Culture in Brazil

8.3 Brazil's Economy and Culture

by Mr. Garcia

Brazil is Diverse​ I

• ​Brazil is a mix of several cultures. Around 40% of its people have mixed ancestry.

• ​The largest groups are the people of European and African ancestry.

• ​The other major group is made up of people of European and Native ancestry.

​Brazil is Diverse II

• ​During the colonial period, 4 million African slaves were brought to Brazil. This affected the demographics immensely.

• ​Though some moved into the hinterlands most people in Brazil live near the coast.

• The northern part has a strong presence of freed slaves and natives.

Multiple Choice

Brazil is a very diverse country.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which group of people were brought in masse to Brazil before 1888?

• French

• Mexicans

• Spanish

• African

​Crowed Cities

• ​89% of all Brazilians live in the cities. This causes the cities to be crowded, and at times dangerous.

• ​Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro are the largest cities in the country. Both of them have large gaps in inequality, with many people living in poverty.

Multiple Choice

The two largest cities in Brazil are..

• Paris and Lyon

• Madrid and Barcelona

• New York and DC

• Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo

​Favelas and Crime

• ​Most of Brazil's cities have shantytowns called "favelas".

• ​Favelas are makeshift communities usually located at the edges of towns.

• ​With few resources and a lack of opportunity, many favelas are plagued with disease and crime.

Multiple Choice

A favela is...

• A wealthy neighborhood

• A small chateau for the middle class

• A community of people who live off the land

• A poor makeshift community, with high crime rates.

​Peoples and Culture

• ​The Brazilians have what they call the "Brazilian Way" which is characterized by a warm, welcoming nature.

• ​They are always ready to accept new things and people into their country.

• ​Ethnicity still plays a role in socioeconomics.

Multiple Choice

Characteristics of the "Brazilian Warmth"

• Cold, distant, and intolerant.

• Reserved, and distrustful.

• Warm, welcoming, and tolerant.

​Languages

• ​Due to the many people groups that have lived in Brazil over time, Brazilian has developed a rich multicultural vocabulary.

• ​Brazilian and Portuguese are somewhat similar, but due to the expanded vocabulary, it is hard for them to understand each other.

​Religion in Brazil

• ​About two-thirds of Brazilians are Roman Catholics with women going to Church more often than men.

• ​Most of the rest of the population follows the Protestant faith.

• ​Islam and Buddhism are also growing religions.

​Arts and Food

• ​Brazilians love food and their diet is varied, rich with flavor, and diverse representing all of the cultures present in the country.

• ​Every year Brazilians celebrate the "Carnival", a celebration with music, dress-up, and partying.

Multiple Choice

What is the main religion in Brazil?

• Catholicism

• Protestantism

• Islam

• Buddhism

Multiple Choice

What is "Carnival"?

• A traditional Brazilian meal

• A type of dance

• A celebration in Brazil full of music and partying.

Rural Life ​

• ​People in rural Brazil have incredibly close ties with their families and communities.

• ​Their situation is not easy. Most families are poor and work on farms and ranches.

• ​Their diet consists of hearty meals that help them remain active during harvest seasons.

​City Life

• Many city dwellers are poor and have therefore a poor diet.

• ​The busy cities in the South enjoy a higher standard of living than those in the North.

• ​The cities move at a very fast pace compared to the rural areas.

• ​Soccer is the most popular sport in Brazil

Multiple Choice

What kind of family culture can you find in rural Brazil?

• Big families that don't get along.

• Close families, with a lot of warmth for each other.

• People live in tribes, not families.

Multiple Choice

Soccer is Brazil's most famous sport

• True

• False

• Soccer is not even the real name, sigh...

​Modern Brazil

• ​Today Brazil is the world's seventh economy.

• ​The country is plagued with large socioeconomic disparities.

• ​Education and college are some of the main ways people escape poverty in Brazil.

• ​The country is in a constant fight against deforestation.

Multiple Choice

Brazil is the seventh economy in the world, but they are plagued with economic disparities.

• True

• False