Learn all about New Year's Day in Brazil
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Brazil Series at PortuguesePod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind holidays and observances in Brazil. I’m Becky, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson # - New Year's Day or in Portuguese, Dia de Ano Novo. |
| If you’re in Brazil on New Year’s Eve or Véspera de Ano Novo, you’ll be able to see the fireworks on the turn of the year on Copacabana beach. Apart from setting off fireworks, we have many other traditions for the New Year in Brazil. Everything from the meals to the color of the clothes you wear is extremely important on this day. |
| In this lesson, we'll see what Brazilians do for the New Year. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| What other name is also given for New Year’s Eve in Portuguese? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep listening! |
| There’s one very important detail for the passing of the year. It’s choosing the color of the clothes you will wear in Brazil. Each color has a special meaning, and it shows what you want for next year. “Color” in Portuguese is cor. |
| The most popular color for New Year’s Day is “white” or branco, which means “peace” or in Portuguese, paz. |
| Another widely used color also is gold or yellow. Brazilian people think yellow or amarelo will bring wealth and money to them. |
| If you’re in Brazil on New Year’s Eve, look around and enjoy the colorful clothes people wear that have a special meaning and hope for special wishes. |
| Besides the color of clothing, there are superstitions about food as well. |
| The food includes figs or figos, pomegranates or romãs, the lentils or lentilha, and grapes or uva. They are all symbols of prosperity . |
| For example, some people eat seven pomegranate seeds at midnight and save their seeds or sementes in their wallet. It’s believed that this custom will bring them wealth and money. Traditionally, Brazilian people also eat twelve grapes or uvas at the turn of the year to bring good luck for the year ahead. |
| The new year occurs during the summer or verão in Brazil. It’s a great time to go to the beach with family or friends. Many devotees of the religion of Candomblé make offerings to the goddess of the seas, whose name is Yemanja. The most common types of offerings are flowers or flores, candles or velas, and perfumes or in Portuguese, perfumes. |
| There’s another habit that shows African influence—jumping seven waves. It’s believed that if you jump over seven waves or sete ondas, it will attract luck and success for years to come. |
| And here’s the fun fact. |
| December 31st is also the day of International Race of St. Sylvester or Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre in the city of São Paulo. It's a race held on one of Brazil's most famous streets, with a route that is fifteen kilometers long, and participants have the warmth of the Brazilian summer to face. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| What other name is also given for New Year’s Eve? |
| New Year's Eve in Brazil is also known as the réveillon in Brazil. This word comes from the French word meaning “awakening.” |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| How do you celebrate New Year's Eve in your country? |
| Leave your comment at PortuguesePod101.com! |
| And I'll see you in the next lesson! |
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