History
Brazil
was discovered in 1500 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral.
From this date on various economic cycles punctuated the history and development
of the country.
The first
such cycle was the "Brazilian Wood Cycle". It was based on a type
of wood used mainly to produce paints and stains. Later came the "Sugar
Cane Cycle", and during the 17th century, Brazil became the world's largest
producer of sugar. Then, came the "Gold Cycle", during which time,
gold was the main source of the nation's income. Next, came the time of the
"Diamond Cycle", which began about the same time that gold mining
began to decline. The "Coffee Cycle" started in the second half
of the 19th century and still represents one of the country's main sources
of export earnings. During the latter part of the 19th century, the "Rubber
Cycle" brought prosperity to the north of Brazil and transformed the
country into the world 's largest producer of natural rubber.
At the beginning
of the 19th century, when Portugal was invaded by Napoleon's armies, Dom João
VI, king of Portugal, moved his court to Brazil, an act that gave a new sense
of importance and impetus to the country. Ports were opened to international
commerce and the resulting spirit of regeneration contributed to the expansion
of the major commercial and cultural activities.
The first
movement for the Independence of Brazil from Portugal occurred in 1789, and
its hero, popularly know as "Tiradentes", became the national symbol
of liberty. Independence was proclaimed in 1822 by Dom Pedro I, first Emperor
of Brazil. His son, Dom Pedro II, reigned for 49 years until 1889 when Brazil
was proclaimed a Republic. Today, it is a Federated Republic, divided into
25 states and 1 territory. In 1940, Brazil started a new phase characterized
by industrial development. At the same time, agricultural technology advanced,
giving further impetus to the industrial surge and so accelerating financial
expansion. In spite of a large and ever growing domestic market, Brazil continues
to be a major exporter of agricultural products as well as manufactured items
such as heavy machinery, shoes and steel products.
Area
Brazil is
3,319,66 square miles or 8,511,965 square kilometers covering almost half
of South America. Brazil's coastline runs along the Atlantic Ocean for over
11,919 miles (7,408 kilometers) of white sandy beaches.
Borders
Almost a
continent in itself, Brazil borders all the nations of South America, with
the exception of Chile and Equator.
People
Germans,
Italians, Japanese and Slavs immigrated to the South of Brazil, Mediterranean
immigrants went to the Southwest, and Africans, Dutch and other European strains
settled in the North. Despite all its inter-racial nature, Brazil is sufficiently
integrated, speaks one language and does not have a single dominant racial
group.
The Brazilian Ethnic Composition
Mulatto:
descendant of White and Negro
Caboclo:
descendant of White and Native Indians
Cafuso: descendant
of Negro and Native Indians
Ainoco: descendant
of White and Japanese
Climate
Most
of Brazil lies immediately to the south of the Equator. As a result, there
is quite a little seasonal variation. The climate is comfortably temperate
in most of the country, and refreshing sea breezes often blow along the coast
all year round. With temperatures usually ranging from 65 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit
(18 to 30 degrees Centigrade) in Brazil 's principal cities, casual spring
and summer clothes are appropriate for almost every region and occasion.
Time
zone
In most of
the country and in the main cities, the time is 3 hours earlier than Greenwich.
That happens because Brazil is within the same hemisphere, it is in the same
time zone as North America and there is a maximum of 2 hours difference from
New York 's time.
Entry
requirements
A visa is
required for U.S. citizens wishing to visit Brazil. Passports, valid for at
least six months from the intended date of arrival, must carry a visa for
Brazil. Tourist or Transit visas generally processed within two working days,
are obtained from the nearest Brazilian Consulate. One passport-size photograph,
along with a round-trip ticket and an application form, fully completed and
signed, are required.
Customs
requirements
Besides clothing
and personal belongings, tourists entering Brazil may bring one of the following
items: a radio/ tape deck / portable disc laser / walkman / a typewriter /
camera.
National
holidays
January 1
= New Year 's Day
February/
March = Carnival, 4 days before Ash-Wednesday
March/April
= Easter (Good-Friday is a national holiday)
May 1 = Labor
Day
June 11 =
Corpus Christi
September
7 = Independence Day
October 12
= N. Sra. Aparecida (patron saint of Brazil)
November
2 = All Souls' Day
November
15 = Proclamation of the Republic
December
25 = Christmas Day
Business
hours
The shops
in Brazil are open from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Mondays through Friday, and from
9:00AM to 1:00PM on Saturdays. Shops close as late as 10:00 PM during the
month of December. Banks are opened from 10:00AM to 4:30PM during the week.
Electric
current
Rio de Janeiro
and São Paulo provide 110 or 220 Volt, 60-cycle alternating current (AC).
Salvador and Manaus have 127-Volt service. Recife, Brasilia and a number of
other cities have 220-Volt service. Most hotels, however, provide transformers
and/or adapters for guests.
Clothing
Tropical
suits are necessary and, with neckties, are the customary official attire
all year round. A dark, lightweight suit will be useful for formal evening
occasions. Dinner jackets are rarely worn. Women wear light cotton dresses
in the summer. In the winter, warm clothing is suitable for Southern Brazil.
In restaurants, ties and jackets are seldom required (in Rio only), but are
frequently necessary because of the air-conditioning. The sunlight is extremely
bright and sunglasses are recommended.
Vaccination
None is required.
Currency
The Brazilian
currency is the Real (R$). The official rate of exchange for other currencies
is published daily in the main Brazilian newspapers. Foreign currency or travellers
checks can be exchanged for Reais at hotels, banks, and travel agencies. Most
international credit cards are accepted.
Language
Portuguese
is the national language.
In Brazil,
Portuguese is spoken with a rhythmic intonation and in a relaxed way different
than in Portugal. It has a flavor of its own, typical of a young and dynamic
country. Today one might say that Brazilians speak "Brazilian".
English is the second language spoken in most areas, specially in hotels,
shops, restaurants, and other tourist spots.
Shopping
Centers
Most of the
modern capital features comfortable shopping centers, where one may find every
article from cigarettes, films, shoes to precious stones. Most of the modern
shopping centers have large entertainment areas and food-plazas.
Telephone
calls
International
calls are easy to do, to be collected home or at telephone offices paid locally.
Collect calls may be done from public telephones dialing 107 (no tokens required).
Taxis
Usually are
yellow-cars with a taximeter. Some major capitals offer also a radio-taxi
service with more comfort. Airport taxis operate with pre-established prices.
Potable
water
Although
water is treated in most cities, we strongly recommend that only mineral water
shall be drank. Water from taps is not suitable for drinking.
Mail
Services
Hotels
usually deliver any letters or post cards, but there are post offices available
in every neighborhood.
Duty
Free shops
Found
at the International Airports only. These shops, located inside the international
boarding areas, accept foreign currencies only.
Brazilian
Folklore
Brazilian
folklore literature is very influenced by European, native and African traditions.
The folklore has conserved myths and tales from Africa, mainly under the religious
aspect. The strongest folklore expressions are found in the Northeast, where
tradition, individual creativity, songs, tales and myths are mixed in the
everyday life of its people.
The
Brazilian popular music
Although
the most popular rhythm is the "Samba", made known world-wide by
the famous singer Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian music today is represented
by the "Bossa Nova". The percussive rhythms from Africa have generated
a number of dances and styles such as the Candomblé and Afoxé (Bahia State),
Frevo and Maracatu (Pernambuco State), Xaxado (Northeast States), Carimbó
(Pará State), and variations from the Samba itself in the Rio de Janeiro region:
Samba de Gafieira (Indoor dances), Samba Canção (slow pace samba), Samba de
Carnaval (Theme songs for the Carnival Parades), Samba batucada (full percussive),
Chorinho (played by small combos with guitars, mandolins, tambourine and a
flute or clarinet). Some of the top Brazilian songwriters are Milton Nascimento,
Tom Jobim, Jorge Benjor, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, continuing
Carmen Miranda's task of making the Brazilian music known around the world.
Undoubtedly,
the Brazilian carnival is the most popular celebration in the entire world,
and the country really stops for almost a whole week. The period is variable,
from February to March, starting 4 days before Ash-Wednesday. Rio de Janeiro,
where the famous samba-schools parade takes place, attracts thousands of visitors
every year. This celebration in Recife - where its peculiar brass bands play
songs under the wild rhythm of the "Frevo" - and in Salvador - the
"electric trios" in Salvador attract thousands of people to the
city streets. Of course, Carnival takes place everywhere in Brazil, but the
3 mentioned cities would be the recommended spots for a first time experience.
Another
yearly celebration that gathers more and more people is the New Year's Eve
celebration in Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana Beach gathers almost a million people.
They come to the beach to watch the fireworks while members of afro-related
religions deliver their offerings and gifts to the sea-goddess Yemanjá.
Handicrafts
Embroideries,
potteries, ceramic, wood-carvings, dolls are examples of the immense variety
that can be found at local markets and street fairs.
Typical
food
The
cooking is rich. It was originated from native Indians food and added
with the spices from India, brought by the Portuguese, and made by the black-slaves
from Africa. Each region has its peculiar dishes such as:
Amazon
Region - Amazonas, Pará and Maranhão native food, basically fish,
crabs, or game from the forest, local fruits, seeds, herbs and roots.
Northern
Region - Ceará, Piauí, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba
and Alagoas.
Mainly seafood
dishes, seasoned with coconut oil and milk, flour and jerked meat with beans
and roots.
Bahia
State - The state, where most of the black population settled, has
some African influence in dishes such as Vatapá, Acarajé, using the oil extracted
from the "Dendê" in almost every dish. Mostly seafood (shrimps,
crabs) is very spicy.
Minas
Gerais State - The so called homemade food, in a country style,
is made mainly of pork meats, beans, cheese and milk.
Rio
de Janeiro - The carioca "Feijoada", made of black beans,
assorted meats from pork to ox, cabbage, manioc flour is always served with
the national appetizer - caipirinha.
Brazilian
Fruit - The diversity of fruits amazes anyone; the production is
exuberant and features tropical fruits such as pineapple, bananas, cashew,
passion fruit, papaya, and cold-climate fruits as melons, grapes, apples.
The Amazon Region is prodigal in exotic fruits like bacuri, cupuassu, jenipapo,
mangaba, tapereba. Delicious fruit-juices are made of these fruits and are
available in most Brazilian capitals.
Brazilian
Drinks
- Coffee
- a daily habit found in every Brazilian city, served in cups.
- Erva-mate
- An herb produced in Southern Brazil and enjoyed by southerners, substituting
the coffee in the form of tea.
- Guaraná
- An Amazon fruit which powder, when added to water and sugar, turns into
a refreshing and stimulating drink. It is found industrialized.
- Caldo
de Cana - The sugar cane juice extracted in small mills; served ice-cold.
- Batidas
- The result of the mixture of the Brazilian sugar cane liquor (Cachaça) with
different fruit juices and sugar; served cold.
- The
Caipirinha - The most popular "batida", made of Cachaça, crushed
limes and sugar; served ice-cold.
Useful
Information