35 Interesting Facts About Brazilian Culture That Will Blow Your Mind

Brazil is a country in South America with its capital in Brasilia.

Brazil, the fifth-largest country on our planet (as per area), is also the largest country in South America and Latin America. It ranks sixth as the most populous country globally, São Paulo being the most populated of all Brazilian cities.

Brazil occupies a significant chunk of the South American landmass. Situated along South America's eastern coast, Brazil shares land borders with every country on the continent except Chile and Ecuador.

The Brazilian landscape is pretty diverse, and the country is world-famous for its dense Amazon jungles. In fact, most of northern Brazil is occupied by the Amazon river basin and vast swathes of tropical forests. Besides, there are rugged hills, dry grasslands called pampas, plateaus, wetlands, and long coastal stretches.

Back in the 15th century, during the Portuguese and Spanish explorations, Brazil found a place on the world map. The first Portuguese colony was established in Brazil in 1530.

Soon, the abundance of natural gold reserves in the country's interior attracted thousands of Europeans to Brazil. Even slaves from West Africa were brought to work in the gold mines and sugar cane plantations that the European settlers had created along the coast.

In 1789, people in colonial Brazil started a rebellion against the foreigners, which took the form of an independence movement.

Brazil was a sovereign nation by 1822, and on November 15, 1888, Brazil became a federal republic. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese.

Facts about Brazil get more interesting. Read on to learn all about the culture of this vibrant country in South America!

If you like reading Brazil facts, why not explore more of the world with facts about Belarus and facts about Botswana?

Brazil Culture And Traditions

Most Brazilian people have descended from three ethnic groups: Africans, Amerindians, and European settlers (mainly Portuguese). The ethnic mix was further enriched with immigrants from the Middle East, Europe, and Japan from the 19th century onwards. Hence, the modern Brazilian way of life is a fusion of diverse cultures and traditions.

Due to Brazil's close colonial association with the Portuguese empire, Portuguese culture occupies a core share of Brazilian society. Brazil is internationally known for its local celebrations and traditions, such as the Brazilian carnival and the sport of capoeira.

The traditional annual Brazilian carnival is known for its extravagance, marked by fancy parades and exotic dancers in glittery costumes throughout the city streets. In fact, the cities of Salvador and Rio de Janeiro are particularly famous for their carnival parades. Brazilian music is also an integral part of Brazilian culture.

The samba is one of the most famous Brazilian music genres, with its roots in the Afro-Brazilian communities of early 20th-century Rio de Janeiro. Samba schools, community-based clubs that plan and stage samba parades during the carnival, are mostly based in Rio de Janeiro and form an integral part of Brazil's cultural landscape.

Capoeira is a famous Brazilian form of martial arts with dance, folk music, and acrobatics that was practiced by African slaves in the 16th century.

The Brazilians' devotion to the sport of football needs no introduction. It is the most popular sport in the country, with Brazil's national football team featuring among the best in the FIFA World Rankings.

Literature and cinema are also intricately entwined with Brazilian culture. Brazilian literature has its origins in the 16th century, when Portuguese explorers such as Pêro Vaz de Caminh wrote elaborately about Brazil's indigenous population and natural wealth. Since then, the country has produced significant literary works in Romanticism, Indianism, Brazilian Modernism, and Post-Modernism.

The film industry in Brazil began in the latter part of the 19th century and has prominent directors and releases to its name. Notable film festivals in Brazil include the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo international film festivals and the Gramado festival.

A landmark 20th-century cultural movement in Brazil was the Tropicália. The movement encompasses film, music, the visual arts, and theater. Besides celebrating the people and culture of Brazil, Tropicália was a protest movement against the repressive military dictatorship in Brazil.

Another interesting fact about the country's culture is that family plays a significant role in every Brazilian's life. Brazilians accord great importance to family values, being committed to one's family, and helping family members whenever asked for. The Brazilian family structure is very different from the concept of a nuclear family.

Moreover, frequent interaction with one's extended family is pretty standard in Brazil. Also, did you know that the 'O.K.' sign is considered rude in Brazil?

Brazil Food Facts

The influence of immigrant and indigenous populations is strongly reflected in Brazilian cuisine. Just like the country itself, the food in Brazil is colorful, vibrant, and diverse.

The food in Brazil has been strongly influenced by Portuguese, African, European, South American, and Asian cuisines. A typical Brazilian meal usually comprises rice, beans with French fries, salad, beef, and a fried egg.

The national dish of Brazil is feijoada, a hearty and delicious stew made with black beans, pork, and rice. Also, Brazil has its own native liquor known as cachaça. It's made out of distilled sugar cane and is a primary ingredient in Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail. Brazil also has a national beverage, which is coffee!

Among other popular regional Brazilian foods is the Moqueca, a fish stew served in clay pots. Picanha, a cut of beef, is popular in Brazil and is one of the main highlights of any Brazilian barbecue.

Pão de Queijo is a delicious cheese bread with origins in Minas Gerais, a state in southeastern Brazil. These are light, fluffy rolls made from a dough of cassava flour and a Brazilian soft cheese known as queijo minas or Minas cheese.

Some other popular snacks in Brazil include fried pastries called pastel, a dish of corn and milk paste called pamonha, coxinha, a variation of chicken croquette, and empanada, a pastry from Spanish cuisine. In case you are wondering if Brazilians have a sweet tooth, their dessert menu is quite impressive as well!

Some of the top Brazilian sweet dishes include chocolate fudge balls (brigadeiros), sugary coconut truffles topped with a clove (beijinhos), and a type of coconut confectionery known as cocada.

Festivals In Brazil

Like most other things in Brazil, its festivals are a reflection of the diverse cultures and communities that make up the country's population.

The cultural diversity of Brazil has led to the development of a medley of religions, beliefs, dialects, and festivals throughout the country. It is no wonder that the unique festivals of Brazil are an excellent opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of the country.

One of the best-known festivals in Brazil is the Brazilian carnival. Held between February and March, the festivities mark the beginning of Lent, the 40 days preceding Easter.

The celebration of the carnival shows the strong influence of Roman Catholicism on Brazil's culture. The cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are carnival hotspots where samba parades attract throngs of visitors every year.

Another key religious festival in the Afro-Brazilian calendar is the Festa de Iemanjá. Although the festival is celebrated throughout coastal Brazil, it is especially prominent in Salvador. At this festival, people of the Umbanda and Candomblé religions pay reverence to Iemanjá, the African goddess of the sea.

Bumba Meu Boi, a festival marked by dance, music, theatrical performances, and parades, is prominent in Brazil's north and northeastern parts. Celebrated during June and July, Bumba Meu Boi has its roots in ancient Brazilian folklore.

If there is any Brazilian festival more important than the carnival, it is the Festa Junina. Celebrated across most of Brazil in June, Festa Junina has its links to the Catholic church. Today, it is widely celebrated in Brazil and is marked by foods, drinks, traditional songs, and the Quadrilha dance.

Another prominent Brazilian celebration is the Festival Folclórico de Parintins. While quite similar to the Brazilian carnival, a unique aspect of the festivities is the folk representation of two oxen in dispute. Yet another Brazilian festivity that needs a mention is the Festival da Cachaça, an event celebrating the native alcoholic beverage Cachaça with the accompaniment of music.

Brazil Art Facts

Brazilian art is a unique combination of ancient native and contemporary cultures.

The earliest Brazilian artworks were mainly reflections of the lifestyle and ways of the country's indigenous people. However, what is known today as Brazilian visual art emerged in the late 16th century, and most of it was influenced by European styles.

The influence of the Baroque style, imported from Portugal, is most evident in Brazilian paintings created between the 17th and 18th centuries. Neoclassicism, Rococo, Realism, Romanticism, Expressionism, Modernism, and other art movements also significantly impacted Brazilian art. The result was the development of a major style form known as Brazilian academic art.

With the establishment of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro by King João VI, many new artistic movements spread across Brazil during the 19th century. A landmark event that spurred the beginning of Brazilian modernism was the Modern Art Week, an art festival held in 1922 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Some prominent names in the Brazilian art world are Manuel da Costa Ataíde, Ricardo do Pilar, Pedro Américo, Victor Meirelles, and Anita Malfatti.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about Brazil culture, then why not take a look at facts about Dublin, or facts about Guyana.