It’s hard to pick out just a few interesting facts about Brazil because Brazil is a huge country (the 5th largest in the world, with a population of almost 200 million) and is incredibly diverse. Even though I have spent at least a couple weeks here every year since 2000, there is so much of the country that I still don’t know. I have spent lots of time in the heavily-populated southern state of São Paulo and a little time in the beautiful neighboring states of Rio and Minas Gerais. These areas have strong Portuguese, Italian, and even Japanese influences. However, the north of Brazil is a completely different world, one with a permeating “Afro-Brasil” influence revealed in its food, music, religion, and all other aspects of its culture. Despite the fact that I have a lot more to explore, I feel like I know the country pretty well, through my family, the strong cultural ties that my husband still holds, and my own interest in learning the language and culture.
I hope you enjoy learning about Brazil through this little list of interesting things that have caught my attention:
1. Flex-fuel cars
Brazil has been producing “flex” cars since the oil crisis of 1973. Now almost all new cars are flex cars, meaning that they run on gas, alcohol (ethanol), or a blend. The ethanol is made from sugar cane and burns cleanly. It’s also cheaper than gas. Though it’s not a perfect solution since sugar cane is grown on huge plantations, it is wonderful to see Brazil ahead of the game in this area.
6 flex-fuel models from Brazilian carmakers
2. Religion
Though more than 70% of Brazilians identify themselves as Catholics, religion in Brazil is actually quite complex and interesting. Spiritism has a powerful influence, and many Brazilian combine Catholicism or Protestantism with Spiritist beliefs. Spiritism includes the belief in spirits and the ability to communicate with them through the use of mediums. There are also several religions which were brought from Africa by the slaves, including Candomblé, Umbanda, Batuque, and Tambor de Mina. Despite the passage of time, these religions are alive and well, especially among Afro-Brazilians. While rituals are generally closed to the public, you can see some of these religions in everyday life, like the people who wear all white and send offerings into the ocean on New Year’s Eve in Rio, and an occasional Umbanda offering (sometimes a dead chicken) left in public places in São Paulo.
I have seen the interesting mix of religion in my Brazilian family. My mother-in-law’s family are Protestant, and a couple of the uncles were even pastors, and one of them speaks in tongues (which he did once with us after lunch). Some of the family are Catholic. They all believe in Spiritist ideas and a long list of spiritual superstitions. They occasionally attend Spiritist ceremonies and receive blessings. Honestly, it took me a long time to understand my family’s religious beliefs, and sometimes they still surprise me!
A Candomblé celebration
3. Immigrants
One of the things that surprised me about Brazil early on was the huge number of immigrants. Like the U.S., immigration to Brazil has had an enormous effect on race and culture in Brazil. In fact, Brazil has the largest number of Italians outside Italy and the largest number of Japanese outside Japan!
The largest immigrant groups are Portuguese, Italians, Spaniards, Japanese, and Germans. In fact, there were even former Nazis who immigrated to Brazil after World War II. At the end of the 19th century, there were twice as many Italians in São Paulo as there were Brazilians, so as you can imagine, the city has an extremely strong Italian influence. There is an Italian neighborhood called Bixiga, and Paulistas eat Italian food and have incredibly good pizza. Similarly, there is a huge number of Japanese in São Paulo, especially in the Liberdade neighborhood, and Japanese influences can be seen everywhere.
Liberdade, the Japanese neighborhood of São Paulo
4. Music and dance
Brazilians love music and they love to dance! Brazilian music is incredibly rich and includes many traditional styles, like the lively samba and gorgeous Bossa Nova, and excellent contemporary music. (My favorite singers are Marisa Monte and Lenine.) One thing that surprised me early on is that pretty much every single Brazilian knows how to dance and has good rhythm, as seen in their ability to strike up impromptu drum circles. Their love of music and dance reflects their love of life (see my article on a popular and amazing tradition, Samba Saturday). And if you go to Salvador, don’t miss a powerful performance by Olodum, the famous group that started what is now called “samba-reggae.”
Olodum performing in Salvador
5. Capoeira
Capoeira is becoming a popular form of martial arts/dance in other parts of the world, but it is a totally Brazilian phenomenon. It originated about 400 years ago with the slaves who brought martial arts skills from Africa but disguised it as a dance so they wouldn’t be punished for practicing it by their owners. Many Brazilians have practiced capoeira as children and know how to play the berimbau, one of the traditional instruments used in the call-and-response music that accompanies capoeira (my husband and son have matching ones from Salvador). A truly memorable experience is coming upon a capoeira group performing in the streets. It’s beautiful and unique and totally Brazilian.
Capoeira, always performed in pairs, and the music circle, including berimbau (the tall instruments)
There are many more interesting things about Brazil, but these are the things that stood out to me most during my first few visits to Brazil. If you love culture that is a mix of different kinds of people and the unique traditions that result, you would love visiting this diverse and lively country.
Have you been to Brazil? What are some of the interesting aspects of Brazilian life and culture that you noticed?
Hi Jenna,
I am Brazilian and 100% agree with your post!
When I first arrived in New Zealand (where I live now) I was impressed that they did not have alternative fuels for their cars. In Brazil we have flex cars as you mentioned – running on petrol and/or ethanol – and you can also “convert” you car’s fuel to natural gas.
Religion is a BIG thing in Brazil. It can be as confusing as you described and someone that doesn’t have a religion is almost as bad as not having a football team to support! LOL
Loved your article, it seems you’re really getting to know the country.
Hi Cris,
Thanks for stopping by. I have seen your comments on other people’s blogs and noticed that you are from Brazil. Where in Brazil are you from?
Speaking of religion, a couple of my family members are on their way to get a blessing at a Spiritist place! (I don’t know the name of it in Portuguese.) It’s really interesting to me to see how people mix religion (like another family member who is a non-practicing Protestant and carries pictures of saints with her for luck) and how much the people I know believe in spirits.
Yes, I’m really getting to know the country– my husband and I have been together for 11 years, and this summer I was here for 2 months! But as I mentioned, there is A LOT more for me to see and experience.
I am from Curitiba, Paraná!
It’s true… we do mix religion, Brazilians are very superstitious!! Spiritism is really strong in Brazil. There are several variances of Spiritism too. (“Espiritismo” in Portuguese and the place is normally called “Centro Espírita”). But it’s not only about believing in spirits, there is more about it, like reincarnation and karma for example. But it’s funny because this goes against Catholic beliefs and people still say they are Catholic… go figure.
Actually I guess we like mixing everything, not only religion! This is probably a consequence of having so many immigrants.
11 years is a long time!! So can you speak Portuguese then?
As you said, Brazil is HUGE and there is always a lot more to see… you probably know more places than many Brazilians.
I have a friend from Curitiba (although he lives in Rio now). I haven’t been there but of course have heard what a nice city it is and about its famous city planning.
I honestly don’t know much about Spiritism and have just heard stories from my family about the blessings, spirits, mediums, etc. Interesting point about it going against Catholicism! I think you put it really well– Brazilians like mixing everything because of its diversity. I think people in California do a lot of that, too, so I can relate.
Yes, I can speak Portuguese, but not as well as I would like. My husband and I speak English together, but I speak Portuguese when I visit his family.
Hey
Really interesting post, I never realised Brazil had so many immigrants, it really surprised me that they were Japanese too. I’d love to go to Brazil and experience all the different cultures!
Thanks for the great post
Hi Gemma,
Thanks for leaving your comment! I know, I was surprised about Brazil and all the immigrants, too. Brazil has lots to offer, so I’m sure you will love it when you do visit.
Hey Jenna! What a cool post. I am getting to know Brazil through my Brazilian fiance and I have noticed many of the things you’ve brought up. I was definitely impressed with Brazil’s use of alternative fuels as well! And I swear, Brazilians are just born with that natural rhythm!
You and your family seem to have a very interesting life – looking forward to reading more of your posts!
Hi Laura,
Where is he from? And you will continue to notice more interesting things about Brazil the more time you spend there! I have a few most posts about our times in Brazil– you can find them by clicking on the Brazil category on the right.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. You will have a very interesting life being married to a Brazilian.
Very interesting post! Thanks for the info. Ahhh, I love Brasil so much.
Thanks, Andi. I’ll look for your next post about Brasil– I’m curious where you went and what you did!
Interesting facts here. I had always known there was a rich Italian population in Brazil. Maybe I need to head there next to get a taste of all these other cultures but still keep my familiar Italian side. Do you hear people speaking Italian? I wonder how different a Brazilian Italian would sound.
I have not heard people speaking Italian, I think because they immigrated to Brazil more than a generation ago (as they did to the U.S.). However, Italian has influenced the Portuguese that is spoken by millions in the Sao Paulo area– people say it has more of an Italian inflection. Also, many people, like my brother-in-law, keep some pretty close cultural ties to Italy, especially with eating Italian food.