Posts tagged with "Customs"

Carnaval 2011 Countdown – Chiclete com Banana

Posted by polyana No Comments
Feb 7 2011

Carnaval is in five weeks!  In exactly one month, I hope to be dancing in the streets of Olinda, Pernambuco for their traditional Carnaval festivities, and I can’t wait to share it with you all! Do any of you have plans for Carnaval this year?

For my next posts until Carnaval, I’ll be posting different songs from different Carnaval celebrations in Brazil.  Each region tends to have different styles of music or ways to celebrate, but one thing is universal: to dance and be happy!

One of the most famous blocos in Salavador’s Carnaval parades is Chiclete com Banana’s, and having seen them live before, I can understand why.  This song is supposed to be their signature hit for 2011′s Carnaval in Salvador which is why I couldn’t find a live version and there’s a creepy picture of the singer on the video.

YouTube Preview Image

Não me Lembro de ti, mas já sinto saudade
Guardei meu coração, estou curado desse amor
Já me lembro de ti, já nem sinto saudade
Guardei meu coração, estou curado desse amor

Quem sabe um dia você vai me entender
Meus olhos secos como pedras pelo chão
Conchas vazias vem rolando com o mar
Trazendo o frio em forma de solidão
Ai quem me dera esse amor tão estrangeiro
Tão cobiçado pela fúria do prazer
Já tenho a Rosa entre todas margaridas
Já quis você pra nunca esquecer

Refrão: Chorarei amor quando preciso for,
Morrerei de saudade junto com a felicidade
que o vento levou,
Ô Amor…

Quem sabe um dia você vai me entender
Meus olhos secos como pedras pelo chão
Conchas vazias vem rolando com o mar
Trazendo o frio em forma de solidão
Ai quem me dera esse amor tão estrangeiro
Tão cobiçado pela fúria do prazer
Já tenho a Rosa entre todas margaridas
Só quis você pra nunca esquecer

Refrão…

But if you want to see what they’re like live – here’s another one they’ll definitely be playing in Salvador this year!

YouTube Preview Image

Você quer Chiclete no Carnaval?!

Brazilian Reveillon Traditions, Part II

Posted by polyana 1 Comment
Dec 30 2010

Yesterday I wrote a post on Brazilian traditions on what to wear for the New Year.  I also mentioned how we have all sorts of superstitions and that I would share that with you all today!  For many Brazilians, what you wear, eat, drink and do at midnight or around that time, determine how your next year is going to be.  I’m not usually a very superstitious person, but this year’s New Year’s party is going to be na minha casa, and I like to play around with these kinds of traditions.  So here goes the rest of the tradições e simpatias do reveillon brasileiro:

O que comer:


- Lentilhas, or lentils, are eaten in various forms (soup, sala, with rice & meat) in order for your next year to be financially successful!!

- Carne de Porco – It’s uncommon for anyone to eat any poultry on new year’s eve here because chickens & turkeys kick back their legs to walk and pigs walk forward.  This is simbolic of the way the year will be – walking forward or moving backwards!

- Uvas & Romã – Eating grapes or pomegranate right after midnight and keeping 12 seeds and putting them in your wallet.  This also attracts more $$!

O que beber:


- Champagne & Vinho – Like with eating grapes, champagne and wine are made of grapes, so why not, right?!

O que fazer:

- Limpar a casa – Cleaning your home, taking out and donating all things you don’t use, and are overall superfluous is a good way to start the new year with no bad energy.  Catholics will also sometimes sprinkle holy water on doors and/or door handles.  Oh, change your sheets too!

- Pular Ondas – A tradition that stems from Candomblé and Umbanda, African inspired religions, if you’re at the beach, many will jump over 7 waves and make a wish on each hop for the year to come.  This is supposed to bring good vibrations your way all year long!

- Poem o pé direito no chão – Another superstitions actually quite literal.  At midnight, if you lift your left foot, you start the year off on the right foot ;-) . This is usually done with a glass of champagne in hand and hopping 3 times.  Hopping up a step on just your right foot also gives you a leg up!! (ok, I’ll stop with the cheesiness now)

I’m sure there are more I haven’t listed, but these are the most common ones I’ve heard of (or tried!).  Can you think of any others?  Do you think you’ll try out some Brazilian traditions to bring you luck in 2011?

Hope you all have a Feliz Ano Novo!

É, Carnaval!

Posted by polyana No Comments
Feb 12 2010

When most people think of Carnaval in Brazil, they think about the big parades in Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo with their decorated floats, gorgeous women dancing samba and adorned in [just] glitter, and percussion bands.  Others also think of the carnaval street parades in Bahia where the biggest Axé stars parade around in floats with their bands and screaming and dancing party-goers are at their sides for days on end.

What most people don’t know is, Brazilians still celebrate to this day, the most original form of carnaval, the carnaval de rua – literally “street carnaval.”  These festivities usually last from the Friday-Tuesday before Ash Wednesday of every year.

Many small towns in the Northeast, such as Recife, and Ouro  Preto in Minas Gerais are famous for their carnavais de rua where they parade around in blocos.  There are bands and parades and costumes but the people who make them come alive are the carnaval goers themselves!  Many other smaller towns in the interior, or countryside all over the country celebrate carnaval this way, and this year I’m going to join in on the folia!!

Some Carnaval vocabulary:

- Escola de Samba – Samba school – the organizations that put together individual parades in Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo

- Bloco carnavalesco – A group of people who parade during Carnaval in a semi-organized fashion, usually wearing the same costume

- Carro alegórico – Carnaval floats

- Sambódromo – Architectural space where Carnaval parades are held.  Usually made up of stands and catwalk-type space for the parade

- Abadá – costume carnaval goers purchase in order to take place in blocos carnavalescos

Hope you all have a wonderful Carnaval!!

Brazilian Etiquette: Table Manners

Posted by Rachel 7 Comments
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.
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