Проект "Культурные особенности Бразилии"

Brazil.

Cultural Peculiarities

Presentation Main Points

• Some facts about Brazil
• Famous Personalities
• Amazing Brazilian Cuisine
• Brazilian Families
• Brazilian communication
• Brazilian holidays
• Brazilian stereotypes: football
• Brazilian stereotypes: favelas
• Brazilian stereotypes: samba
• Brazilian stereotypes: “Brazilian” language
• Brazilian Etiquette
• Brazilian body language and gestures

Some facts about Brazil

The country I present-The Federal Republic of Brazil-is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. Over 216 million people are calling Brazil home in an area of about 8.5 million square kilometres. Here are some interesting facts about this amazing country:

• Around 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil
• There more than 400 airports in Brazil
• The Brazilian football team have won the world cup a record 5 times
• Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world both on population and area
• Brazilian prisoners are allowed to reduce their sentence by four days for every book that they read
• Brazil’s capital Brasilia looks like an aeroplane from above
• Only 43% of Adults have a high-school degree.

Capital : Brasilia

Largest City: São Paulo,

Rio de Janeiro, Salvador

Motto: Motto:  Ordem e Progresso   "Order and Progress"

Some facts about Brazil

• Brazil is the worlds largest exporter of coffee
• Brazil is one of the worlds most bio-diverse countries. It is estimated to have about 4 million plant and animals species
• Brazil has the worlds longest stretch of continuous coastline, 4655 miles
• Brazil’s national dish is feijoada which is a black bean stew with dried, salted and smoked meat
• Brazil was the first country to accept women in their armed forces
• The most popular name in Brazil is Silva
• The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. To say hello you say ‘Olá’.

Population (216, 263,380): one of the most populated countries in the world.

President Jair Bolsonaro , since 1 January 2019

Some facts about Brazil

You can all agree that Brazil is a country that everyone should visit once in a lifetime. Brazil is a huge country of 8.5 million square km, so expect a lot of diverse places. Of course,  Rio de Janeiro  and  Sao Paulo  are top of the priorities for a good reason. The city of  Christ the Redeemer  is a cultural hub with some of the biggest attractions in the world such as  NP Tijuca ,  Copacabana Beach  and more. On the other hand, the most populous city of Brazil is still growing with popularity offering a lively atmosphere and a huge cultural background which you can discover in numerous great museums.

The capital city,  Brasilia , is another important business and tourist centre. Here you can enjoy numerous festivities throughout the year and a rich schedule of performances, concerts and traditional events. 

Brazil is the homeland of many prominent figures from various fields. Pele, Guga, Paulo Colho, Oscar Schmidt, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are just a few of the famous Brazilians who have made the world proud with their exceptional work.

Paulo Coelho de Souza   (born 24 August 1947) is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2002. His novel  The Alchemist  became an international best-seller and he has published 28 more books since then .

Manuel Dias de Abreu  (January 4, 1894 – January 30, 1962) was a Brazilian physician and scientist, the inventor of abreugraphy, a rapid radiography of the lungs for screening tuberculosis. He is considered one of the most important Brazilian physicians

Alberto Santos-Dumont

Known as the Father of Aviation in Brazil

He was a Brazilian aviator and inventor, who was one of world’s most famous people during the 20th century

Famous Personalities

Amazing Brazilian Cuisine

brigadeiros

Farofa

Brazilian cuisine is a combination of various influences such as European, African and Asian. Brazilian cuisine is very distinctive and inevitable part of experiencing the country. Here are the most popular national dishes one must try:

• Açaí  – You probably heard about the super-food açaí fruit that can be combined with other fruits, granola or similar. This is a very popular food in coastal cities which can be found on every corner.
• Brigadeiros – This is a Brazilian version of chocolate truffle which can be topped with sprinkles, white chocolate and filled with various fillings.
• Empada  – These snacks can be found as street food in Brazil. They are usually made of chicken, cream cheese, peas and corn. Other meat can be used instead of chicken. 
• Farofa  – This is a unique dish that combines fried tapioca flour with fried bacon, rice and beans. The dish is very mushy and is served as a side or main dish.
• Pao de Queijo  – This is actually a cheese bread with a long tradition of making. They are made of cassava flour and  queijo Minas , a Brazilian type of cheese.

Brazil is also a dream country for all  coffee lovers . This country produces one-third of the world’s coffee. As a leading grower and exporter of coffee beans, Brazilian coffee is known for its distinctive taste and quality.

Brazilian Families

• Brazilian families tend to be tight-knit, warm, and loving. They generally enjoy each other’s company and prefer spending time together than privately.
• In Brazilian culture, men are usually allowed more freedom than women. In general, Brazilian boys and girls are raised under some traditional gender distinctions.
• Household tasks have traditionally been “women’s jobs” (washing, ironing, everyday cooking and the dishes, as well as general house cleaning, dusting, floor scrubbing, sewing, and mending). Men are usually designated repair tasks (such as fixing the leaking faucets, checking and repairing electrical equipment, and paying bills).

https://www.pexels.com/@mikebirdy

Brazilian Communication

It is not uncommon for women and children to link arms when walking and men may use both hands to shake hands to add warmth and sincerity to their greeting.

• Brazilians favor an indirect communication style, even though they are generally open with their feelings. Despite how expressive and emotive they may seem in conversation, they tend to avoid being too direct to avoid confrontation.
• They are passionate speakers and often speak loudly to express their interest in a topic. In conversation, they often use physical contact with each other to emphasize meaning. Personal space is smaller in Brazilian culture than in others; Brazilians stand close to one another while speaking. Some foreigners can find it a culture shock when Brazilians leave little distance when talking.

Brazilian Holidays

Most Brazilian holidays are primarily religious Catholic events. Brazil's most famous celebration, Carnaval, storms through the country's cities and towns 

• Carnaval is a five-day festival, the most famous holiday in Brazil. The largest parades take place in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Teams called “Samba schools” prepare dances, floats, and elaborate costumes. It is a popular time to go to the beach or to dance clubs.
• Zumbi Day : Brazilians of African descent commemorate November 20th in honor of the death of Zumbi, an important African resistance leader from the 17th century. He died while leading a large group of slaves in an attack against a plantation.

Brazilian stereotypes : football

Brazilians tend to be deeply passionate about football .

Regional teams come with a fiercely loyal fan base and playing football – especially in cities with an outdoor lifestyle such as Rio de Janeiro – is a popular pastime. However, not everyone is into football as outsiders may think, some people simply are not interested in the sport. 

MARACANA STADIUM

Brazilian stereotypes : football

Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Pele, Neymar… There is hardly a person in the world who hasn’t heard about these names. These legends contributed to what we consider today a  Brazilian football . No doubt that football is the  most popular sport  in this country which is the only one that participated in every  World Cup  competition ever held. Football is simply part of the Brazilian culture and every bigger football game is viewed no matter the circumstances, even if that means skipping your work that day. All celebrations related to football are generous and done with passion. If you find yourself in Brazil during such a celebration, you will surely have a great time.

Brazilian stereotypes: favelas

Rio de Janeiro, as well as other cities, do have favelas. The actual percentage of the population that lives in favelas is 6%. Although that still equates to approximately 11 million people, it is a far cry from the misconception that the majority of the city is made up of favelas. Favelas themselves fit into a typical stereotype of poverty-stricken, violent, pitiful places when in fact many have been pacified and are made up of a strong, close-knit community.

Brazilian stereotypes: samba

In Brazil, music is everywhere. Samba lies at the soul of Brazilian music, representing the country unlike any other genre. Dancing to samba requires skill and fluidity of a series of complex footwork that is tapped out at extraordinary speeds, resulting in a sensual, trance-inducing dance. While many Brazilians may know a few dance moves, not everyone can dance to samba; nor is it the dance that everyone gets down to at parties. Western dance music, rap, rock and electronic music are also very popular at raves, concerts, shows and clubs.

Brazilian stereotypes: “Brazilian” language

Brazilian as a language is  not  a language. Brazilians also don’t speak Spanish; nor is it a second language. Brazil’s official language is Portuguese, and although some guidebooks may even state that Spanish is widely spoken, it simply isn’t true.

Portuguese and Spanish share strong linguistic similarities in terms of grammar and vocabulary, yet they are still very separate languages, and the differences are evident among native speakers.

-Meeting and Greeting

-Eating

Brazilian Etiquette

• Shaking hands has become a more acceptable way of greeting someone, but don't be surprised if you are kissed on the cheek once (in São Paulo) or twice (in Rio and elsewhere), even when greeting someone to whom you have just been introduced.
• Men do not kiss each other, but greet with an open hug, using one hand to shake hands and the other to grab the man by the shoulder. These greetings are not only used between good friends and family members but are also quite common between business acquaintances.

• Some foods that may seem appropriate to be eaten and handled with fingers are not. Typically, people use napkins or toothpicks to pick up food.
• Brazilians often tend to eat quietly. Burping and making noise with plates and cutlery is considered to be poor etiquette.
• Brazilians tend to finish all the food they put on their plate. Taking more food than one can eat and leaving unfinished food on one’s plate is considered impolite, suggesting that the person did not enjoy the food.
• It is common to have a second serving.
• When eating out in a restaurant, often people will lift their hand and motion for the waiter to come to them.

Brazilian Etiquette

Visiting

Since Brazilians are generally easy going, the etiquette for visiting their home is quite casual and relaxed.

• It is considered to be impolite to arrive on the designated time. If invited to a Brazilian household, come no earlier than 15-30 minutes after the designated time.
• If you are offered a complimentary cup of ‘ cafezinho ’ (‘black coffee’), accept it unless you have a good reason to refuse. In Brazil, coffee is a symbol of hospitality and is widely consumed. Likewise, offer cafezinho to anyone who visits your home if it is possible.
• The purpose of dinner invitations or parties is primarily for socialising. In turn, people are not normally hasty to leave. Such invitations usually include time for conversing before, during and after the meal. Typically, guests will not leave before dessert and a cafezinho have been served.

Brazilian Etiquette

Gift Giving

• Small gifts such as a chocolate bar are often given as a symbolic gesture of appreciation towards someone who does a favour.
• If invited into a Brazilian home, bringing flowers or a small gift for the hostess is a good gesture of appreciation. A gift for the hostess’ children will also be greatly appreciated.
• Flowers can be sent before or after a visit to someone’s home. Orchids are considered a nice gift.
• Wrapping gifts in vibrant colours will be appreciated, particularly if it is in the national colours of yellow and green.
• Gifts that are sharp such as knives or scissors refer to an intention to ‘sever’ ties with someone. Thus, avoid giving gifts that may be interpreted as a cutting of connections.
• Avoid giving practical gifts such as wallets, keychains or perfume. These are considered to be too personal.
• Avoid giving gifts wrapped in purple or that are purple, such as purple orchids. The colour purple is associated with mourning.

Brazilian body language and gestures

Brazilian people are open and friendly. They often use hand gestures in communication .

• In a marketplace, if a vendor holds his hand out, fingers extended and flips the thumb back and forth it merely means, ‘There isn’t any left; I don’t have any more.’
• People in Brazil will also shake hands when arriving and departing. There may also be a touching of the forearm or elbow, and often a pat on the back.
• If you are conducting business, be certain to bring a plentiful supply of business cards because these are always exchanged. Also, during business meetings expect to be served (often) small cups of very strong coffee.
• Since this is more of a touching society, people stand close together when conversing or when standing in lines.
• To add emphasis to a statement, a Brazilian may snap the fingers while whipping the hand down own and out.
• To express appreciation, a Brazilian may appear to pinch his earlobe between thumb and forefinger. For example, if you’ve enjoyed a meal this gesture may be used. Among Brazilians, to dramatize it even further, they will reach behind the head and grasp the opposite earlobe.
• You may think they are blowing you a kiss, but when Brazilians bring their hand towards their mouths and kiss the tips of their fingers, then expand the fingers in an outward motion, it merely means that – probably the meal – was delicious.

Brazilian body language and gestures

• There are many common friendly gestures in Brazil. One is the thumbs up gesture, which is also popular in America. In Brazil it is meant to mean “good” or “positive.”

• When two people are close to each other, they will show it by rubbing two index fingers together.

• Making a hand movement that traces an imaginary horizontal line right above the line of their eyes means that person is fed up or does not have any more patience.

• Sometimes nonverbal communication can be very different than what is expected in other countries. One example is the “O.K.” symbol one can make with their hands. It is regarded as just meaning “O.K.” in the American culture. In Brazil however, this is seen as a very obscene gesture. It is equivalent to giving the middle finger in America. This is seen as one of the rudest gestures you can make in Brazil and should always be avoided.

Brazilian body language and gestures

• Another obscene hand gesture is called the “corna” which historically means “your wife is cheating on you.” It is popular in Brazil and is often used when disagreeing with a football referee and it looks just like the “rock on” american gesture.
• One gesture that is also used is one to say “screw you.” It consists of making a fist with one hand and slapping it on top of the other hand once or twice. It is used commonly around Brazilian friends but can be rude if used any other time.

• A very unique body language in Brazil is the “figa”, represented by inserting the thumb between the middle and index finger. This gesture is supposed to keep away pain, suffering and envy and it is an amulet that protects against the “evil-eye.”

• The “dar uma banana” or “give a banana” gesture in Brazil is an extremely offensive and rude gesture and it consists of bending the right arm at the elbow with the hand as a fist while making a chopping movement with the left arm towards the right elbow as in a forearm jerk. This gesture is also used on other countries of Latin America, in France and Italy with different names, of course. It is the equivalent of giving someone the finger.

Welcome to my country. It one of the world's most captivating places, Brazil is a country of powdery white-sand beaches, verdant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises, with its attractions extending to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and coral-fringed tropical islands. And it is a country of the warmest people in the world, eager to communicate and curious about others.

The magic of Brazil comes certainly from its landscapes, its fauna and its extraordinarily rich flora, but also from its inhabitants. They are the ones who create the relaxed yet joyful atmosphere of the country and give a unique flavor to a stay in Brazil.

This Presentation is Prepared by

Liliya Shakirova