Brazil is a country whose culture has been developing over the centuries, so it is influenced by different aspects. In this article, we give you information about the most representative customs of Brazilians. Some of them may be strange to people from other countries.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
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Carnival
The most important festival in Brazil is Carnival. This is celebrated the four days prior to Ash Wednesday, so the date varies between February and March. Although it is organized in most cities, the most prominent is that of Rio de Janeiro.
In it, the main event takes place at the Sambadrome, a stadium with a 500 m long stage that gathers a total of 75.000 spectators. In it, the samba schools come out and put on an 80-minute show. Each one is disguised with a different theme and they compete with each other.
In order to attend this competition, you need to purchase a ticket in advance or leave as a participant with one of the samba schools. Also, throughout the city there are numerous festivals.
Dances
Among the different typical Brazilian dances we find the capoeira, a combination of dance, martial arts, acrobatics and body language. Its origin is found in the former African slaves who lived in the country in the XNUMXth century.
When a group of dancers make a circle and practice capoeira It is called Roda of capoeira. This fact is declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The instruments with which the music is interpreted are percussion and string.
Likewise, we cannot forget the samba, the music that is danced during Carnival and on other important dates. This also has African origin and is practiced in groups. It has a close relationship with the batucada. Also, a variant of samba is the bossa nova.
Weddings
A tradition of weddings in Brazil is for the bride to write the name of her friends who have not yet married on the inside of the dress. In this way, it transmits luck to them so that they find a partner or get married soon.
When it comes to going to the ceremony, the bride has to arrive later than the future husband. On the other hand, at the banquet, the guests and the couple eat a sweet called bem-married, whose name means happily married. This dessert is wrapped as we can see in this image:
Meal
La brazilian gastronomy It is influenced by indigenous, European and African cuisine. Within the culinary tradition we find the feijoada, composed of black beans and salted pork. To this, rice, oranges are added and cassava flour is sprinkled on top. Traditionally, it is eaten on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Likewise, a drink linked to the culture of the country is the caipirinha. It consists of a cocktail whose main ingredient is a brandy known as cachaça which is made with cane sugar. Lime and sugar are added to this. It has been made in Brazil since the XNUMXth century. In the following article you will find the rest of the typical recipes of the country: The typical food of Brazil.
Christmas and New Year
Keep in mind that in December, when Christmas arrives, it is summer in Brazil, since this country is located in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, it is said that Santa Claus, what is called Santa ClausArrives dressed in silk clothes.
Among the Christmas decorations that we can find in houses is that of the nativity scene or nativity scene. Likewise, Christmas trees abound throughout the country, highlighting the one that is placed in the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, since it measures 85 meters. If you want to know other impressive Christmas trees, we recommend this article: The most beautiful Christmas trees in the world.
At New Year's Eve, to attract good luck, a custom is to jump three times with a glass of champagne without spilling any drops, as well as to be careful not to store clothes backwards. To welcome the New Year, fireworks are traditional. The most famous is the one launched from Copacabana Beach, in Rio de Janeiro.
That night, the festival of Iemanjá is also celebrated in honor of the goddess of the sea, so flowers and small boats are thrown into the water on some beaches. This act has its origin in the African religion yoruba.
Clothing
In each area of Brazil we find a different typical costume. In the case of Salvador de Bahía, its women dress in Bahian. This dress consists of a long skirt and a bancas blouse with lace.
They wear a kind of scarf on their heads and several long necklaces are hung around their necks. This clothing is related to the Afro-Brazilian culture of the country.
Social customs
Brazilians are welcoming and cheerful people. When it comes to talking to people, they are quite close and body contact is common. To greet each other, the number of kisses given depends on the area where we are:
- São Paulo: a kiss on the right cheek
- Rio de Janeiro: two kisses
- Minas Gerais: three kisses
The official language of Brazilians is Portuguese. However, other languages are also spoken. In this article you will find more information about it: What language is spoken in Brazil?
Regarding religious beliefs, approximately 65% of the population considers themselves Catholic Christian and 22% Protestant Christian.
Indigenous tribes
It is estimated that in Brazil they live around 240 indigenous tribes, most of them in the Amazon. Some have not even come into contact with people from other cultures.
One of these tribes is the awá. In it, the ratio of men is two for every woman. Therefore, polyandry is practiced, which allows a woman to marry more than one man.
On the other hand, we find the tribe of pirahã, formed by only 360 people. They live next to the Maici river and their language is extremely complex, as they incorporate screams and whistles. Also, they don't read or write, and they don't talk about abstract concepts.
Business
In general, business in Brazil is done in Portuguese or English. When greeting each other, the common thing is to shake hands, although between women kisses can be given. The important thing for business negotiations is to be calm, as they can be slow.
Brazilians value knowing each other well and having confidence before closing a deal. The business card is given at the end of the conversation, before saying goodbye, and it has to be written in Portuguese and in the language used by the company.
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