Brazil+Culture

A Cultura do Brasil

The culture of Brazil is very diverse. During the colonial period there was a large ethnic and cultural between Native Americans, Portuguese and Africans. Later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Italian, German, Spanish, Arab and Japanese immigrants settled in Brazil and all played an important role in its culture. All of this influence created a multicultural and multi ethnic society. toc = Religious Beliefs =

Christianity is the major religion in Brazil. Over 70% of the people in Brazil declare themselves Roman Catholics. Brazil is the largest country in the world whose predominant religion is Roman Catholicism.

= Education =

Education is divided into three levels, with several grades in each division. Fundamental education is free for everyone (including adults), and mandatory for children between the ages of 6-14. Middle education is also free, but it is not mandatory. Higher education is free at public universi ties.
 * Pre-school: ﻿ ** P re-School education is entirely optional, and exists to aid in the development of children under 6. It aims to assist in all areas of child development, including motor skills, cognitive skills, and social skills while providing fertile ground for the later acquisition of knowledge and learning. There are day nurseries for children under 2, kindergartens for 2-3 year olds, and preschools for children 4 and up. Public pre-schools are provided by city government.


 * Elementary School: ** Fundamental Education is mandatory for children ages 6–14. There are 9 "years". The current "First Year" broadly corresponds to the former Pre-School last year of private institutions, and its aim is to achieve literacy. Generally speaking, the only prerequisite for enrolling in first year is that a child should be 6 years old.

The Federal Council of Education establishes a core curriculum consisting of Portuguese, History, Geography, Science, Mathematics, Arts, and Physical Education. The length of the school year is set by the National Education Bases and Guidelines Law and must be at least 200 days. Fundamental schools must provide students with at least 800 hours of activities per year. The actual school calendar is set by individual schools which, in rural areas, often organize their calendars according to planting and harvesting seasons. = Let's Learn Some Portuguese! = media type="youtube" key="ba4FK75_yA0?fs=1" height="190" width="240" Hello-- Olá Hi- Oi Goodbye Adeus Good morning Bom dia Good afternoon- Boa tarde Good evening- Boa noite Yes--- Sim No--- Não Please Por favor My name is ..- Meu nome é .. What is your name? Como você se chama?

**National Holidays:** = media type="youtube" key="K3mYDwRTALo?fs=1" height="244" width="407" align="right" =
 * **January 1st**– New Year's Day
 * **47 days before Easter** – Carnival
 * **Variable dates** – Good Friday
 * **Variable dates** – Easter
 * **April 21st** – Tiradentes
 * **May 1st**– Labor Day
 * **September 7th** – Independence Day
 * **October 12th** – Our Lady Aparecida (Patron saint of Brazil), also celebrated as Children’s Day
 * **November 2nd**– Finados
 * **November 15th** – Proclamation of the Republic
 * **December 24th**– Christmas Eve
 * **December 25th**– Christmas Day

= Music =

"Brazilian music is full of passion, of sentiment, of joy. It is the result of a long simmering mix of heritage from AmerIndian, Portuguese and African sources meeting global influences to create a magical, mystical music. Wherever you go in Brazil there is always music. Whether it is the poly rhythms from percussion instruments at a street corner or a sophisticated discussion of the current year's Carnival songs, the culture shares a common inspiration through their music" (http://www.carnaval.com/music/samba.htm#).

__**Listen to some Brazilian music here:**__ media type="youtube" key="V5Xktd3xKQE?fs=1" height="151" width="192"

= Food = Brazilian cuisine varies greatly by the region of the culture. This diversity reflects the country's mix of native and immigrants. This has created a national cooking style marked by the preservation of regional differences. Since the colonial period, the **Feijoada** has been the country's national dish. Rice and beans are considered basic foods at a Brazilian table. Feijoada is a black bean stew that also includes several smoked and seasoned pork products such as ham, sausage and fresh pork loin.



Brazil is also the world leader in production of green coffee. Brazil has a variety of candies that are traditionally used for birthdays, like **brigadeiros** and **beijinhos**. Other foods typically consumed in Brazilian parties are Empanadas.

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= Sports =

Football, or soccer, is the most popular Sport in Brazil. Pele, Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho are some of the most famous well-known players in the sport. The Brazilin national football team, Selecao, is ranked the first in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings.



** Want to learn more about Brazil's soccer team? Visit their [|official website!] **


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