The Brazilian culture, a reflection of the social Melting pot

Culture is one of the first things that people think of when we speak about Brazil. In fact, the Brazilian culture is really diverse and varied. This multiculturalism comes from three centuries of colonization by the Portugal, and the immigration of Italian, German, Japanese and Arabs in the late 19 th and 20th centuries. Despite of this heterogeneity, tolerance and assimilation are at the basis of the Brazilian culture. Cultural events in Brazil, like the Brazilian Carnival, reflect this tolerance and the Brazilian Melting pot, where different cultures become homogeneous.

The Brazilian Carnival, symbol of the Brazilian Melting pot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Samba_school_parades_2004.jpg

The Portuguese culture remains at the basis of the Brazilian culture. For example, while many regional languages like German and Italian are spoken in Brazil, Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.

One can find marks of this Portuguese inheritance through the culture; the Hofstede indicators show that even today the Brazilian culture has many similarities with the Portuguese culture, regarding to the Power Distance (69/63) and Individualism (38/27) scores especially. Concerning Masculinity (49/31), Uncertainty Avoidance (76/99) and Pragmatism (44/28), the figures aren’t exactly the same, but remain globally similar.

This cultural inheritance is present in many domains, including architecture. The Neo-Manueline was for example a popular architectural style developed by the Portugal in the 19th century that we can find in many Brazilian monuments, like the Real Gabinete Portuguez de Leitura, in Rio de Janeiro:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RealGabinetePortuguesLeitura.jpg

The influence of Portugal is also present through the organization of cities, with churches and market stalls in central places.

In Brazil, multiculturalism is a synonym of tolerance. Even if the Portuguese influence is predominant, all other cultures are accepted and respected in Brazil.

Tips for a Foreigner in Brazil

Integration is a very important word in the Brazilian culture. Racism is severely punished. Foreigner must also show respect in front of the indigenous inheritance of Brazil.

Spanish isn’t spoken in Brazil. Brazilian don’t want to be assimilated with countries like Mexico and Cuba, where cultures are different.

Brazilians like when the foreigners know and understand their culture and history. For example, Brazilians dislike when people think that Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Brazil, instead of Brasilia.

Celebrations and Carnivals

The Brazilian Carnivals are really known around the world. Multiculturalism can be considered as the ground of these events, where many cultures are mixed.

During Carnivals, people share their joy with others because, despite of their cultural differences, people participate to the same events. This situation shows that Brazil isn’t an individualistic country (only 38% according on the Hofstede Individuality scale).We can also notice that Brazil has a high level of Indulgence (59% according to the Hofstede institute). This means that people have a tendency towards positive attitudes, they want to have fun. It explains that the Brazilian culture is often associated with optimism, laugh and happiness.

http://lisistone.centerblog.net/m/rub-1j-carnaval-de-rio-.html?ii=1

Carnival takes place in Brazil from the Friday to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The Brazilian Carnival is present in many places in Brazil, but is particularly important in Rio, Olinda and Salvador.

Even if February is the most active season for festivities, other events take place in Brazil during the year. Some of them are related to religion, like the Lavagem do Bonfim in Salvador. During this syncretic celebration, which takes place in the beginning of January, the steps of the church of Bonfrim are washed. After this, a night is dedicated to music and dance.



http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/ss/Washing-of-Bonfim.htm

Music is also a part of the Brazilian culture, and is very present during celebrations. The Music of Brazil is a reflection of the Brazilian Culture in general, because many various regional styles are present. The Brazilian Music has also been influenced by the European and African Music, but Brazil has developed its proper styles, like Bossa Nova and Samba. Samba is particularly known around the world, because this music genre is associated to the Brazilian Carnival.

Visual arts are also part of the Brazilian culture. Cinema is too a tradition in Brazil: the Brazilian Film Festival takes place each year, and presents the last Brazilian movies.

Tips for a foreigner in Brazil
Keep in mind that Carnival isn’t every day in Brazil. There are many festive events around the year, but there is no daily spectacle!

“O País do Futebol”

Football is probably the best discussion topic, especially for men, in Brazil. It is by far the most popular sport in Brazil and every Brazilian can tell you how and where he lived the 5-times that the Seleção won the FIFA Worldcup (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002).After Brazil fell to an all-time low position of 22nd place in the FIFA Nations Ranking in 2012 they are looking stronger now (currently 9th place) a couple month before theWorldcup 2014 will come to the country. Even if there are controversial discussion in Brazilian society about the Worldcup taking place and the money being spent on new sports infrastructure, most of the Brazilians are looking forward to the event and hope for the long awaited triumph after 2002 in South Korea.

However next to the national team also the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the national league where clubs from Brazilian cities play the whole year for the championship, is intensively followed by many Brazilians. The most successful and popular clubs are located in Rio de Janeiro (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminese, Vasco da Gama) and Sao Paolo (Corinthians, Portuguesa,SaoPaolo).

However next to the national team also the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the national league where clubs from Brazilian cities play the whole year for the championship, is intensively followed by many Brazilians. The most successful and popular clubs are located in Rio de Janeiro (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminese, Vasco da Gama) and Sao Paolo (Corinthians, Portuguesa,SaoPaolo).Besides the club Vasco da Gama all of the clubs from Rio de Janeiro play in one of the most famous Estádio do Maracanã in Rio. Constadiums  of  the  world-  thestructed in 1950 the stadium has long time been the biggest stadium of the world with a capacity of 200.000 places. After a complete renovation for the World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016 the number of places was reduced to 73.531.

The winner of the last edition of the Brazilian Football League in 2013 was the  “Cruzeiro Esporte Clube”. Thanks to this win in the League Cruzeiro was able to qualify for the “Copa Libertadores” which is a competition that regroups 38 teams located in South America. It is basically the equivalent to the European Champions League and a very important competition for South American football. There are long rivalries between clubs from Argentina and Brazil and during the last for year the Brazilian clubs dominated the tournament.