
Customs and Traditions of Brazil
Religion
According to Countryaah, most of the Brazilian population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. Also on the territory of the country you can see representatives of Judaism, Protestantism and adherents of African spiritualistic religions.
Attitude towards tourists
By nature, Brazilians are emotional, responsive and very smiling. Tourists are treated with respect here, regardless of their nationality or skin color. Racists are not welcome here.
Brazilians are always ready to help. If your car breaks down, the driver will help you fix it for free, even if the repair takes a long time. The best reward for him will be an offer to sit and drink beer together.
You can face outright rudeness only in the industrial areas of large cities. A slightly oppressive feeling is caused by the local slums. At the same time, even the most impoverished families will never stoop to outright begging. Check agooddir for recent history of Brazil.
Tourist behavior rules
When visiting the border, control your behavior. Follow the basic rules of tourist behavior:
- Bargaining. In all Brazilian markets, you can and should bargain.
- Taxi. Some taxis do not speak English. Therefore, first ask the hotel administrator to write the address you need on paper in order to show it to the taxi driver later.
- When relaxing on the beach, do not leave clothes unattended. The same applies to cameras, jewelry and wallets. If you are invited by a stranger, it is better to refuse.
- Precautionary rules. Do not open the door of a hotel room to a stranger. With the onset of dusk, avoid walking through the old districts of the city. At this time, it is better to use the metro or taxi to get around – they are much safer.
- smoking. Smoking in public places and government offices is prohibited.
- Clothing style. Try to be simple in clothes, do not stand out among the locals. Cotton shorts and the same short-sleeved T-shirt can be the best casual outfit.
- Money. If a stranger comes up to you on the street and asks for money, then ignore him. In case of an inadequate reaction to this gesture, give him the money without arguing.
- Friendship. Friendly relations among Brazilians are very much appreciated. Therefore, you do not need to refuse to sit with him in a cafe because of your employment.
- Passport mode. When walking around the city, always take your passport with you, it may be required for verification by law enforcement agencies.
Holidays
The brightest and most memorable holiday in Brazil is the February carnival. It begins on the last Saturday before the start of Lent and lasts for four days. The celebration is accompanied by dances, songs and festivities. Most shops are closed during this period.
Official holidays and non-working days:
- January 1 – New Year, which is combined with the Commonwealth Day.
- January 20 – Rio de Janeiro was founded on this day.
- April – Holy Saturday and Easter are celebrated at this time.
- May 1 – Labor Day.
- The end of May is the Feast of the Body of the Lord.
- June 15 – Tiradentes.
- September 7 is Independence Day.
- October 12 – Appearance of the Virgin.
- November 2 is All Saints Day.
- November 15 – Day of the proclamation of the Republic.
- December 24-25 – Catholic Christmas is celebrated.