Culture
Brazil has a diverse culture contributed mostly by Italians, Germans and other European immigrants. For examples, the Amerindian and Africans contributed to the Brazilian language, cuisine, music and dance.
Festivals
The Brazilian Carnival is held annually, 46 days before Easter. It is adapted to Christianity and has roots in the Pagan festivals of Saturnalia. During this festival, bad things are bade farewell in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection. To Brazilians, The Brazilian Carnival is highly significant, to the point in which the entire country stops work completely for almost a week. Festivities usually take place at night, mostly in coastal cities.
Bumba Meu Boi, also known as Hit-my-bull, is a Brazilian folk theatrical tradition. It is a story of a craving for pregnancy. With the desire to eat the tongue of the best boi (ox) on the farm, Catrina persuades her husband (Chico) to kill the animal. When the deed had been discovered, several characters track down Chico, and brings him to trial. He was then sentenced to death. The ox is the resurrected magically and the owner of the farm is then forced to pardon the people's hero, who is reunited with his love. This tale takes on various forms and is told through music (magically drums the bull back to life), by performers throughout the city. Performers start rehearsing, often publicly, as early as Easter.
Etiquette
Greetings: Women kiss each other on the cheeks as a form of saying hello, starting with the left and alternating cheeks. If a woman wishes to shake hands with a male, she should extend her hand first. Hugging and backslapping are common greetings between friends.
When invited over: Arrive at least 30 minutes late if the invitation is for dinner. When attending a party or large gathering, arrive up to an hour late and dress elegantly as Brazilians always dress with a flair and often judge others by their appearance.
Gifts: When invited to a Brazilian's house, bring the hostess a small gift. If not, give flowers the next day. Orchids, especially, are highly appreciated. However, avoid giving anything purple or black as they are mourning colours and represent death. Never give handkerchiefs as they are associated with funerals. Gifts are opened when received.
When invited over: Arrive at least 30 minutes late if the invitation is for dinner. When attending a party or large gathering, arrive up to an hour late and dress elegantly as Brazilians always dress with a flair and often judge others by their appearance.
Gifts: When invited to a Brazilian's house, bring the hostess a small gift. If not, give flowers the next day. Orchids, especially, are highly appreciated. However, avoid giving anything purple or black as they are mourning colours and represent death. Never give handkerchiefs as they are associated with funerals. Gifts are opened when received.
Costumes
To a country, traditional attires represents their culture and social status, which are known to have vibrant, showy and suggestive clothing. Brazil’s ethnic costumes have been influenced by a combination of various races and immigrants. For example, Carnival bikinis are worn by women at the Brazilian Carnival. These costumes aid the women in dancing more fluidly, and is decorated with feathers and jewels. Another ethnic costume would be the Brazilian Dresses that are more comfortable and are decorated with attractive accessories such as semi precious stones.
Food
Brazil’s food culture consists of a mix of European and African influences. It reflects the country's mix of natives and immigrant populations and it's continental size.
Ingredients: cassava, guaraná, açaí, cumaru and tacacá. Immigrants like to combine their typical dishes with these ingredients, by replacing certain missing ingredients with their equivalents.
National beverage: coffee,
Native liquor: cachaça (distilled from sugar cane)
National cocktail: caipirinha (main ingredient is cachaça)
National dish: feijoada. It is a stew made from black turtle beans and a range of pork and beef. It is usually served with rice and collard greens or deep-fried cassava or banana.
Towards the south of Brazil, some examples of the traditional foods are the sun dried or salt dried meats and churrasco and grilled meats on large skewers. It is traditionally prepared in a ceramic pan placed under the soil to boil with natural heat from the sun. E.g. barreado, found in Parana
Towards the north of a Brazil, some examples of the traditional foods are Pato no tucupi. It special duck soup made with cassava or yucca leaves. Another dish is Tacaca, which can be bought easily from street vendors. It is a dish based on tucupi, but includes shrimps and Jambu, a flowering herb, as well as some other spices.
Ingredients: cassava, guaraná, açaí, cumaru and tacacá. Immigrants like to combine their typical dishes with these ingredients, by replacing certain missing ingredients with their equivalents.
National beverage: coffee,
Native liquor: cachaça (distilled from sugar cane)
National cocktail: caipirinha (main ingredient is cachaça)
National dish: feijoada. It is a stew made from black turtle beans and a range of pork and beef. It is usually served with rice and collard greens or deep-fried cassava or banana.
Towards the south of Brazil, some examples of the traditional foods are the sun dried or salt dried meats and churrasco and grilled meats on large skewers. It is traditionally prepared in a ceramic pan placed under the soil to boil with natural heat from the sun. E.g. barreado, found in Parana
Towards the north of a Brazil, some examples of the traditional foods are Pato no tucupi. It special duck soup made with cassava or yucca leaves. Another dish is Tacaca, which can be bought easily from street vendors. It is a dish based on tucupi, but includes shrimps and Jambu, a flowering herb, as well as some other spices.
Mythology
Brazil’s mythology is a subset of Brazilian folklore with cultural elements. It comprises popular folk tales, traditions, characters and beliefs with regards to certain location, certain famous individuals and entities. Most folk tales involve an account of historical events and a mythological character, be it a hero or villain, and a moral to the story. The plot and characters are often used to convey a message or a warning to the listeners. In Brazil, there are dozens of famous figures. A few examples would be:
Alemoa: a blonde female ghost who seduces wreckless men then carries them to their death
Besta-fera: a beast believed to be the devil, Satan
Bumba-meu-Boi: an ox featured in Brazilian mythology
Cuca: a mean old lady who does evil things to children who do not want to go to bed on time
Lobisomem: the Brazilian version of the commonly known werewolf.
Alemoa: a blonde female ghost who seduces wreckless men then carries them to their death
Besta-fera: a beast believed to be the devil, Satan
Bumba-meu-Boi: an ox featured in Brazilian mythology
Cuca: a mean old lady who does evil things to children who do not want to go to bed on time
Lobisomem: the Brazilian version of the commonly known werewolf.