Introduction to Brazilian
Culture
Presented by Celeste Mann
“Brazil in the Americas”
Teaching Brazil Workshop
10-2-2010
Brazilian Flag Symbolism
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Green: Brazilian rainforests
Yellow: The riches of the land
Blue: The sky
White: Peace
Order and Progress: (positivist
statement by philosopher August
Compte)
The Stars: The States of
Brazil
• North: Amazonas, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima,
Amapá, Tocatins, Pará
• Northeast: Maranhão, Ceará, Rio Grande do
Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Piauí,
Bahia
• Central West: Mato Grosso, Goiás, Mato
Grosso do Sul, Federal District (Brasília)
• Southeast: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro,
São Paulo, Minas Gerais
• South: Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande
do Sul
Order & Progress: The
People
• Original Ethnic Groups: African,
Indian, Portuguese
• Additional Immigration: Italy, Japan,
Germany
• More Recent Immigrants: Russian,
Eastern European, Korean, Middle
Eastern, Spanish-American
Order & Progress: The People
From Brazilian Forests and
Greenery
Regional Cuisine
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Feijoada
Churrasco
Xim xim de galinha
Cassava/manioc
Vatapá
Carne seca
Feijoada
Churrasco
photo: Churrasco on the Hill
Vatapá
photo: Creative Commons
From Brazilian Forests and
Greenery
 Tropical Plants (Fruits/Vegetables)
 Beverage
 Desserts
Brazilian Foods
photo: Quitando das Minas
Yellow: Brazilian Riches
• Minas Gerais
– Literature
– Film
– Television
Igreja de São Francisco de Paula, Ouro Preto,
Minas Gerias
Minas Gerais:Literature, Film, Television
• Minas Gerais figures in the Brazilian literature, film
and TV. Dona Beija, Xica da Silva, O Grande
Mentecapto.
• From there, historical and contemporary
figures/locations are explored in Brazilian TV,film and
literature
• Link to Rede Globo’s “Chiquinha” in English--trailer.
Chiquinha
Gonçalves Dias: “Canção do exílio” (julho
1843)
Minha terra tem palmeiras
Onde canta o Sabiá;
As aves, que aqui gorjeiam,
Não gorjeiam como lá.
Nosso céu tem mais estrelas,
Nossas várzeas têm mais flores
Nossos bosques têm mais vida,
Nossa vida mais amores…
Não permita Deus que eu morra,
Sem que eu volte para lá;
Sem que desfrute os primores
Que não encontro por cá;
Sem qu’inda aviste as palmeiras,
Onde canta o Sabiá.
My land has palm trees
Where the thrush sings.
The birds that sing in here
Do not sing as they do there.
Our skies have more stars,
Our valleys have more flowers.
Our forests have more life,
Our lives have more loves.
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May God never allow
That I die before I return;
That I do not see the beauties
That I cannot find in here;
That I do not see the palm trees
Where the thrush sings.
O Sabiá
Peace: Music & Dance
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Samba /Carnaval: Black Orpheus
Classical Music
MPB
Forró : Luis Gonzaga, Sabiá
Frevo
Other Afro-Brazilian Rhythms
Concert Dance: Modern/Ballet
Capoeira
The Sky/Heavens: Religion &
Spirituality
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Catholicism
Candomblé
Umbanda
Macumba
Protestant/Evangelist
Judaism
Islam