Culture

Carnival
It has been said that the year does not start for Brazilians before Carnival is over. Chiquinha Gonzaga composed "Ô Abre Alas", the first song to be written specifically for Carnival, in 1899. But the escolas de samba (Samba School Parades) weren't an integral part of Rio's Carnaval before 1928. They have evolved into an overwhelming experience, with dazzling costumes and thousands of dancers. It is like a giant popular opera, with so much happening,
musically and visually, that you can't possibly take it all in at once.
For four days from Saturday through Tuesday, the country sings and dances in dance halls and clubs, on the streets and beaches, or wherever there are people and music. In cities like Salvador, the celebration may go on for seven or eight days.
The music may be provided by a three-hundred-piece escola-de-samba drum
section, a horn-and-percussion band, or a spontaneous group of people beating cans and bottles. Some wear special outfits for the occasion, some don't. There are clowns, pirates, sheiks, Indians, etc. Women dress in sophisticated costumes or in very little at all— and some body paint.
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Human Heritage
Brazil has 17 natural and cultural sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List, as listed below:
1980 Historic Town of Ouro Preto
1982 Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda
1985 Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia
1985 Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas
1986 Iguaçu National Park
1987 Brasilia
1991 Serra da Capivara National Park
1997 Historic Centre of São Luis
1999 Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina
1999 Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves
1999 Atlantic Forest Southeast Reserves
2000 Pantanal Conservation Area
2000, 2003 Central Amazon Conservation Complex
2001 Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks
2001 Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
2001 Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás.d. Literature
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Literature
The most famous writer in Brazil is Jorge Amado (1912- 2002). Born in Salvador, Amado was an expert on Bahias’ places and typical characters. His novels, particularly successful in the United States, include Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon (1958); The Violent Land (1944), Shepherds of the Night (1964), and Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1966).
Another highlight from the Brazilian Literature is Machado de Assis (1839 - 1908) , the son of a freed slave who became a journalist in the late 19th century. A novelist with great understanding from human relations, who was acclaimed for his five books and many other works, among which the great success, “Dom Casmurro“ in 1899.
Also from the 20th century period, there are other writers to be noted: Erico Veríssimo, Guimarães Rosa, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Clarice Lispector, José Lins do Rêgo, Graciliano Ramos, Cecilia Meireles, Lygia Fagundes Teles, etc.
From the 1990’s, the internationally known best-seller author Paulo Coelho, whose 11 titles have sold over 7 million books only in Brazil. His most famous novel is “The Alchemist” , which has been translated into 56 languages and sold in 150 countries.
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Music
Brazilian music has always been characterized by great diversity and shaped by musical influences from Africa and Portugal and is still developing new and original forms. The samba reached the height of popularity in the 1930s. Its most famous exponent was probably Carmen Miranda, internationally known for diffusing Brazilian music abroad and the first Brazilian artist to have her hands printed in the Walk of Fame. Bossa nova was popular in the 1950s and characterized by songs such as 'The Girl from Ipanema', influenced by North American jazz. Tropicalismo is a mix of musical influences that arrived in Brazil in the 1960s and led to a more blended style of international and national rythms. Popular regional music includes the forró ( “for all”), frevo , both from the Northeast and the chorinho ( from Rio de Janeiro). Some of the well-known performers are: Gilberto Gil, Maria Betânia, Alcione, Roberto Carlos, Ney Matogrosso, Rita Lee, Milton Nascimento, Hermeto Paschoal, Fafá de Belém, Elba Ramalho, Alceu Valença, Djavan, Marisa Monte, Ivan Lins, João Bosco, Cazuza, Luiz Gonzaga, Elis Regina.
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Capoeira
Capoeira emerged as a mixture of fight, play, and dance. How capoeira was used depended on the situation. Under the watchful eye of the African slave owner, capoeira appeared as a harmless dance, around the 1800’s. Practiced on their day off, it was a moment to forget the horrors of slavery. Today, as in the past, capoeira keeps the body fit, the mind sharp, and strengthens the community. Practicers compete to the rhythm of the “berimbau“, a local percussion instrument made with wire cord stretched tight across a wooden bow. The so-called “Rodas” or capoeira demonstrations are held in capoeira academies weekly and opened to visitors.
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Climate & Time Zones

Although 90 percent of the country is within the tropical zone, more than 60 percent of the population live in areas where altitude, sea winds or cold polar fronts moderate the temperature. There are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi arid, highland tropical and subtropical. Plateau cities such as São Paulo, Brasília and Belo Horizonte have very mild climate with average temperature around 19º (66F). Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador on the coast have warm climate balanced by cool winds. In the Southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the subtropical climate is similar to parts of United States and Europe with occasional frosting. In this region, temperatures can fall below zero during winter.
Despite the popular image of the Amazon as a region of blistering heat, temperatures of more than 32ºdegrees ( 90º) are rarely experienced there. In fact, the annual average temperature is in the range of 22-26º ( 72-76ºF), with only a very small seasonal variation between the warmest and the coldest months. The hottest part of Brazil is the Northeast where during the dry season, between May and November, temperatures of more than 38ºdegrees (100ºF) are recorded frequently. The Northeast has greater seasonal variation in temperatures than does the Amazon region. Along the Atlantic coast from Recife to Rio de Janeiro, temperatures range from 23º to 27º C ( 73º F – 81ºF). Inland, on higher ground temperatures are lower, ranging from 18º - 21ºC (64º F – 71º F) .
Brazil has four time zones. Brasilia time is the nation's official standard, three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, London.

CLIMATE IN BRAZIL
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN THE PRINCIPAL CITIES IN º C

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Cuisine

Brazilian cuisine has been strongly influenced by Portuguese colonization and Italian, German, Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, who came at the end of the nineteenth century. Brazilian culinary build into a rich variety of flavors and colors adapted to local ingredients which is unique and delicious.
Because the country is so vast, each region has its specialties. In the Northeast, especially in Bahia, African influence is prominent with the spiciest food such as : Acarajé (a mashed bean small cake stuffed with peppers, dried shrimp, onions and ginger), Vatapá (a puree of fish or shrimp), Moqueca (seafood broth eaten with rice) and Dende Oil (orange palm oil). The Amazon is better known for the Indian influence and has a diet rich of fish ( Pirarucu), root vegetables, yams and peanuts or tropical fruits. In São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the two most cosmopolitan cities of Brazil, there is a great concentration of national and international restaurants with contemporary food. Minas Gerais regional dishes are short ribs, beans and local soft ripened cheese. Churrasco or beef barbecue is a contribution from the South, it is among Brazilian favorites and widely found in the steakhouses all over the country. In this “ All you can Eat” steakhouses, pieces of beef are skewered into a metal sword and roasted over hot coals.
Feijoada is considered the national dish, a heritage from African slaves during Brazil’s colonization. They used pork leftovers that their Portuguese masters wouldn’t eat, such as ears and tail cooked with black beans. Nowadays it is elaborated with many different smoked and sun-dried meats, smoked sausage and served with a number of side dishes, including sliced oranges, cold cuts, farofa ( stir-fried manioc flour), couve mineira ( thinly sliced kale) and white rice. Feijoada is commonly served on Wednesdays and Saturdays.Delicious tropical fruits are found all year round. Some rare examples are açaí, cajú, cupuaçu, graviola, mangostim, carambola, pitanga, romã, cajá, umbú, tamarindo, saputi, jaboticaba, acerola, mangaba, among others.
Savory snacks served as appetizers called salgadinhos are not to miss: codfish croquettes, rice cake, manioc cake stuffed with melted catupiry cheese or shrimp and pão de queijo (small hot cheese rolls).
Among the popular drinks are chopp (draft beer), cachaça (alcoholic beverage distilled from sugar can) and caipirinha, Brazilian’s favorite. Caipirinha’ s ingredients consist of crushed lime slices, ice, sugar and extra juice, served over rum or cachaça. Guaraná is a soft drink which competes with Coke, derived from the fruit with the same name. Brazilians are also proud of national coffee, ranking as one the largest producers in the world. At breakfast, coffee is served with hot milk and after meals in tiny cups, really strong. Because of the tropical fruit variety, juices are divine.
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Economy & Politics:

Source: Brazilian Embassy in London
http://www.brazil.org.uk/
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Foreign Investment
Over the last few years Brazil has been placed among the top five destinations in the world for foreign direct investment (FDI), jointly with the US, the UK, China and France. In 1999, for example, Brazil received about US$ 30 billion in FDI. The impressive amount of foreign investments made in the country in the last few years are in line with the strong, traditional presence of international companies in Brazil’s leading industries, such as telecommunications, chemical and pharmaceutical, automotive and mechanical, besides those in many services sectors.
The inflow of FDI has been sustained, among other factors, by the size of the domestic market, political stability, openness and improved macroeconomic conditions achieved since Real Plan, especially in terms of enhanced fiscal discipline and adjustment, as well as by various economic reforms, such as the privatisation programme initiated in the beginning of the 1990s. Besides their very positive financial impact on the balance of payments, offseting the current account deficit brought about by the opening up of the economy since the begining of the 1990s, the FDI inflows have played a major role in enlarging the industrial capacity and strengthening the competitive pattern of the economy
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Financial Sector and Markets
The financial and banking system in Brazil is a very modern one. It has been marked by a capacity to adapt to drastic changes in macroeconomic conditions. It has successfully coped not only with important challenges, such as the chronic inflation of the 1980s, but also with severe shocks to the economy, such as the financial crises in the 1990s that led to a drastic devaluation of the currency. The positive response of Brazil to the currency crisis was due, among other factors, to the restructuring of the banking sector and the strengthening of prudential regulation and financial regulation undertaken since 1995.
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Privatisation Programme
In line with the opening up of the economy and the strengthening of the macroeconomic conditions for stability and growth, the Brazilian government has carried out important economic reforms to develop the infrastructure and enhance the productivity and competition in various services, utilities and industrial sectors.
The privatisation programme in Brazil was initiated in 1991. It has been one of the largest programme of this kind already put in place by either developed or developing countries. The programme, both at the federal and State levels, has attained a total amount near to US$ 100 billion. The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) is the institution responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the programme.
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Public Finance and Fiscal Policy
Since the currency crisis in Asia and Russia 1997-98, Brazil has undertaken major adjustments in its fiscal policy, which basically have included three main components:
(a) immediate tightening of financial policies, through the control of current expenditures, including budget cuts, and increases in revenue, via for instance the introduction financial taxes;
(b) a multi-year fiscal adjustment programme (1999-2001), which served as the basis for an agreement with the IMF; and Agreement with the IMF
c) the continuation of the institutional and structural reforms aiming at greater fiscal discipline and stability in public finance.
The year 1999 marked a major turnaround in Brazil’s fiscal performance. The targets established in the programme with the IMF were achieved, in the context of very positive fiscal results: (a) the primary surplus of the consolidated public sector was 3,1% of GDP; and (b) the nominal public sector deficit reached a level of 9.5% of GDP. In 2000, similar progress has been achieved, and Brazil has regularly met all the targets set with the IMF.

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The Brazilian Government
Brazil is a legal democratic state founded on sovereignty, citizenship, dignity of the human person, the social values of labour and of free enterprise, and political pluralism. All power emanates from the people, who exercise it by means of democratically elected representatives.
The present Constitution was formally promulgated on 5 October 1988 by a specially empowered National Congress. The 1988 Federal Constitution incorporates many new concepts ranging from environmental protection to political rights and social welfare. According to article 3 of the Constitution, the fundamental objectives of the Federative Republic of Brazil are: to build a free, just, and solidarity-based society; to guarantee national development; to eradicate poverty and substandard living conditions and to reduce social and regional inequalities; and to promote the well-being of all, without prejudice as to origin, race, sex, colour, age, and any other forms of discrimination. All persons are equal before the law, without any distinction whatsoever, Brazilians and foreigners residing in the country being ensured of inviolability of the rights to life, liberty, equality, security and property.
At the federal level of Government, there are three independent powers in the Brazilian presidential system, operating harmoniously among themselves under a system of checks and balances: the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary (see below). At the state level, each State has its own government, with a structure that mirrors the Federal Government, enjoying all the powers (defined in its own constitution), which are not specifically reserved for the Federal Government or assigned to the Municipalities. The head of the state executive is the Governor, elected by direct popular vote. The one-chamber state legislature is a State Assembly. The state judiciary follows the federal pattern and has its jurisdiction defined so as to avoid any conflict or superimposition with the federal courts. At the municipal level, there are over 5,500 Municipalities that are autonomous in strictly local affairs.
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Elections & Political Parties
In Brazil, the sovereignty of the people is exercised according to the law by universal suffrage and by the direct and secret voting, with equal value for all. Electoral enrolment and voting are mandatory for all literate citizens from 18 to 70 years of age. Voting is optional for citizens aged 16 and 17, for senior citizens above 70, and for illiterates of any age. Foreigners cannot register as voters and neither can conscripts during their period of compulsory military service. The illiterate and those that cannot be registered as voters are not eligible. Nowadays, the number of citizens entitled to vote throughout Brazil reaches almost 100 million voters.
The Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral - TSE) has jurisdiction over all aspects of the Brazilian elections, including enrolment of voters, registration of political parties and candidates, supervision of the voting itself, and release of the results to the public. At the state level, elections are within the responsibility of the Regional Electoral Court (Tribunal Regional Eleitoral - TRE) in each State of the federation.
Any candidate willing to run for an election in Brazil must belong to a political party. The creation, amalgamation, merger, and extinction of political parties are free, with due regard for national sovereignty, the democratic regime, the plurality of political parties, the fundamental rights of the individual, and the provisions of the Constitution. Political parties are ensured of autonomy to define their internal structure, organisation and operation, and their by-laws shall establish rules of party loyalty and discipline. Even though enjoying a high degree of political autonomy, political parties are expressly forbidden to organise or use paramilitary forces, and they must be formally registered at the Superior Electoral Court, following the fulfilment of certain minimum requirements established by legislation.
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Geography

Brazil has 26 states and is divided in five regions: North, Northeast, Central West, Southeast and South.
The North Region is made up of seven states: Amazonas, Pará, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima, Amapá and Tocantins. Needless to say that the Amazon, Brazilian Rain Forest, covers almost entirely this area and about half of the Brazilian territory ( 42% of the country).
The Northeast Region is made up of nine states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia. It contains only 30% of the Brazilian population and were very important centres during colonization period. The rich folklore and music tradition, remain from the past, making this beautiful coast line with white sand beaches, even more special.
The Central West Region has only 6% of the Brazilian population. Until 1960, when Brasilia ( Brazil’s capital) was founded, there were only extensive savannas and tropical grassland all over it. Ever since, the region has been experiencing some growth with the establishment of new industries throughout its four states: Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Distrito Federal. After Brasília, Pantanal is the most important highlight here, one of the largest sedimentation plains of the world.
The Southeast Region is the economic hub of the country with highly industrialized areas around the three largest cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. Here is where 45% of the country´s population is concentrated. The Southeast provides a sophisticated variety of hotels, nightlife entertainment, restaurants and shopping. Also in the coast zone, there are some pleasant getaways. The region is made up of 4 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
The South Region contains around 15% of Brazilian inhabitants, among which, a high rate of German, Italian, Swiss and Eastern European immigrants. The South presents a good balance between rural and manufacturing sectors. On the border, between Brazil and Argentina is located Cataratas do Iguaçu ( Iguassu Falls), with 19 large falls superior to Niagara and Victoria in size and attractiveness. This region is made up of 3 states: Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.

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History

Colonial Era ( 1500 – 1822)
1494 – The Tratado de Tordesilhas (Treaty of Tordesilhas) divides with an imaginary line the non-European world between Spain and Portugal. Portugal is presented with Brazil.
1500 – Formal Discovery of Brazil by Portuguese explorer, Pedro Álvares Cabral.
1533 – With the first settlements, the Portuguese Crown divides the country into 15 capitanias (captaincies). Each one had independent “governors” responsible for development. Economy based on sugarcane plantations, tobaco, coffee and cattle
1580s – Beginning of “ Bandeirante” (expeditionaries) bordering expansion searching for Indian slaves, who had escaped .
1600s – Dutch Forces occupation with the notorious Maurício de Nassau in the Northeast of the Country. It took 24 years before Portugal regained control over the territory, when Brazil was facing the decline of the sugarcane economy.
1695 – Discovery of Gold in Minas Gerais State.
1763- The capital was moved from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro, which became the gold control, export and taxation centre.
1789 – An independence movement named Incofidência Mineira, took place in the Mining Gold Region. It was quite expressive until Tiradentes, their leader, was hanged in 1792 and the movement died.
1808 – Establishment of Portuguese Court in Rio de Janeiro, with Dom João VI, running away from Napoleon’s War in Europe.
1821- Dom Pedro, son of Dom João VI, was proclaimed Governor of Brazil.

The Empire – 1822-1889
1822 – On September 7th , Dom Pedro I proclaimed Brazil Independent.
1831- Dom Pedro I abdicated his throne in favour of his son Pedro II.
1888 – All slaves are declared free.


  Republican Brazil ( 1889-1963)
1889 – Pedro II is overthrown by military and exiled
1894 – Election of Prudente de Moraes, first elected in the presidential system
1930 – 45 With the 1930 Revolution, a Military Regimen was established and called Vargas Era.
1942 – Brazil declared war on the Axis powers and fought in Italy.
1950 – Getúlio Vargas is “ reelected” in a democratic election
1956 – President Juscelino Kubitschek builds a five year rapid industrialization plan, including
Brasilia’s construction.

Military Dictatorship ( 1964-1984)
1964 – 1984 Five presidents rule during this period. Many individual and collective rights were suspended.
1968 - Inflation was contained and foreign investment revolved.
1967 - 1974 Brazil enjoyed one of the greatest rates of economic growth in the world with real growth as measured by Gross Domestic.
1974- Beginning of gradual regime relaxation with President Ernesto Geisel.
1979 - Restoration of democratic rule with the election of João Baptista Figueiredo.

Present
1985 – After the Re-democratization process, Tancredo Neves was elected President in the first genuinely democratic General Elections.
1988 – New Constitution promulgated.
1992 – President Fernando Collor de Melo impeached for corruption charges.
1994 – Brazil wins the World Cup for the fourth time
1994- 2002 Fernando Henrique Cardoso is elected and reelected president.
2000 – Brazil celebrates its 500th anniversary.
2002 – Luis Inácio "Lula" da Silva, is elected president. The first president born in humble conditions.
2002 – Brazil wins the World Cup for the fifth time.
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Language

Brazil is a Portuguese speaking country, unlike its South American Spanish speaking neighbors, because of its colonization. It differs slightly in pronunciation from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. English is considered second language, but dominated only by a few. Spanish is becoming more popular in some business circles as Brazil establishes stronger trade ties with its neighbors. In southern cities, some descendants of European immigrants also speak German or Italian.
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People

The Brazilian population, spread out over a continental-sized nation, reflects a wide ethnic and cultural mixture. From the Portuguese came the language and the Catholic religion. From the Indians came an inheritance of food, beverages, dance and music. The African cultural influence is seen throughout the country in music, religion and cuisine.
Brazilians, in general, have a human warmth probably unsurpassed anywhere in the world; they are a remarkably happy people, spontaneous, enthusiastic and high-spirited – which they willingly demonstrate whenever there are reasons to celebrate, especially during the annual Carnival parades.
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Religion

Catholicism
Brazil is said to be the largest Roman Catholic country in the world, but the truth is there are all varieties of beliefs and practices in the country. Brazil was officially Catholic for four centuries, from the 1500’s until the end of the Empire, in 1889.
With the 1889 Constitution, religious freedom was guaranteed and a comprehensive range of religions have disseminated openly. Still, according to the CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops), in 1996 about 80% of the population declared themselves Roman Catholics. Brazilians are usually baptized and married in the Catholic Church, however, they don’t attend Sunday Mass often.

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Candomblé
Candomblé is a religion that was brought to Brazil by the slaves from Nigeria and Benin. Today many Brazilians, specially in the Northeast, from every social and economic group participate in both Catholicism and candomblé. To the slave-owners and Catholic officials, African slaves had to be converted. To that end, the masters prohibited their rituals. In order to continue their traditional practices while still contenting their owners, slaves coupled their deities with corresponding personalities in Catholicism. For instance, Oxalá, a male god of procreation and harvest, was identified with Jesus. Iemanjá, goddess of the sea, was associated with "Our Lady of Conception". The Catholic Church was content to let matters lie, hoping that, over the years, African tradition would eventually die out and that Christian beliefs would be strengthened. This has not been the case. Candomblé is practiced all over Brazil. Umbanda, a religion derived from candomblé coupled with the Christian and spiritist beliefs found in Kardecism, is also practiced widely.

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Protestantism
In recent decades, Protestantism has grown rapidly in the country. According the Census 2000, approximately 15 percent of the population identify themselves as Protestants, an estimated 85 percent of which are Pentecostal/evangelical. Evangelical churches have different denominations which include the Assembly of God and the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Lutherans and Baptists make up the bulk of the remaining Protestants and are centered in the southern part of the country, where the majority of German and northern European immigrants concentrated during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Spiritualism
Another religion that has grown in Brazil is the Spiritualism, introduced by Allan Kardec. Although it is based on Christianity, the distinguishing feature of spiritualism is communication with souls. This helps the individual soul to find and follow the right path in the vast process of evolution, which it does through successive reincarnations.
Brazil's diversity also includes converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons); small minorities of Jews, Moslems, and Buddhists.