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"Ol\u00E9, ol\u00E9, the World Cup has begun. \nBrazil marked the beginning of its futbol festivities on Thursday with a grand opening ceremony that confused most viewers, but did manage to give us a plethora of ideas for our next Halloween costumes. \nSee also: 22 Twitter Reactions to the World Cup Opening Ceremony\nThere were dancing trees and running flowers and human soccer balls. Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull sang and kind of shouted into their microphones. If you watched the Spanish live stream it probably made no sense. If you watched the English version airing on NBC it probably made no sense. \nAnd somewhere, Vladimir Putin and his giant Sochi Bear pal are grinning, thinking that they'd finally given up the spot for weirdest opening ceremonies of all time.\nSorry, Putin. Nightmare bear is creepier than tree people.\n\n\nWeird World Cup GIFs\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Flower people were jumping.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. Flower people were blooming.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Rainbow people were freaking out.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Guys were doing that plate spin trick.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. This guy rowed into the ceremony on people.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. There was a crystal ball of futbol.\nWho will win? Tell us!\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7. Veruca Salt people were running around.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n8. Futbol-human hybrids were invited.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n9. They did some cool tricks.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10. And some impressive tricks \n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11. OK, we get it. You guys are cool. \n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12. We're still wondering how much this cost to make.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n13. Martial arts were going on.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n14. Little soccer players got confused about how futbol works.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. J Lo, Pitbull and Claudia Leitte's choreographer made them wave their hands in the air like they just didn't care.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n16. J Lo really didn't care.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n17. But at least Claudia Leitte was excited to be there.\n\n\nImage:  Mashable \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.\nBONUS: The Complete Guide to World Cup Team Nicknames \n\n\nThe Wonderful World Cup Team Nicknames\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlgeria, \"Les Fennecs\"\nIn honor of the national animal of Algeria, the national team is \"Les Fennecs,\" the small, nocturnal foxes native to North Africa.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArgentina, \"La Albiceleste\"\nAs beautiful as it is eloquent, \"La Albiceleste\" means \"The White and Sky Blue,\" and refers to Argentina's famous striped uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAustralia, \"The Socceroos\"\nThis is probably the kookiest nickname: Australia's national team combines \"soccer\" and \"kangaroos.\" Now, you've got yourself the Australian squad.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBelgium, \"The Red Devils\"\nThe Belgians are known affectionately in all three of the country's spoken languages -- Dutch, French and German -- as \"The Red Devils.\"  The name was coined when a journalist called the Belgian squad \"The Red Devils\" after three \"devilish\" wins in 1906, just two years after forming.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBosnia and Herzegovina, \"Zmajevi\"\nLike Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina owes its nickname to a commentator who called the players \"zmajevi\" or \"dragons\" in 2010, and the name stuck.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrazil, \"Sele\u00E7\u00E3o\"\n\"The Selection\" is Brazil's nickname because it's what Brazilians call every soccer team: a \"sele\u00E7\u00E3o. But only the national team is \"the \"Sele\u00E7\u00E3o.\" Brazil is also known as \"Canarihno\" (\"Little Canary\") due to the team's bright yellow uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCameroon, \"The Indomitable Lions\"\nCameroon's nickname is actually a nod to the country's lion-preservation efforts. In the wild and on the pitch, the Cameroon lions or \"Lions\" are \"indomitable.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChile, \"La Roja\"\nThe Chileans prefer simplicity, earning their nickname from the team's notable red uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nColombia, \"Los Cafeteros\"\n\"Los Cafeteros\" loosely translates to \"one who makes or drinks coffee,\" and Colombians do both. The national team is nicknamed after one of Colombia's biggest exports: coffee.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCosta Rica, \"Los Ticos\"\n\"Los Ticos\" is the shortened, more conversational name for \"Costarrincenses\" or \"native Costa Ricans.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCroatia, \"Vatreni\"\n\"Vatreni\" means \"The Blazers\" in Croatian, a nod to both the passion of the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands. Lately, Croatia is also known as \"Bilic's Boys,\" a reference to the team's head coach, Slaven Bilic.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEcuador, \"La Tricolor\"\n\"La Tricolor\" refers to the three colors of the Ecuadorian flag: yellow, blue and red.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEngland, \"The Three Lions\"\nEngland's namesake refers to the country's rich history, going back to Richard the Lionheart, the King of England from 1189 to 1199. The three lions that appear on the national team's crest also appear on the Royal Arms of England.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrance, \"Les Bleus\"\nThe boys in \"bleu\" got their nickname because the color dominates the French team's uniforms. It's even a nickname for most teams across French sports.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGermany, \"Die Mannschaft\"\nCall it German efficiency: \"Die Mannschaft\" means \"The Team\" in German. Simple, practical and formidable when spoken.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGhana, \"The Black Stars\"\nA refrence to the sole black star on Ghana's national flag, the players of the national team are stars to their fans.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGreece, \"Ethniki\"\n\"Ethniki\" or \"national\" is Greece's nickname. The Greek team is also known as \"Piratiko,\" after a Greek radio broadcaster who christened the team with the name during the opening ceremony of UEFA Euro 2004.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHonduras, \"Los Catrachos\"\n\"Los Catrachos\" is the name for native Hondurans, derived from General Florencio Xatruch who fought an American insurrectionist's attempts to reintroduce slavery. Xatruch's men were called \"xatruches,\" which then became \"catruches,\" and so on.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIran, \"Team Melli\"\nLike other teams in the World Cup, \"Team Melli\" simply means \"National Team.\" \n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nItaly, \"Azzurri\"\nLike France's team, \"Azzurri\" means \"the blues.\" Though not part of the national flag colors, blue was the color of House Savoy which unified Italy in 1861.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIvory Coast, \"Les Elephants\"\nIvory Coast; ivory tusks. The national team is named \"Les Elephants\" due to their part in the 19th century ivory trade.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJapan, \"Samurai Blue\"\nAdorned in \"blue\" uniforms, the Japanese squad honors the country's historical warriors, and become \"samurais\" on the pitch.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMexico, \"El Tri\"\nEvery national team's nickname honors its country, but Mexico's nickname \"El Tri\" conjures up intense national pride. A shortened \"El Tricolor,\" Mexico's nickname refers to the three colors -- red, white and green -- of the Mexican flag.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNetherlands, \"Oranje\"\nNamed for the team's famous orange kits, the color is actually nowhere to be found on the Netherlands' flag. Instead it refers to the color of the old Dutch royal family: House of Orange-Nassau. The team's invention of a precise method of passing to maintain ball control -- Total Football -- also earned the Dutch team the nickname and Kubrickian homage \"Clockwork Orange.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNigeria, \"The Super Eagles\"\nNigeria's nickname is rooted in classic one-upmanship. The national team adopted the nickname \"The Super Eagles\" after losing to Cameroon's \"The Indomitable Lions\" in the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations finals.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPortugal, \"Sele\u00E7\u00E3o das Quinas\"\nPortugal's nickname, \"The Selection of the Shields,\" refers to the five shields (the \"quinas\") and the five dots within each shield (the bezants) on the country's flag.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRussia, \"Sbornaya\"\nShort on originality, but strong and powerful in pronunciation, Russia's \"Sbornaya\" means \"National Team\" in Russian.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSouth Korea, \"Taegeuk Warriors\"\nThe \"taegeuk\" refers to the symbol on South Korea's national flag, which represents a spiritual balance, similar to China's yin and yang symbol. Also known as \"The Reds\" due to the team's red uniforms, fans have called themselves the \"Red Devils\" since 1995.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpain, \"La Furia Roja\"\n\"The Red Fury,\" Spain's nickname, comes from two sources. \"La Roja,\" like other team nicknames, comes from the color of the team's uniforms, while \"La Furia\" describes its \"direct, aggressive, spirited style\" of play in the 1920s -- a \"fury\" on the pitch.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSwitzerland, \"La Nati\"\nThe Swiss team kept its nickname short and to the point. \"La Nati,\" means \"The National Team\" in French. Due to the many languages used in Switzerland, the team is also known as \"Schweizer Nati\" in German and \"Squadra Nazionale\" in Italian, but they ultimately all mean the same thing. \n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUruguay, \"La Celeste\"\nNot quite Argentina's \"La Albiceleste,\" but equally as beautiful when spoken, Uruguay's \"La Celeste\" also refers to the team's sky-blue uniforms.\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nU.S.A., \"The Yanks\"\nUnlike other countries competing in the World Cup, the U.S. doesn't have an official nickname. In the past, the team has been called \"The Yanks,\" but the jury's still out on it being the official name of the U.S. Men's National Team. Other nicknames include \"The Stars and Stripes\"  or just \"Team USA.\"\n\nImage:  ESPN/Cristiano Siqueira\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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