BOOMING BRAZIL

 BOOMING  BRAZIL 

Hello and good day, readers. In this entry, I'm going to reveal to you guys the secret treasure about this special country;Brazil, and also to share with you guys about the culture of Brazilian. Well, I hope you gonna enjoy this post. wink ;)

Ready to go?

One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is South America’s giant, a dazzling country of powdery white-sand beaches, pristine rain forests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from enchanting, frozen-in-time colonial towns to dramatic landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and idyllic tropical islands. Add to that, Brazil’s biodiversity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems boast the greatest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth.

Brazilian Society & Culture

                                           

Language in Brazil

Language is one of the strongest elements of Brazil's national unity. Portuguese is spoken by nearly 100 percent of the population. The only exceptions are some members of Amerindian groups and pockets of immigrants, primarily from Japan and South Korea, who have not yet learned Portuguese. The principal families of Indian languages are Tupí, Arawak, Carib, and Gê.

There is about as much difference between the Portuguese spoken in Brazil and that spoken in Portugal as between the English spoken in the United States and that spoken in the United Kingdom. Within Brazil, there are no dialects of Portuguese, but only moderate regional variation in accent, vocabulary, and use of personal nouns, pronouns, and verb conjugations. Variations tend to diminish as a result of mass media, especially national television networks that are viewed by the majority of Brazilians.

Brazilian Diversity

Brazil is a mixture of races and ethnicities, resulting in rich diversity.

Many original Portuguese settlers married native women, which created a new race, called 'mestizos'.

'Mulattoes' are descendent of the Portuguese and African slaves.

Slavery was abolished in 1888, creating over time a further blurring of racial lines.

Unlike many other Latin American countries where there is a distinct Indian population, Brazilians have intermarried to the point that it sometimes seems that almost everyone has a combination of o European, African and indigenous ancestry.

The Brazilian Class System

Despite the mixing of ethnicities, there is a class system in Brazil.

Few Brazilians could be described as racist, although social discrimination on the basis of skin colour is a daily occurrence.

In general, people with darker brown skin are economically and socially disadvantaged.

The middle and upper classes often have only brief interaction with the lower classes - usually maids, drivers, etc.

Class is determined by economic status and skin color.

There is a great disparity in wage differentials--and therefore lifestyle and social aspirations--among the different classes

Although women make up 40% of the Brazilian workforce, they are typically found in lower paid jobs such as teaching, administrative support, and nursing.

The 1988 constitution prohibits discrimination against women, but inequities still exist. The one place where women are achieving equality is in the government.

Dress Etiquette

Brazilians pride themselves on dressing well.

Men should wear conservative, dark colored business suits. Three-piece suits typically indicate that someone is an executive.

Women should wear suits or dresses that are elegant and feminine with good quality accessories. Manicures are expected.

Cultural Traditions & Festivals in Brazil

Carnaval

Carnaval, the traditional festival of decadence before Lent begins, has some of its biggest celebrations in Brazil. The cities of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are particularly famous for their parades; the performers spend months preparing and practicing. During the two weeks immediately preceding the festival, local community bands play throughout Rio's neighborhoods. The informal pre-festival celebrations are known as "blocos." Fancy balls take place throughout the city's upscale venues. The Copacabana Palace Ball is the crown jewel of these parties. In the streets, visitors watch the Samba School Parade from Sunday night through Monday morning. Major streets close to traffic throughout the Carnaval festivities.

New Year's Celebrations

Rio is home to Reveillon, a high-spirited New Year's celebration. Early in the day, many local restaurants serve special buffet lunches. By evening, the throngs have gathered along the city's beaches to watch the midnight fireworks display. For followers of the Afro-Brazilian religion, Candomble, New Year's celebrations include wearing all-white garb, lighting candles and setting small boats loaded with trinkets into the ocean, in offering to the sea goddess Yemenja.

Carnival Brazil Floats

The Carnival Brazil floats figure among the World’s most lavish and extravagant parade devices. More often than not, their various adornments relate to a specific parade theme that is perpetuated by the associated samba schools who decorate and use them. Found either on the Carnival Brazil floats or surrounding them are merry-making revelers who only add to the overall spectacle, and a true spectacle it is.

Bumba-meu-boi and Regional Festivals

                              

Throughout the year, numerous regional festivals take place in all corners of Brazil. In Sao Luis, the Bumba-meu-boi festival has the townsfolk act out a folk story involving the killing and resurrection of a bull. The celebrations span several months. In Salvador, the end of January brings a ceremonial washing of the steps of the Bonfim Church, an event that draws an audience of 800,000 people. Women in traditional costumes use perfumed water to wash the steps. Leading up to Easter, the citizens of Nova Jerusalem enact a passion play, the largest in all of South America. The stages of the cross last ten days, culminating on Easter Sunday.

National Traditions

Besides the country's animated festivals and celebrations, Brazil has numerous traditions, from sports to dance to religious rites. Capoeira, a home-grown martial art, is based on self-defense practices devised by African slaves. Because it was originally necessary to disguise the practice, the art now resembles dancing as much as fighting. Brazil's enthusiasm for soccer launches the sport to the level of a national obsession. Other national traditions draw from the predominant religions, Catholicism and Candomble. Candomble traditions include offerings to Lemanja during the New Year, as well as Boa Morte, or beautiful death, a celebration that takes place in Salvador and incorporates music and dance. Samba music and dance comes from the Bantu who arrived in Brazil from Angola. This African musical import has evolved to produce Bossa Nova and other traditional forms of Brazilian music.

Top foods to try in Brazil

Brazil really does have it all. Larger cities like São Paulo and Rio boast unique culture, personality and nightlife, while the thousands of miles of coastline, epic countryside and hearty cuisine will have you in raptures. We've picked 10 essential Brazilian dishes to try on your visit.
Don't leave Brazil without trying...



Barbecued meat

the ogre-sized quantities of meat, best appreciated at a leisurely pace, and with an elasticated waistband.

 Moqueca (pronounced moo-kek-a)
moqueca is served with theatrical flourish as the piping hot clay pot is uncovered at the table amidst clouds of fragrant steam

 Cachaça
made from fermented sugarcane juice, and is best known as the fiery kick in caipirinhas – Brazil’s national cocktail.

  Brigadeiros
made by simmering condensed milk with cocoa powder, then whisking in butter and shaping the mix into balls before rolling in chocolate sprinkles.

 Pão de queijo
Cheese and bread, Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, the gluten-free breads are made with tapioca flour, eggs and grated queijo Minas (a cow’s milk cheese from the state of Minas Gerais), rolled into small balls.

Traditional Clothes in Brazil

Brazil is a large country with diverse climatic conditions in different regions. Hence, the traditional clothing of Brazil varies from region to region. Brazilian dresses are comfortable, vividly colored, beautifully crafted, and decorated with attractive accessories. Traditional Brazilian clothing is influenced by a combination of different races and immigrants from all over the world. 

Rio de Janeiro is popular for its magnificent beaches. Hence, people in this region mainly wear beach-style shirts, Bermudas, and sunglasses. In Rio Grande do Sul, the southern plain region of Brazil, the cowboys (gauchos) wear a distinctive outfit: baggy trousers called bombachas, ponchos, wide straw hats, and leather boots. The cowherds (vaqueiros) in the Northeast region wear a coat, hat, and leather chaps. In Amazon, the native Amerindians wear traditional tunics and paint their faces, and are often spotted with a heavy assortment of beads around their necks.

The next time you visit Brazil, don't forget to purchase some of these clothes to add a flash of color to your wardrobe.

Traditional Games in Brazil

Like most countries in the world, Brazil is home to a number of traditional children's games, both indoor and outdoor. Many Brazilian children's games are quite simple and don't require any kind of special equipment or training for participation. Similar games are found in other parts of the world, but the games listed here are specific to Brazil.

Queimada

• Queimada, the Portuguese word for "burned," is a popular game similar to dodgeball that's played on a wide, open field. To play, form two even teams and divide the players on each half of the field, similar to how you would in "capture the flag" or dodgeball. At each end of the field mark an area called the "cemetery" and place one player from each side inside their team's cemetery. The game begins when one of the players in the cemetery launches a ball to the other side of the field. Members of the opposing team try to catch the ball and throw it at a player on the side from which the ball was launched. If a ball strikes a player, he is "dead" and must spend the remainder of the game in the cemetery. The game finishes when all of the players on one side are "dead."

Cinco Marias

• Cinco Marias is a simple kid's game played with five flat stones. The game is very similar to jacks or tiddlywinks. The player places five stones in a small area on the ground. The player then picks up one stone and tosses it into the air. Before that stone hits the ground the player must pick up one of the remaining four stones. The next round, the player must pick up two stones before the first one hits the ground. The game continues like this until the player is able to pick up all four remaining stones before the first stone hits the ground. The first player to collect all four stones successful is the winner.

Hit The Coin

• Hit The Coin is another popular game among Brazilian children that requires steady aim and concentration. To play, fix a short bamboo stick or dowel (12 to 18 inches in length) into the ground so it doesn't move. Draw a small circle about 5 inches in diameter around the stick and place a small object (coin, bottle cap, toy soldier, etc.) on top of the stick. Players then take turns trying to knock the small object off of the stick by throwing coins at it. To win the player must knock the small object completely out of the circle.

If you would like to visit Brazil , these recommended place are some of the points of interest in the country.

1) Christ The Redeemer

2) Corcovado

3) Sugarloaf Mountain

4) Iguazu Falls

5) Copacabana, Rio de Jeneiro

6) Ipanema

7) Tijuca Forest

8) Ibirapuera Park

9) Chapada Diamantina National Park

10) Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai

We also recommended you guys to get special service from Brazil Travel Agent - Zicasso as they are professional and offer the best Brazil vacation package for you guys. Book fast for the satisfaction.

Here is the link : http://www.zicasso.com/luxury-tours/brazil/vacation-package-travel-agency

Well, thank you so much for reading this post. That's all from me. See you guys in other entry. Toodles!