BRAZIL

Pedro Baquero

Natalie Menéndez
INTRODUCTION

 Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, both in

geographical area and in population. It is also one of the
nations with the most geographic and cultural diversity on
the planet. Due to this great diversity, Brazil has earned the
nickname of "land of contrasts", a nickname that no other
country in the world can deserve more.
LANGUAGE
 Almost ninety-nine percent of the Brazilian population
speaks Portuguese, was initially introduced in Brazil in the
early 1500s. The Portuguese language spoken by Brazilians
differs a bit from Portuguese spoken in Portugal: grammar,
vocabulary and pronunciation are a little different.
RELIGION

 Roman Catholicism is the predominant religious faith in Brazil and,

although the percentage of Brazilians who identify as Catholics has
declined in recent years, Brazil remains the largest Catholic country in
the world. In Brazil there is a separation of Church and State, the
Constitution grants all citizens freedom of belief and religious
expression. However, there is a very close relationship between the
Catholic Church and the State, as there has been for most of the
country's history. The main Catholic holidays are also public holidays in
Brazil and the inaugurations of public and official buildings are always
presided over by a priest.
CUSTOMS

 It is known that the Brazilian population expresses itself physically and

transmits their feelings through touch instead of words. Some
foreigners could misinterpret this form of expression, as if it were
something of a sexual nature, but Brazilians equate contact with
friendship and with the show of affection. Women often touch more
than men and can greet others with kisses on both cheeks and men also
greet each other with hugs and pats on the back. Brazilians are less
reserved with respect to their body and nudity than most people of
other cultures. Proof of this can be seen in the annual celebration of
Carnival, where artists dress in scant costumes consisting of little cloth
and some feathers, and tiny bikinis,
MUSIC

 The music of Brazil is not considered simply as entertainment if it has

not been called the "soundtrack of national life." Brazil is famous for
giving the world the "samba" and "bossa nova" and the energy of its
music accumulates the influence of the many cultural elements of the
country.
TYPICAL FOOD

 Throughout Brazil there are three main foods: rice, beans and
mandioca. Mandioca is a root crop that is served in two ways.
It can be consumed in the form of flour, sprinkled on rice and
beans, flour sautéed in oil with eggs, onion, olives or several
other ingredients. These three basic foods are often
complemented with meat, either pork or beef, or fish.