Learn all about Boyfriends and Girlfriends 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 9 - Boyfriends and Girlfriends Day, or in Portuguese, Dia dos Namorados. |
| In this lesson we are going to talk about the most romantic and special date on the calendar for people with passion in their hearts –"Boyfriends and Girlfriends Day.” |
| Did you know that the festival of lovers is celebrated in Brazil on a different date from most countries? We're going to find out why, and what couples and singles do on this day in Brazil. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| How do Brazilian lovers affectionately refer to their loved ones? |
| If you don't know already, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep listening! |
| While in most countries Lovers Day is celebrated on the Feast of Saint Valentine's Day, in Brazil it is celebrated on June 12, the eve of the Feast of St. Anthony, or Santo Antônio. Saint Anthony is much revered in Brazil. He is invoked to bless wedding ceremonies, because in his religious teachings, he always emphasized the importance of love and marriage. They call him the "Holy Matchmaker," or Santo casamenteiro. |
| It is customary for couples to exchange gifts, chocolates, flowers, and cards on this day as an expression of their love. Some make elaborate plans for a special evening either at a favorite restaurant or perhaps the cinema, while others opt for a romantic getaway. But in the end, what matters is that you spend that day in the company of someone you love. |
| There are also some single men and women who eagerly await this day, because they are seeking marriage, and they go about it in a rather interesting way. |
| They perform the “sympathies,” or simpatias, a ritual using the image of St. Anthony to help them to meet a special person. |
| The ritual usually involves the mistreatment of the saintly image, leaving it upside down, or separating it from the holy child, Jesus, in order to get a spouse. |
| A very likely though unromantic explanation of the origin of this holiday in Brazil is that the businessman John Doria came up with the idea, inspired by Valentine's Day, to heat up sales in June, which is traditionally a slow trading month. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| How do Brazilian lovers affectionately refer to their loved ones? |
| Apart from “love,” or amor, the most commonly used pet names for a lover could be “beloved,” which is amoreco; a short form of “love” which is môre; “cute” which is fofo; a short form of “cute” which is fofinho; “my life” or minha vida; “my baby,” which is meu bebê; “passion,” paixão; “heart” or coração; a form of the French ”chouchou,” which is xuxuzinho; or even “passion flower”, which is flor de maracujá... The list is endless. Many people also like to create their own little pet names for their loved ones. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day or another day for lovers in your country? |
| Leave your comments on the lesson page at PortuguesePod101.com |
| And we'll see you in the next lesson! |
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