Flags of Brazil

The colors of yellow and green on the Brazilian flag are thought to represent the richness of natural resources in Brazil. Green for the extensive forests and yellow for the gold reserves. The two colors also represented two imperial families that existed when Brazil was an empire. The centre of the old imperial flag bore the Imperial Coat of Arms.




On the current Brazilian flag, a blue circle has replaced the Coat of Arms representing the blue sky over Rio de Janeiro on the day Brazil declared itself a Republic. Later the country consolidated into a federation of states and decided to put stars on the flag representing each state, modeled after the flag of the United States. Ordem e Progresso (Order and Progress) is the motto of Brazil and is now stretched acorss the current flag as well.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the 39th President of Brazil. He is widely known as Lula, his middle name. It is interesting to note that literally translated, lula means squid. He started his presidency in January of 2003 and was recently re-elected in 2006 to continue being president of Brazil until the end of 2010.

One of the main things Lula likes to focus on is Brazil's large hunger issue. He started a program called Fome Zero (zero hunger). The program has a government budget but also accepts donations from anyone locally or internationally. The money is given to regions of the country that are having real difficulties.

Here are some quotes by Lula:

• "Hope has defeated fear." (After his victory in 2002 Presidential elections in Brazil)

• "One day we will make land reform in this country, and one day the worker´s class will take control of the production means of this country and they will stop investing in weapons." (Interview to newspaper "Jornal da Tarde", January 1989)

• "I am the son of an illiterate father and mother" (In August 2005 speech)

• "We do not accept defamations against our partners." (Referring to US criticisms of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, March 29, 2005.)

• "There are many people talking badly about us in the world." (In Ciudad Guyana, Venezuela, March 29, 2005)

• "I am afraid of the isolation." (About his contact to the people)

• "No candidate is better than me". (During campaign for Presidency, newspaper "O Estado de S. Paulo", March 24, 2002)

• "The Atlantic [ocean] is only a torrential river, with white sands beaches, that joins two countries." (In Gabon 04/27/2004)

• "(...)When Napoleon went to China (...)". ("O Globo" and several newspapers, May 1, 2004. Note: Napoleon did not travel to China, Marco Polo did)

• "There was a day when I woke up very angry and phoned to [George W.] Bush." (Speech to Brazilian Labour Party politicians, April 28, 2004.)

• "Don't think that you have did a little thing in the history of the humanity, no. Possibly, the citizen who voted for me is not conscious of his gesture in an important country like Brazil." (newspaper "Folha de São Paulo, September 4, 2004)

• "I am a man without a sin ". (After taking Holy Communion during the funeral mass for Pope John Paul II without a prior confession.)

• "Nobody in this country has more moral authority and ethics than me." (June 21, 2005 after corruption accusations were filed against several of his close personal friends and allies)

• "This is a government that has not been putting the dirt under the carpet." (June 23, 2005, during a nationally televised speech)

• "The government tries to do what's easy because what's hard is hard."(June 17, 2004 in a speech)

Trees

I took a trip to the local zoo when I was living in Brazil. I found the selection and situation of the animals disappointing, but I did find the trees very impressive and interesting. Below are a few pictures of some of the amazing trees that can be found in Brazil.

The Avocado

The avocado in Brazil is always used in sweet things, mainly avocado smoothies. Whenever I mentioned having avocado on sandwiches or explained what guachamole is they would crinkle up their noses in disgust. I had never had an avocado smoothie, but when I tried one I fell in love. Very tasty. You just blend up avocado with sugar and milk. But Brazilian avocados are a little different from the avocados found here in America. They are a lot larger and have a green skin. Very tasty!

Beans and Rice

Beans are a staple food in Brazil and are served almost every day for lunch. Brazilians have many different types of beans, such as black, red, etc. Different spices and meats are used in the preparation of different types of beans such as red, black, or brown beans. The flavor and style of beans prepared usually varies from family to family. Most will just learn from their parents and continue to prepare it when they have their own family.

One especially important dish of beans is called feijoada (fey-zho-odd-ah). Feijoada is Brazil’s national dish that is said to have first started with the slaves. The slaves were given the leftover parts of pigs and cows such as ears, tongue, tails, etc. and they would use these parts to simmer with their beans in order to add more flavor. Feijoada then became more popular among the poorer classes in society and later became popular nation wide. It a dish that take a long time and a lot of preparation to make; therefore it is prepared sparingly.

Brazilians typically use longer grained rice that is less sticky. Some Brazilians will even feel embarrassed to serve others rice if they prepared it wrong and it is sticky. The rice is almost never served alone and is customarily served with beans. Rice is has a cultural significance also. Brazil was among the original countries to plant and grow rice and has been in Brazil for more than 400 years.

São João

São João (sawn zho-ow-n) is a Brazilian holiday that commemorates St. John, an apostle to Christ and a very important man to the Brazilian culture. St. John is even thought to be more than a man and is called a saint by many. St. John was thought to be responsible for a good corn harvest. São João is mainly celebrated in the northeastern part of Brazil because that is the area where corn is grown and harvested. Huge celebrations are known to take place in cities located in the northeastern part of the country. Other locations in Brazil, however, are known to celebrate São João as well.

In the month of June Brazilians celebrate three different saints, St. Anthony, St. Peter, and St. John. Celebrations and festivals take place through out the entire month of June and this time is known as the festivas junhinas (June festivals). The holiday São João (honoring St. John) is the largest of the festivals taking place in June and the main day of celebration is on June 24^th.

On the day of São João (June 24^th), many celebrations take place such as bonfires, firecrackers, square dancing, forró (folk-like music), dress up like hillbillies, and the consumption of traditional dishes made mostly with corn.

Boi-Tatá

Boi-Tatá is also thought to have originated from the native Tupi-Guarani tribe, but this is a myth that has changed quite a bit from region to region. Commonly, however, Boi-Tatá is a serpent-like creature with enormous red eyes, is almost blind during the day, but can see perfectly in the dark. His canine teeth are said to be one sharp and one rounded.

It is said that the origin of Boi-Tatá is that of a serpent that survived a flood by living in a cave. He rested in this cave for many years and some stories even say centuries. In this cave his eyes grew larger and adapted perfectly to the darkness, but leaving him blind in the day light. When he came out of the cave he went in search of mainly dead animals, but also is known to have sometimes attacked animals and even humans.

After the flood, Boi-Tatá lived in water. In one version of the Boi-Tatá myth, it is said that he protects forests from fires and in another version it is said that he is the one that actually causes incidents to occur in the forest.

Boi-Tatá is thought to live at the bottom of lakes or large rivers. Bubbling on the surface of lakes or rivers is thought to be Boi-Tatá underwater blowing fire or breathing. Scientists have explained the legend by pointing out that gases underneath the earth causes the water to bubble on the surface.

Boi-Tatá also has had an influence in modern culture as well. Many other cultures have similar legends as Boi-Tatá and tell stories or myths of underwater creatures that attack animals or humans. A classic example of this is the Loch Ness monster of Scotland. The movie Anaconda portrays a large serpent swimming around in the Amazon that attacks humans.

Caipora

Another mythological character created from Brazilian folklore is Caipora. Caipora has a few different names including Curupira, Caiçara, Pai do Mato, Mãe do Mato, Caapora, and Anhanga. The origin of Caipora is also of Tupi-Guarani mythology in the Southeastern area of Brazil and later spread out to all around Brazil.

Caipora is said to have green skin and teeth, flaming red hair, and his feet are turned backwards so that when he leaves footprints on the ground, those pursuing him, most likely irate hunters, will go in the wrong direction. He is the protector of the forest and is very powerful and very strong. He mainly protects the trees and animals from hunters and also has the ability to restore life to animals. It is also said that Caipora likes to punish hunters by changing their wife and kids into animals that they will hunt and kill without knowing they are actually loved ones. In some versions of this myth it is said that Caipora is actually the father of Saci.

Caipora also has had some influence in modern day culture. In a TV series called BeastMaster it portrays a female version of Caipora. She has green skin, backwards feet and protects the forest and animals that live there. One difference is that she does not have firey red hair like the Brazilian legend says Caipora does.

Saci

Saci is a mythological character created in Brazilian folklore. There are some different details in the stories told about Saci. He has a few different names such as Saci Pererê, Saci Trique, and Saçurá. There are a few differences in these 3 versions such as skin color and eye color. Saci Pererê is said to be black, Saci Trique is said to be more of a light brown color, and Saçurá is said to have red eyes.

Saci is a child-like character with darker skin and only one leg. He always wears a red elf-like hat on his head that gives him certain magical powers such as the ability to disappear and reappear where ever he wants. In many versions, Saci is said to smoke a pipe and also has the ability to change into a bird.

In most parts of Brazil, Saci is considered an irritating jokester who likes to cause problems where ever he goes. Some examples of some little pranks Saci loves to do are hiding toys, tipping over salt in the kitchen, freeing farm animals, souring milk, turnig nails point side up, dulling sewing needles, and more. Pretty much if anything goes wrong, you can blame it on Saci. If a kernel of popcorn does not pop, it is most likely Saci who prevented it from happening.

It is said that if some is being pursued by Saci, one only has to either cross a stream or river or drop a handful of knotted ropes. Saci cannot cross water or else he will lose all his powers and if he sees a knotted rope, he is compelled to stop and untied the knot. Also, if someone succeeds in stealing Saci’s red cap, he can have a wish granted by Saci.

Saci most likely came from Tupi-Guarani mythology. Later the myth changed over time by slaves brought over from Africa that would tell stories of Saci to children to either frighten or entertain them. In this course of story telling, the character Saci developed the characteristics now famous today in Brazil, such as one leg, red cap, dark skin, and smokes a pipe.

Saci has had an impact on in modern Brazilian culture. He has been in a popular children’s book that was written by a famous Brazilian author named Monteiro Lobato. Some comic book characters have been created that were highly influenced by the Saci character. Also Saci is the mascot for a Brazilian soccer team called the Sports Club International of Porte Alegre.

Corn

Corn is a very popular food in Brazil. It is used to make a variety of different dishes. Some of the foods made with corn are grilled corn on the cob, boiled or baked corn, cuzcuz made from corn, breads, corn on pizza, in hamburgers, sandwiches, etc. For the month of June these different corn dishes will frequently come up in traditional Brazilian meals.

Many corn desserts are found through out the month, and frequently throughout the entire year. Some corn desserts include puddings, mush, corn flavored ice cream, popcorn, candies, cakes, etc. A popular dessert called canjica is a sweet corn mush made with regular and coconut milk, sugar, butter, and cinnamon.

Another familiar dish made from corn at this time is pamonha. This is a corn paste made with milk that is wrapped in the corn husk and boiled in water. It can be either a sweet dessert or a salty side or snack.

Here is a recipe for canjica if you want to try it out:

www.indiana.edu/~baiu/guta/canjica.html

Forró

Forró (foe-ho) music is a type of folk music that is also very popular in the northeast of Brazil. Forró music is normally themed with romance, passion, jealousy, etc. as the main subject of the lyrics. Usually only three instruments are used to play forró music, the accordion, a drum, and a triangle. These instruments play the same pattern over and over in order to make very rhythmic song (see media). They are so rhythmic that once the lyrics of one song ends the instruments do not even stop playing, they will just slightly switch patterns or rhythms and a new song will start. Dancing can go on for hours in this way!

To listen to a sample of forró music go to iTunes and look up forró music and many selections should come up. Any of the songs will be fine. Most songs do sound alike because they use the same three instruments to create a beat and rhythm. There is also a link that will take you to Brazilian radio station site. It sometimes plays forró music:

www.siderallmidia.com.br/

A theory for the name "forró" is thought to have come from the english expression of "for all." Brazilians are said to have gotten this expression from americans stationed in an air force base in the Brazilian northeastern city of Natal. But the theory that puts forró as a derivative of forrobodó, meaning "great party" or "commotion" is likely the real way that forró received its name.

Facts

Area: total: 8,511,965 sq km land: 8,456,510 sq km water: 55,455 sq km

boundaries:
total: 14,691 km
border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km

Coastline: 7,491 km

Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south.

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt.

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m

Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Land use:
arable land: 6.96%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 92.15% (2001)

Irrigated land: 26,560 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south.

Population: 186,112,794

Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

Pelé

Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé - his nickname) is one of the most famous soccer players in Brazil. He is known as the king of soccer because of his accomplishments and contributions to the game. Pelé was the only soccer player to win 3 World Cup titles. He also was on the team when they played in the world cup in 1962, but did not play due to injuries and did not receive a cup.

Many consider Pelé to be the greatest soccer player ever in the world's history. His trademark or most amazing move was the "bicycle kick" used in soccer. Sometimes this now popular move is even refered to as the "Pelé kick." He scored 1281 goals in 1363 games.

Pelé was named after the famous inventer Thomas Edison and his original nickname was Dico. Later it changed because he mispronounced his favorite soccer player's name - Bilé. He rather said Pilé and other school kids called him Pelé. At first Pelé disliked his nickname and was even suspended from school for punching the kid who first called him it. But the more he complained of it, the more it stuck.

Important events:

1958 - World Cup Championship

1962 - World Cup Championship

1966 - World Cup Champisonship

November 19, 1969 - scored his 1000th goal

1970 - World Cup Championship

October 1, 1977 - Last game played

1977 - Retirement

1999 - Voted Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committe

Voting

Did you know that it is manditory to vote in Brazil? If you are a Brazilian citizen you have to vote or you suffer the consequences. Punishments for not voting in Brazil include large fees or even jailtime. It is important to the country that everyone expresses their opinion in the leader chosen to run their nation. In order to make sure this does happen, voting is manditory.

Did you also know that Brazil was the first country to have fully electronic elections? The importance of voting and elections can be seen through this fact. Below is the electronic voting machine used in Brazil. It is quick and efficient so that all can vote.
Next time you go to vote, remember the importance of all citizens to express their opinions in the nation.

Capoeira

Capoeira is a very popular Brazilian martial art. It is performed with music and many of the movements are influenced by the rhythm of the music being played. The main goal is to not hurt your opponent, but rather it emphasizes skill, mainly evasivness. You try and show movement, without completing it. To see clips of capoeira, a very good site is for clips is www.princeton.edu/~capoeira/md_mov.html. Check out the clips and notice the how they move according to the music rhythm.


Capoeira originated from slaves brought to Brazil from Africa. Many used capoeira to resist their opressors. It evolved throughout the years and later became recognized as a national sport.

Capoeira is a sport practiced with lots of different movements . You are always moving in capoeira. Ginga is the basic movement that you start with and go back to after making a move. It is difficult to explain. Watch the clip in order to see.






To the right is a photo of the instrument called the berimbau. This is the main instrument used to make the rhythmic pattern for the fight.


Capoeira has influence through out the world, even here in America. There are many movies, video games and television shows that base their characters, dance, and movements on capoeira. A few of these are movies such as The Rundown, Oceans 12, Aeon Flux and more. Martial arts video games base many characters moves on capoeira. A popular game with capoeira characters is Tekken 3. And I bet many of you have heard the song used for avertizing for the Mazda automobile, Zum, Zum, Zum. This is a capoeira song.

Capoeira is a very interesting sport that requires skill, rhythm and balance.