Brazilian Trends and Culture

Brazil is considered one of the hippest Countries in the Modern Era. Everyone loves Brazil; they love Brazilians girls, Brazilians parties, Brazilians accessories, carnival and much more.

Brazil is the owner of a big variety of the best things in the whole world. The best soccer team is Brazilian, the best soccer players are from Brazil, the most beautiful model in the whole world, Gisele Bundchen is from Brazil, the best festival Carnival is from Brazil, the best and the most known flip flops Havaianas are from Brazil and so on…..





The Brazilian culture is the main difference from Brazilian and the other countrie's culture. The culture is what makes all Brazilians proud of themselves. The Latin American culture mixed with the main influence of a Portuguese one, due especially to the colonial ties, and a background from Africa and Amercidiam societies (which is consist of the natives Indians such as Tupi and Guarani), had transformed the country in a diverse multicultural and multiethnic society.




Brazil Soccer Team

The country has become one big heart. The mixture is what make everyone so special. The variety of cultures and costumes is what builds the Brazilian culture—is what makes it so intriguer. The happiness of people is the entrance door to the country, the music and the festivals are the reflection of these contentment. Everything is tied up in one big sympathetic, amazing, undiscovered and beautiful country.

Inside the Country's Heart

The Brazilian Culinary has a batch of different influences, due to the colonization and the diversity of immigrants. The major influences came from Portuguese and African culture; together with the Indians native culinary.

During the Nineteenth Century, slavery ended and an independent Brazil became a hot spot for immigrants from all over the world. Lots of new arrivals arrived in Brazilian land especially from Asia, Western and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The new cultures brought with them traditions kitchen creating on Brazilian cuisine a truly eclectic spin. As a conclusion, the nation's multiethnic and multifaceted cooking is considered unique and delicious.

Herein there are some recipe of the famous food in Brazil:

Caipirinha – Brandy Cocktail



Serves 1
1 lime, quartered
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
2 ounces cachaca* or vodka
Ice cubes
Mash the lime quarters in a cocktail glass with a wooden pestle. Do not remove the pieces of crushed lime. Add the sugar and cachaca. Fill the glass with ice cubes and stir well.
*Cachaca is available in the United States in metropolitan liquor stores and in some Brazilian specialty food stores.

Coxinhas- Mock chicken legs



Makes about 15

One 3-pound chicken,cut into pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup rice flour
2 cups milk
1 cup reserved chicken broth
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 tablespoon butter
1 malagueta pepper, finely chopped*
4 cups fine bread crumbs
2 eggs, beaten

Vegetable oil for frying
sauté the chicken in olive oil. Add garlic, onion, bay leaf, salt and pepper to taste. Cover with water and simmer until done. Remove chicken and reserve 1 cup broth. Take the meat off the bones. Reserve 15 thin strips of chicken and finely chop the remainder.
Whisk together the flour, milk and reserved broth until smooth and cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in egg yolks, butter, chicken and malagueta pepper. Correct the seasonings. Return to heat and stir until quite thick. Completely cool mixture in refrigerator. Take an amount the size of a large egg and shape it around a reserved strip of chicken, forming a "drumstick." Roll in bread crumbs, dip into beaten eggs and cover with another layer of bread crumbs. Fry in hot oil until golden brown.
Note: a bone from the cooked chicken can be placed into each coxinha, along with the strip of chicken meat, providing a closer resemblance to a chicken leg.
*In the US, malagueta peppers are available bottled, not fresh. They are chilis and should be handled carefully because they contain oils that can irritate or burn the skin or eyes.

Brigadeiro – Chocolate Balls



Ingredients:
1 tin sweetened condensed milk
2-3 Tablespoons Nestle Quick (or other chocolate powder)
2 Tablespoons butter
Chocolate sprinkles
Tiny paper candy cups

Method:
Combine ingredients in a heavy pot and stir constantly over medium heat, bringing to a boil. Continue stirring two mintutes - or until mixture becomes so thick, you can't see the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and carefully scoop hot mixture out of pot into a separate bowl to cool.
Cool completely.
Coat hands with butter and scoop out a teaspoon sized amount into the palm of your hand. Roll into a small ball, roll the ball in sprinkles and let rest in paper cup.
Makes about 40.
*Sinful secret. Brazilians also like to eat Brigadeiro right out of the pot. Let it cool enough so you don' t get scorched, pass around a few teaspoons and dig in!

The best places to visit – Florianopolis (FLORIPA)

The unusual urban configuration of the island and the diversity of its landscapes prove that it is possible to conciliate all the resources of a great city with the quality of life that is often only found in smaller cities away from the major cities.

Places to visit, includes:

• the view point of the Hercílio Luz bridge, one of the biggest suspension bridges of the world inaugurated in 1926;

• the view point of the Morro da Cruz, in the center, from where one can see a great part of the island and the continent;

• the viewpoint of the Lagoa da Conceição lagoon, which offers a panoramic view of the beautiful lagoon, several beaches,

• the sand dunes of the Joaquina;

• the ocean and several other islands.

The beaches located on the north of the island are generally the most agitated—where young people are easily found there. Many of them offering excellent tourist infrastructure and leisure opportunities, for instance the beaches of:

• Canasvieiras, preferred place of Argentine visitors;
• Jurerê, a bastion of vacation homes of many of Brazilians wealthiest (often from neighboring economic powerhouse cities such as Sao Paulo);

• Ponta das Canas; Praia Brava, great for the practice of surfing;

• Mole;





• Cachoeira do Bom Jesus;

• Guarda do Imbau –Amazingly beautiful !!! A lake separates the small town to the beach!

The Sunny Capital FLO

The capital of the State of Santa Catarina, one of Brazil's wealthiest per capita states, Florianópolis is modern and cosmopolitan but rustic at the same time. The population of the island today is estimated at approximately 400,000 inhabitants. Florianopolis beaches are considered one of the best destinations in the world; where the new and the old exist together harmoniously. Blessed with tremendous natural beauty, the city also offers agitated parties especially in the summer season.

The beaches, the nightlife and tourism infrastructure are excellent for foreigners. Besides that, you can also find first world shopping stores, as well as untouched nature preserved landscapes and charming little fishing villages.

The island has 42 main beaches—each with a distinct neighborhood and personality. Surrounded by innumerable parks, natural reserves, squares, large lagoons, sand dunes, and much more.The economic activities on the island today are mainly tourism, commerce, public sector employment and fishing.



Sunset - Floripa

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide for the elaborate parades, the competition for the best samba school, the Sambadrome and finally the consideration as the famous Rio’s tourist attractions.

Each samba school rehearses all year round with passion for this event and all its members take part in the rehearsals, whether experts or not. It is a place where people who always wanted to write a song, play a percussion instrument or choreograph a dance will have their opportunity.

Samba schools are very large, well-financed organizations that labor year round in preparation for Carnival. Parading in the Sambadrome runs over four entire nights and is part of an official competition, divided into seven divisions, in which a single samba school will be declared that year’s winner. Blocos deriving from the samba schools also hold street parties in their respective suburbs, through which they parade along with their followers.



Everyone can participate even if you have never dance in any parades; the only cost is the costumes. It is one life experience, the parades are incredible beautiful and extraordinary. Tickets are already available for 2008 Carnival!!!!

The history of Carnival

The Brazilian Carnival is an annual festival that happens during 40 days before Easter until the beginning of Lent. The carnival believed to have its origins in the pagan Saturnaliais, and it’s celebrated as a profane event that can thus be considered an act of farewell to the pleasures of the flesh.

The first records of Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro date back to 1723. When immigrants from the Portuguese islands of Açores, Madeira and Cabo Verde introduced here the Entrudo.

The idea was basically getting everybody happy and soaked wet. People would go out in the streets with buckets of water and limes, and everybody could be a potential victim. Even Emperors took part in the fun. There's a curious record of a woman being arrested in 1855 for throwing a lime at Dom Pedro I's escorts.

After that in 1872 the Carnival started to be transformed to a working class festivity. People would dress up in costumes and perform on the parade accompanied by an orchestra of strings, ganzás, flutes, and other instruments. They were more organized than the Cordões, and gained popularity around 1911.

A PIECE OF PARADISE FOR EVERYONE

Fernando de Noronha is the beautiful archipelago formed by 21 small islands and islets, and only one is inhabited. Located in the North of Brazil, on the cost of Rio Grande do Norte, the main island of Fernando de Noronha has 17km2 and sits on top of a volcanic submarine mountain, which base is 60km wide and 4km deep.
The Archipelago it is know for its natural beauty, variety of species, of plants and especially for the opportunities to dive and be more connected to the nature.




Besides all these beauty Fernando de Noronha houses very important projects to save the environment and maintain the balance in the ecosystem. One of the most reliable is the Rotator Dolphin Project, which his main goal is to preserve the dolphin habitat and to study their natural behavior and interference in the archipelago.
The scientists also look for to minimizing the impact of tourism and the interference of humans in the islands.



On the other hand, Fernado de Norolha is a perfect place to dive, it is consistent of a big variety of sea life and it is renowned for its colorful reef and unbelievable transparent waters. As well as dive others activities are available there such as: boat and kayaking tours, fishing, snorkeling, trekking trails and horse riding.

In addiction a huge effort to protect and preserve the underwater fauna and flora has been happening these passed year; in order to this regulation the use of solar protectors are forbidden there now. Also approximately 70% of the archipelago's total area has been turned into a National Marine Park back in 1988, because of its striking scenery, exceptional geographic location, presence of endemic species, its strong genetic potential, and also constant claims from National and International Environmental entities.