Learn all about Micareta in Brazil
Now Playing: Lesson Audio
Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.
| 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 25, Micareta. |
| You must know by now that partying is the essence of Brazil! |
| In this lesson, we'll talk about a type of Brazilian party—the off-season carnival, or micareta in Portuguese, that has become a craze all over Brazil, although it started in the northeastern region of the country. It can happen at any time of the year, or rather, it goes on throughout the year! The basic Micaretas rhythm is axé music. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| Are you familiar with the names of any of the well-known Brazilian axé music bands? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep listening! |
| The problem with carnival is that it only lasts a week. On the other hand, the rest of the calendar year is dominated by micaretas. This word comes from French, and means the "middle of Lent." It was originally a party held by the French in the fifteenth century during the period of “Lent,” or quaresma in Portuguese. The micareta began to be celebrated in Brazil in the early twentieth century. But it was from the 90s onwards that the popularity of this party concept reached every corner of the country. |
| The micareta has become an accepted part of the tradition of Brazil. The Northeastern region, or região nordeste in Portuguese, still enjoys the largest concentration of celebrations. |
| The celebrants dance to the sound of their favorite axé music artists, following the “electric trios,” or trios elétricos in Portuguese, through the city streets. The mandatory uniform is the abadá, a kind of shirt bearing the name of the event and its sponsors. |
| It's hard to say which is the best micareta in Brazil. In the Northeast, there are so many options—the ideal choice would be to go to all of them! Worthy of special mention are the Carnatal in Natal, the Fortal in Fortaleza, the Pré-Caju in Aracaju, the Micareta de Feira in Feira de Santana, and the Micarande in Campina Grande. As there are so many events all through the year, you just need to check your calendar for the next one! |
| The axé music genre comes from the Northeast, and is a mixture of a frevo baiano and samba-reggae. The word axé is a greeting used in the Afro-Brazilian Camdomblé religion to symbolize a positive spirit and powerful energy force. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Are you familiar with the names of any of the well-known Brazilian axé music bands? |
| The best-loved axé “singers,” or cantoras in Portuguese, nowadays are Ivete Sangalo and Claudia Leitte. And the “bands,” or bandas in Portuguese, Banda Eva, Chiclete com Banana, and Jammil e Uma Noites are some of the most popular that perform frequently at the micaretas. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| What holiday you would like to celebrate more than once a year in your country? |
| Leave your comments on the lesson page at PortuguesePod101.com. |
| This is the end of this series. Thank you for listening. |
Comments
Hide