Culture of Brazil

The Brazilian culture results from a mixture of European, Amerindian, African and Asian cultures. Not only do most Brazilians have ancestors from various parts of the world, their customs and rituals have blended into a new culture that is typically Brazilian. At nowadays, the level of mixture is that high that cultural differences exist mainly between regions.

The Brazilian cuisine is versatile. The Brazilians blended ingredients and recipes from various continents long before Europeans and North-Americans spoke about fusion kitchen . Especially the cuisines of Italy and Africa have had a profound influence.

Sports are an important part of the Brazilian society. Mosts sports are practised in the entire country but football is by far the most popular sport in Brazil. The larger towns have usually more than one professional football club. Brazilians who know each other are generally able to tell exactly what club the other person supports. Although football is mainly practised by men, the most fanatic supporters are often women. A sport which is typically Brazilian is capoeira . This is a combination of martial arts and dancing. It originates from the Northeast of Brazil.

Brazil has a very rich music tradition. The Brazilian music originates from mixing the styles of European colonists with the styles of African slaves. The Amerindians have had a smaller influence on Brazilian music. Samba is famous throughout the world. Bossa Nova is well-known among jazz enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the Brazilian music does not get the international attention to which it is entitled. Who learns more about Brazilian music, discovers a new world of sounds, styles and rhythms varying from classical music to hiphop-like styles.