While primarily a western nation, Brazil represents a diverse identity resulting from the ethnic and cultural mixing during the colonial period.
Due to three centuries of colonisation by the Portuguese Empire, the core of the country’s culture is rooted in Portugal. These numerous inheritances include language, religion and colonial architectural designs.
Diversity
Brazil’s cultural fusion involved indigenous people together with the descendants from the Portuguese and African nations. During the late 19th and the 20th centuries, more cultures began to assimilate as settlers from Italy, Spain, Germany, Levant countries, Japan, Switzerland, Poland and Ukraine were moving to Brazil.
This cultural diversity has created numerous celebrations and festivals that have become famous throughout the world. Colourful festivals such as the Brazilian Carnival and the Bumba Meu Boi have attracted countless visitors and made the country a popular destination for tourists.
Stylistic Pride
Brazilians pride themselves in dressing well. Men tend to wear conservative dark business suits and three-piece suits indicating that the person is an executive. Women prefer suits, or wear dresses that are elegantly feminine with high quality accessories.
Football (or soccer) is a national pastime and a great source of pride for Brazilians. The country’s national football team has won the FIFA World Cup a record number of five times – in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
Informal Approach
Brazilians tend to be direct in most situations and can easily communicate with strangers. Being interrupted is normal, and people tend to speak their minds freely. Interrupting others during a discussion is considered as a sign of enthusiasm as Brazilians communicate informally without strict rules or protocol.
Direct eye contact during conversation is favoured while communicating. However, service employees such as maids, delivery persons and repairmen often avoid eye contact with their employers.
Economic Powerhouse
Brazil’s economy outweighs all other South American countries. The country possesses large and highly developed agriculture, mining, manufacturing and service sectors.
The country is currently investing heavily in its workforce through educational social programmes such as Bolsa Familia and the Brazil Science Mobility Program. These include research in areas of space, nanotechnology, healthcare and energy.
People and Faith
Based on 2010 estimates of the CIA World Factbook, ethnic groups in Brazil consist of white 47.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 43.1%, blacks 7.6%, Asian 1.1% and indigenous 0.4%.
Major religions include Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholics 0.4%, Protestant 22.2%, other Christians 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, others 1.4%, none 8% and unspecified 0.4%.
This article is part of a series highlighting the unique cultures featured in the recently concluded Limkokwing International Cultural Festival 2017.