INTRODUCTION

Brazil is the largest of the Latin American countries and it occupies nearly half the continent of South America . It is a federation of 26 states and Brasilia , the federal district and site of the capital city of the same name. Its largest cities are Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

EARLY HISTORY

There is evidence suggesting possible human habitation in Brazil more than 30,000 years ago, and scholars have found artifacts, including cave paintings, that date back at least 11,000 years. By the time Europeans arrived, there was a relatively small indigenous population. The people can be classified into two main groups; a settled population that spoke the Tupian language and had similar cultural patterns, and a nomadic group. It is estimated that approximately a million indigenous people were scattered throughout the territory.

Whether or not Brazil was known to Portuguese navigators in the 15th century is still an unsolved debate, but the coast was visited by the Spanish mariner Vicente Yáñez Pinzón before the Portuguese under Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500 claimed the land, (which came within the Portuguese sphere as defined in the Treaty of Tordesillas in1494). Little was done to support the claim, but the name Brazil is thought to derive from the Portuguese word for the red color of brazilwood [ brasa =glowing coal], which the early visitors gathered. The indigenous people taught the explorers about the cultivation of corn, the construction of hammocks, and the use of dugout canoes.

The plantation culture of the Northeast was crumbling by the 1870s, and the growth of the movement to abolish slavery began. The slave trade had been abolished in 1850, and a law for gradual emancipation was passed in 1871. In 1888 while Pedro II was in Europe and his daughter Isabel was governing Brazil, slavery was completely abolished.

PEOPLE

Brazil's population comprises many races and ethnic groups. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics classifies the Brazilian population in five categories: black, white, pardo (brown), yellow (Asian) or Indigenous, based on skin color or race. The last census revealed the following numbers: 93,096 million White people (49.7%), 79,782 million Pardo people (42.6%), 12,908 million Black people (6.9%), 919 thousand Asian people (0.5%) and 519 thousand Amerindian people (0.4%).

The ethnic composition of Brazilians is not uniform across the country. Because of its large influx of European immigrants in the 19th century, the Southern Region has a White majority, consisting of 79.6% of its population. The Northeastern Region, as a result of the large numbers of African slaves working in the sugar cane engenhos, has a majority of brown and black peoples, respectively 62.5% and 7.8%. Northern Brazil, largely covered by the Amazon Rainforest, is 69.2% brown, because of its strong Amerindian component. Southeastern Brazil and Central-Western Brazil have a more balanced ratio among different ethnic groups. The largest ethnic group in Brazil is Portuguese (10.46%), followed by Italian (10.41%), Black or African (7.15%), Amerindian (6.64%), Spanish (4.40%), German (3.54%) and Japanese (1.34%).

TRADITIONS

Brazilians have a number of cherished traditions. A few are discussed below:

Capoeira (needless to say) – the fluid and dynamic martial art is of course a national sport of the country. See the Capoeira history section for more details.

Candomblé  - a blending of Catholic and African religious practices that holds a unique place in Brazilian society and has close ties with capoeira. When a player does the ritualistic movements of blessing him/herself before entering the roda, he/she is asking for the blessing and help of the orixás (dieties in candomblé that correspond to Catholic saints). The player is said to have “corpo fechado” (closed body) if they are granted this protection and are therefore safe from physical harm. A player might also have a “patuá” around their neck. A patuá is like an amulet and can be many things – a rolled up prayer or some herbs blessed by a candomblé priest.

Iemanjá - a Goddess of the sea important to candomblé, is worshipped around the country at the end of the year. On New Year's Eve, devouts throw white roses into the sea as offerings and wisper their good wishes to Iemanjá into the waves. Every January, thousands of catholics and candomble followers come together to perform a ritual washing of the stairs of the Bomfim church in Salvador. This church is important to both religious orders, and the display of solidarity is impressive and colorful. Salvador is the capital of Bahia, (the capital of capoeira), and has an incredible total of 365 churches, one for every day of the year.

Feijoada – a typical dish of beans and pork. A real feijoada is prepared with uncommon cuts of pork (ears, snout, feet) and is done that way because back when the slaves  were working on the plantations, if they were given any meat, it was that which the slave owners would not use and considered unclean. These days, people prepare the feijoada with more common cuts of pork, and it is served with rice, collard greens, farofa (a manioc powder), and orange slices. Feijoada is typically consumed on Sundays, as it is a very heavy dish and will make you sleepy after you've had enough of it. Sundays are considered days of rest in Brazil. One would eat some feijoada or churrasco (barbeque) while watching…

Futebol  -  soccer as we know it in the U.S. , a sport invented by the English, adopted by South America as its passion, and, many would argue, perfected in Brazil. Brazil is the only country that has won the coveted World Cup (the most important soccer tournament) five times. It is also the home of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé, probably the most well known and one of the greatest soccer players of all time, and Ronaldinho, another one of the greats, who currently plays for Real Madrid. Soccer is one of Brazil's obsessions. Do not expect to find any businesses open during a big game.

Carnaval – Another one of Brazil's passions. During one very colorful week in February, Brazilians go absolutely nuts to the sound of pandeiros (which you know from capoeira) cuicas, and surdos (two types of drums). Brazilians prepare all year for the week of carnaval, when they parade down the major streets of the major cities in intricate costumes and followed by floats of amazing design and stature. The different groups (known as “schools”) are ranked based on creativity, beauty, and theme. There are usually 3500 – 4000 people in each school, and everyone learns the school's theme song for that year and they sing it as they come down the avenue. The orchestra is composed of about 400 drums – the ones mentioned above are joined by more common ones, like snares and bases. It is quite a spectacle.
The dance done during carnaval is the samba, a fervent dance unique to Brazil which involves much shaking of the hips and butt..

Forró – This is a Brazilian dance that got its name from the English words “for all”. The idea is that everyone can dance forró, old and young alike. It is a partner dance that is widespread in Brazil and can be seen at parties and clubs, anytime people get together. It is a sensual dance done cheek to cheek and very close.

Brazil is such a diverse country. It is difficult to talk about all the wonderful aspects of its culture here. This just touched on the main one.