More About the Brazil
| General Information about Brazil | ||||
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Culinary |
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| Brazilian food is a mix between native Indian ingredients, elements from Portuguese recipes, and later the influence of African slaves.The “feijoada” is considered to be the most typical Brazilian dish. Born in Rio de Janeiro, it is a tasty combination of black beans, varied salted meats, and couve (like a cabbage).
Brazilian meat is also delicious and served in “churrascarias.” Cooked on the spit, it is served in large succulent portions by whirling and fast moving waiters in the Southern or Gaucho style. Along the long 5,000 KM (3,000 mile) coast seafood is the most enjoyed. There is an abundance of Atlantic fishes to be enjoyed as well as some of the world’s most succulent Lobster and shrimp. Lungo tutto il litorale molti sono i modi di preparare i frutti di mare, con innumerevoli ricette di pesci, gamberetti e le meravigliose aragoste del Nordest. This enormous variety of foods in Brazil create sweet and delicious aromas wherever you venture in the country. Restaurants and other more casual eateries in Brazil offer a large and convenient choose and it’s easy to eat very very well! selection |
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| Music | ||||
| Brazilian Music is characterized by a great diversity and this is in thanks to origins spanning three continents. Together, they are blended into something that is unique and original. The Samba, also is influencing other rhythms such as, more recently, “pagode.” Pagode is a little slower but very passionate. One of the persons who made samba famous was Carmen Miranda, noted for her headdress of tropical fruits! The Bossa Nova on the other hand, is characterized by a North American jazz base, and was made popular by 1950s musician João Gilberto and later by the famous song “The Girl of Ipanema.”In the 1960s Brazilian music really took off and superstars were made such as artists like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Their musical styles mixed various types of previous music together that became uniquely Brazilian. In recent years, the Lambada, influenced by Caribbean rhythms and the music of Axe created in the state of Bahia have been taking the musical headlines. |
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| Capoeira | ||||
| Capoeira is a fight dance that was developed centuries ago by African slaves as a form of self-defense against physical aggression and threats. Although it became more and more dance like over the years, beginning with the need to hide combat from slave masters, today, capoeria is a pure dance but with a whirling and turning of legs and arms that amazes viewers! Music accompaniment is also very important as the base of this artistic sport/dance. If one wants to see something that is very African and that takes stamina and creativity to do, this is it! | ||||
| Carnival | ||||
| This festival is the most famous and the most significant popular artistic expression in Brazil. Carnival consists of 4 days of absolute fun and folly that extends over the whole country. The largest of the carnival festivities is in Rio de Janeiro where the country’s largest and most famous samba schools compete for top honors complete with magnificent floats and costumes.There are however other carnival festivities worth a visit too! Salvador de Bahia citizens dance and follow the “trios electricos,” which are decorated motor cars complete with sound system making the crowds jump all over the city! The first trio elettrico was born in Bahia in 1950 and was an old Ford truck with two high volume speakers. It was only in 1952 that the event was sponsored and replaced with cars. In the NE state of Pernambuco, carnival has become a large street party and people dance for days to the rhythms of Frevo and Maracatu’. In Recife, the capital of the state, carnival activities focus around the “galo da madrugada” and nearly the entire city participates in this immense masquerade parade with floats. |
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| Candomblé | ||||
| Religion in Bahia stems from African slaves bringing over their own deities and spirits. The orixas, or spirits come from nature such as fire, earth, water, and air, and they can be a sort of king and queen of Africa and can be solicited by individuals for special protection.Initially, this religion was only practiced where the slaves worked or lived, called “senzalas.” Today however, various festivals and secret rites are held year round, always conducted by “filhos-de-santo” who go into trance to communicate with the orixa spirits. There are branches of Candomble across Brazil today and in some places their presence have been intertwined with the Roman Catholic faith. | ||||
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| The scholastic system of Brazil is separated into three parts: the first part begins when a child has 7 years old, the second when the child has 15 and the third when the child, now a young adult has 18 or 19 when they begin the university.The students of the first and second levels, do not select studied materials, in fact, in the second portion of studies, it is necessary to follow a curriculum of Portuguese, Brazilian literature, math, geography, history, science and civic education. Some schools offer optional materials to study such as art, computers, but this is not available in all schools. Students can choose to study inn the morning, afternoon, or evening Monday through Friday although occasionally Saturdays are required too. Most children in the second level of education study foreign languages outside of their basic school.
The scholastic year goes from March to December with winter vacations in July. |
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| Family Life IN BRAZIL |  |
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| Family life is very important in Brazil. The decisions made by parents are normally respected and they usually have the last word on family values. Children’s opinions are taken into consideration however they cannot act outside of the parameters established by their parents. Most Brazilian parents follow closely where their children go and with whom they go out with and how they are doing in school.Activities usually involve the whole family, from watching TV to going on vacation. There is a strong sense of family, not just those living inside the home but nearby too.
Brazilians normally eat two normal meals, lunch and supper per day with only a light breakfast, based on milk, cafe, bread and fruits. Some families even do “breakfast” in the afternoon too. |
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| Free Time activities in Brazil | ||||
| Nightlife in Brazil offer a lot, especially when one goes out to eat or to a restaurant. Most Brazilians don’t go out before 9PM.Schools in Brazil are not the center of social activities like in other countries. Social life for young people is spent around sports and scholastic activities (outside school) and the schools themselves are considered only for scholastic instruction. Most free-time activities are organized by the family and/or friends. | ||||
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