa de Castro |
| 1985-1986 | Edson Seraphin de Santana |
| 1987-1995 | Reynaldo Bola |
| 1996 | Paulo César Braga Champorry |
| 1997-2003 | Alex Oliveira |
| 2004 | Wagner Monteiro |
| 2005 | Marcelo de Jesus Reis |
| 2006-2008 | Alex Oliveira |
| 2009-2013 | Milton Júnior |
| 2014-2016 | Wilson Neto |
| 2017 | Fábio Damião dos Santos Antunes |
| 2018 | Milton Júnior |
King Momos of Santos
Waldemar Esteves da Cunha was a very special King Momo from the city of Santos. He was King Momo from 1950 to 1956 and again from 1958 to 1990! He was even the oldest King Momo in Brazil when he retired at 92 years old. He passed away in 2013.
See also
- Rex parade
- In Spanish: Rey Momo para niños
