Posts under Customs

Brazilian Etiquette: Visiting

Posted by Rachel
Apr
7
2009

Today, we’re going to return to the Brazilian etiquette series to learn about manners in Brazil. We’re going to look at visiting, as well as socializing and exchanging gifts. Remember that it’s just as important to be aware of etiquette as it is to learn the language!

  • When invited to a small gathering, arrive a half an hour late.
  • When invited to a party or larger gathering, arrive an hour late.
  • When invited for a formal visit, bring a small gift or flowers, or send flowers the next day.
  • If you decide to pay a friend an informal visit, call ahead.
  • Avoid purple flowers, since they are used for funerals.
  • When giving gifts, try to avoid things that are purple or black (which represent mourning).
  • Do not give handkerchiefs as gifts, since they are associated with funerals and weeping.
  • Liquor, books, and nice pens are appropriate gifts.
  • When giving gifts, also give them to children.
  • It is ok to give perfume to a woman.
  • Women should be careful about giving gifts to male co-workers or clients.
  • In conversation, avoid personal topics like a person’s salary or his age.
  • Avoid discussing the topics of religion, Argentina, the Amazon, the social class system, and politics.
  • Bring up soccer, Brazilian culture (music, dance, etc), family and places you’ve been in Brazil in conversation.
  • Always talk about how much you enjoy Brazil. Avoid criticizing Brazil in conversation.
  • Greet someone by shaking their hand (when greeting a man) or giving one or two kisses on the cheek (when greeting a woman). Make sure you repeat these actions when saying goodbye.
  • Make sure to greet and bid farewell to everyone present, especially at smaller gatherings.
 
Posted under Culture, Customs
Tagged with , , , , , 		1 Comment | Post a Comment

Brazilian Etiquette: Table Manners

Posted by Rachel
Mar
12
2009

When learning a language, it’s just as important to learn about the culture so that you can apply your language skills in a respectful way. In this new series, we’re going to look at etiquette in Brazil to learn about basic customs. Today, we’re going to learn about table manners.

  • Do not talk with food in your mouth. It is considered extremely rude.
  • Try not to make noise when eating, as it may make people around you uncomfortable.
  • In more formal settings, do not place your elbows on the table.
  • It’s common to say “bom apetite” before you begin to eat.
  • Use the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand.
  • Use your utensils for all types of food, even pizza, sandwiches, and French fries. Food is very rarely eaten with bare hands, since it is considered unhygienic to do so.
  • If you do decide to eat food with your hands, wrap it in a napkin so your fingers aren’t touching it.
  • Do not cut with your fork, and be sure to rest the utensils on your plate if not using them.
  • After every sip you take of your drink, wipe your mouth on your napkin. If you forget, at least try to wipe your mouth several times throughout the meal.
  • Keep both hands above the table.
  • Do not drink directly from a bottle or a can. Always pour your drink into a glass.
  • When offered food, say “yes, thank you,” or offer a polite excuse as to not offend the person.
  • Absolutely never belch at the table, and be subtle about sneezing and coughing (be sure to cover your face with your hands). If you have to blow your nose, leave the table and go to the bathroom.
  • Toothpicks can be used at the table, but behind your hand or a napkin.
 
Posted under Customs
Tagged with , , , , 		3 Comments | Post a Comment

Carnival in Brazil: Rio de Janeiro

Posted by Rachel
Feb
26
2009

Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is the best known worldwide. Though the most famous part is the Sambodrome parade, the blocos (street parades) are also the mainstay of Rio’s Carnival.

Over two nights, twelve samba schools parade down the avenue in the Sambodrome for 82 minutes. Judges analyze a number of aspects about each school, including costumes, song, theme, timing, and dancers. Each school picks a different theme and writes a samba to accompany the theme, along with enormous floats and intricate costumes. This year, Salgueiro took the big prize for best school of the year, while Imperio Serrano, which came in last place, will be moved down to the second division of samba schools. Blocos are very popular during Carnival, when groups of musicians and drummers march through the streets or stand on flat bed trucks singing, as revelers follow them through the streets.

This year, there were plenty of newsworthy stories. Before Carnival began, there was an international samba event, when dancers from all over the world came together to show off their samba skills. There was also a pet parade in Copacabana before the famous parades in the Sambodrome. This year, the samba school Grande Rio did a French theme, and dancers from Paris’ Moulin Rouge came to perform in the parade. The city mayor tried to exert control over the city during the Carnival chaos, while thousands took to the streets to attend the blocos. The Bola Preta bloco attracted the biggest crowd, with about a million people in attendance. The two parades of Special Group samba schools went on in all its glory, despite the economic crisis, with elaborate and creative costumes and floats. President Lula attended the first night, the first Brazilian president in fifteen years to do so.

 
Posted under Customs, Entertainment, Holidays
Tagged with , , , 		1 Comment | Post a Comment

Carnival in Brazil: Salvador

Posted by Rachel
Feb
25
2009

This week, we’re looking at the different Carnival celebrations in Brazil. Today, we’re going to look at Carnival in Salvador, in the northern state of Bahia.

Salvador’s Carnival is one of the largest outdoor celebrations in the world, attracting nearly three million people every year for the six day festival. In this city, huge crowds follow the trio elétrico, a group of musicians on top of a large truck that winds through the streets. People also sit in the grandstands and watch the trios parade.

The trio was first seen in 1929, when singer Dodô performed on top of a Ford. Today, large, open bed trucks are used.

Salvador is famous for several types of music including axé, an upbeat, frenetic genre and samba reggae, a mixture of African percussion, samba, and reggae. Today, the most famous performers who dominate the trios are Daniela Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, Claudia Leitte, Chiclete com Banana, and Olodum. There are also blocos afros, bands of people dressed in traditional African costumes playing percussion music in the streets.

New from this year’s Carnival in Salvador:

Daniela Mercury falls during show

Chiclete com Banana singer called Barack Bell

Photos from trios in 2009

Listen to this year’s Carnival songs from Salvador

 
Posted under Culture, Customs, Entertainment, Holidays
Tagged with , , 		0 Comments | Post a Comment

Carnival in Brazil: São Paulo

Posted by Rachel
Feb
24
2009

This week, we’re looking at different Carnival celebrations throughout Brazil. Today, we’re going to look at Carnival in São Paulo.

Carnival in São Paulo is very similar to Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Percussion bands leading parades of revelers through the streets called blocos are common, which began in the early 1900s.

Samba schools first originated in the 1950s, many of which were composed of migrants from the countryside when the coffee industry went into decline. Samba schools are made up of composers, singers, dancers and percussionists that perform samba during Carnival. One unique thing about these schools is that several of them originated from soccer fan clubs, like the Gavioes.

Now, São Paulo’s samba schools perform in the Anhembi Sambodrome, designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. There, they compete for the honor of best school. Fourteen of the premier schools compete over two nights, the Friday and Saturday before Ash Wednesday. There are two hundred samba schools and blocos in São Paulo city. Vai-Vai is the city champion with 13 wins.

News from this year’s Carnival in SP:

Fifty year-old woman tries to break world’s record for samba school performances

Candomble leaders pray for spiritual protection in the Sambodrome

Expositions open to document the history of Carnival in Sao Paulo

Samba schools and blocos complain about city funding

 
Posted under Culture, Customs, Entertainment
Tagged with , , 		1 Comment | Post a Comment