The Galo da Madrugada is a carnival parade that happens every carnival Saturday, to the left of the São José district in downtown Recife

Recife

Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...

, the state capital of Pernambuco

Pernambuco

Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

.

It is named in the The Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest carnival parade in the world, considering the number of participants. In 2006 that number was more than 1,500,000 people. The Galo was conceived in 1978, at Padre Floriano Street, nº43, São José district by Enéias Freire.

The main rhythm is the frevo

Frevo

Frevo is a wide range of musical styles originating from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, all of which are traditionally associated with Brazilian Carnival. The word frevo is said to come from frever, a misspeaking of the Portuguese word ferver . It is said that the sound of the frevo will make...

, but several other rhythms are also played.

Hino do Galo - Hymn of Galo

Ei pessoal, vem moçada

Carnaval começa no Galo da Madrugada

Ei pessoal, vem moçada

Carnaval começa no Galo da Madrugada

A manhã já vem surgindo

O sol clareia a cidade com seus raios de cristal

E o Galo da Madrugada

Já está na rua, saudando o Carnaval

Ei pessoal...

As donzelas estão dormindo

As flores recebendo o orvalho matinal

E o Galo da Madrugada

Já está na rua, saudando o Carnaval

Ei pessoal...

O Galo também é de briga

As esporas afiadas, e a crista é coral

E o Galo da Madrugada