Learn about the top five most important dates in Brazil
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| Braden: Hi everyone. Braden here. This is All About lesson 9 - Top 5 Important Dates During the Calendar Year! Welcome back to the All About Brazil series. What are we going to be talking about in this lesson, Thássia? |
| Thássia: The top five most important holidays in Brazil. |
| Braden: How are we going to choose among so many? |
| Thássia: Very funny. It's true that Brazil does have many holidays, hundreds, but there are a few that are more important than the others. |
| Braden: Well then, let's get to it. |
| Thássia: We'll go in reverse order. |
| Braden: Number five. |
| Thássia: The fifth most important day in Brazil is Independência do Brasil, “Independence Day.” |
| Braden: The Brazilian Independence Day is September 7th. |
| Thássia: In Portuguese, it's called Independência do Brasil, and began with the Brazilian Declaration of Independence on the 7th of September, 1822. |
| Braden: Dom Pedro the First, is reported to have yelled the famous phrase |
| Thássia: Independência ou morte |
| Braden: "Independence or death", on the seventh of September, 1822 in what is now Ipiranga, São Paulo. |
| Thássia: That ytell marks the Brazilian Declaration of Independence. |
| Braden: Today, Independence Day celebrations happen all over Brazil in the form of parades, public solemn assemblies, concerts, fireworks, and many other displays of patriotism. |
| Thássia: Many Brazilians consider items with the pattern of the Brazilian national flags an honor to wear, display, and use on any patriotic occasion. On this day, people often say Feliz dia de Independência or Bom feriado de Independência. |
| Braden: Number four. |
| Thássia: The fourth most important day in Brazil is Natal. |
| Braden: “Christmas.” Brazilian Christmas is the same day, December 25th, as every other country in the world. |
| Thássia: Natal is a Christian Day meant to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of all Christian religions. As Brazil is over 70% Catholic, this national holiday is very important. |
| Braden: Brazilians celebrate Christmas in many ways. Papai Noel, “Santa Claus,” is a common fixture, but he was imported to Brazil recently and usually wears very cool clothing as Christmas time in Brazil is also summertime. |
| Thássia: For the most part, Brazilians celebrate Christmas similar to how Americans celebrate New Year's. |
| Braden: It was weird to me the first time; Brazilians stay up late the 24th, shooting off fireworks at midnight and wishing… |
| Thássia: Feliz Natal! e um prospero Ano Novo! |
| Braden: "Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year" to everyone around them. |
| Thássia: Traditionally, Natal is more for family and most people stay home. |
| Braden: Even though the tradition has faltered in recent years. Many families still have a large, traditional ceia, "supper," late Christmas Eve, which is often continued on the 25th with a family lunch. |
| Thássia: Number three. |
| Braden: The third most important day in Brazil is… |
| Thássia: Ano Novo. |
| Braden: New Year. |
| Thássia: Ano Novo is celebrated in Brazil much the same way Natal is celebrated with the conspicuous addition of oferendas, "offerings," to Catholic saints. |
| Braden: These oferendas are often placed on little boats and pushed out to see in hopes of good coming in the new year. |
| Thássia: Brazilian also wear white after New Years to symbolize the hope for peace. |
| Braden: Traditionally, Ano Novo is less about family and more about society as a whole. |
| Thássia: Yes, many people go out with friends, go to parties, and have community events. |
| Braden: Number two. |
| Thássia:The second most important day in Brazil is Carnaval. |
| Braden: Famous all around the world, Carnaval takes place over a one week period in early to mid-February. |
| Thássia: The actual dates change every year because Carnaval is based on the old Catholic calendar, which in turn is based on the only ancient Jewish calendar. |
| Braden: The history of the celebration of Carnaval is quite complex and far beyond the scope of this lesson, but the three largest Carnaval celebrations in the world are, in order of size: Salvador in the state of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. |
| Thássia: And number one! |
| Braden: Tthe most important day in Brazil is… |
| Thássia: Copa do Mundo. |
| Braden: The World Cup! |
| Thássia: While not a annual event… |
| Braden: The World Cup is held every four years. |
| Thássia: It is by far the most important time of those four years for most of Brazil, and |
| Braden: it is even more important when Brazil wins. |
| Thássia: Brazil has five World Cup titles more than any other country, and doesn't treat that position lightly. |
| Braden: Even though it's not an official national holiday, the entire country stops when Brazil plays. |
| Thássia: The players on the Brazilian World Cup team are national heroes, and most of their life story is known in every Brazilian home. |
| Braden: So with that, we've covered the five most important holidays in Brazil. |
| Thássia: We hope you have the chance to visit Brazil during one of these holidays so that you can experience it for yourself. |
| Braden: Join us next time for more information on Brazil and Portuguese at PortuguesePod101.com |
| Braden: See you then. |
| Thássia: Bye! |
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