So, long after, here I am again to bark to you all! And I'm very happy to be here writing for you, my dear pals!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, right? And everyone is very excited for it, preparing feasts, turkeys, pies and etc.! So I was wondering about it. About why do you Americans celebrate it so grandly and here in Brazil it isn't even holiday! And talking to some friends about it, a very special friend of mine, Sir Barley (@SirBarley), asked me what are the big holidays here in Brazil and I've decided to write about them, for you guys to know. Cause we all know that all world knows about the Big American Holidays, but a few people know about the Big Brazilian Holidays!
First of everything, I'm not going to talk about Christmas and New Year, cause they are the same all over the world! Maybe I talk about them soon, not sure.
Second: I'll explain all the Big Holidays and I'll speak their names in Portuguese too, for you all to learn more Portuguese! bol!
So, let's see the Big Brazilian Holidays!
The first one I'll talk about is the Brazilian Carnival (in Portuguese we say "Carnaval")!
The Brazilian Carnival is an annual festival celebrated all over Brazil. The Carnival happens four days before the Ash Wednesday, which usually happens in February. It is a Holiday of four days, and during these days we can do anything. It's celebrated by different styles in different states of Brazil, as Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Pernambuco and Minas Gerais, but the most famous celebration is from Rio de Janeiro. Here in Rio Grande do Sul we celebrate Carnival as Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro carnival style includes a big and colorful parade! In this style, there are the samba schools (in Portuguese "escolas de samba").
"Samba schools are very large groups of performers, financed by respected organizations, who work year round in preparation for Carnival. Samba Schools perform in the Sambadrome (in Portuguese "Sambodromo"), which runs four entire nights. They are part of an official competition, divided into seven divisions, in which a single school is declared the winner, according to costume, flow, theme, and band music quality and performance. Some samba schools also hold street parties in their neighborhoods, through which they parade along with their followers."
There are the "carros alegóricos" too. I don't know how to say it in English, but they are very big cars, pushed by people, very colorful and full of different things, the allegories, and some important people can parade at these cars.
I'd like to explain each section of the samba schools, but it would take much time, so I won't do it now, maybe later.
The parades, specially in Rio, are very beautiful! But some people don't go to the Sambadrome, as my mom. We usually take a trip to the beach and watch the parades on TV. Many people do it, so the beach is usually full during the Carnival, which is not very cool.
Okay, I've already talked too much about the Carnival, let's go to the next holiday!
The Easter in Brazil (in Portuguese "easter" is "Páscoa")!
"Easter celebration in Brazil begins with the Holy Week rituals, which involve the blessing of the palm branches, woven in intricate patterns representing crosses, banners, letters and other related objects. Like in many other countries, worshippers in Brazil take out procession walks, carrying statues of Mary and the body of Lord Jesus Christ."
"Worshipping the popular symbols of Easter is a popular custom in Brazil. Macela flower, which blooms only in the lent, is worshipped by the devotees of Lord Jesus Christ, in the country. On Palm Sunday (in Portuguese "Domingo de Ramos"), people would bring the flower to the church service, as to receive the blessings of the priest. The flower is later on used as a herb, which is believed to cure many diseases. Thereafter, mouthwatering dishes are served. Traditionally, the recipes typical to the country are prepared on Easter. These include 'clipfish', chocolate Easter eggs (in Portuguese: "Ovo de Páscoa") and the lip smacking Easter ring cake."
So, as you can see there are many different ways to celebrate the easter here in Brazil, but there are some people who don't do all these things. Here in my house, for example, we pray and give chocolate easter eggs, but we don't go to procession walks and etc. Sometimes we take a trip to the beach, as during Carnival, but it's not very frequently.
Just for curiosity, I always win an easter egg too, but mine is made of bones, cause dogs can't eat chocolate! They are pretty good. I love them! Next Easter I'll save some for you guys to taste!
I don't know what to say more about Easter, so that's all for now! :)
Let's see the next big holiday:
The Independence Day of Brazil (in Portuguese "Dia da Independência do Brasil"), commonly called Sete de Setembro (in English "7th of September")!
I think this little text said everything we can say about our celebration of Independence Day! BOL!
Oh, there is something more! The airplanes! There are some airplanes of FAB (Força Aérea Brasileira - Brazilian Air Force) that parade beautifully leaving colorful designs in the sky! But there is something bad with these airplanes: they make too much noise to our sensitive ears.
Now there is something more, specially for you:
"In New York City the Brazilian Day in New York is held annually to celebrate Brazil's Independence Day. The event takes place at 46th Street, near Times Square, in Manhattan. The Brazilian Day in New York concert is the centerpiece of the event, featuring famous Brazilian musicians, such as Daniela Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, Victor & Léo, Skank, Sandy & Junior, Cláudia Leitte, and Banda Calypso, to name a few. In 2008, the event drew a crowd of 1.5 million people, according to the New York City Police Department. The Brazilian television network Globo sponsors the event and airs it live to Brazil and over 115 countries through Globo International Network.Similar events are held in Deerfield Beach, Florida, San Diego and Los Angeles, California, and London, United Kingdom. "
As you can see, there is a celebration of the Independence Day of Brazil there, in the U.S. Maybe some of you have already heard something about it, and there is also the possibility of some of you have already been to a "Brazilian Day". It would be very cool if someday, some of you go to a "Brazilian Day"! Then you can say to me what do you think about Brazilian people and Brazilian culture!
Talking about Brazilian people, I want to know something from you!
Does any of you know someone from Brazil?
Well, I guess these three holidays are the biggest holidays here in Brazil! There are the regional holidays too, but I talk about them in some other day! LOL!
I like them all, but I prefer the ones that have much food, do you know what I mean?! Like Easter! Hmm, so yummy!
Talking about food, I'll say some words in Portuguese for you to know okay (about food!)?! I don't know if you like it, but I love translating words for you!
Food -> Comida
Bone -> Osso
Yummy -> Gostoso, saboroso
Chocolate -> Chocolate (that's cool, isn't it?)
Egg - Ovo
Turkey -> Peru
Pie -> Torta
Well, there are many others, but this is making me feel hungry, so I'll stop right here! LOL!
There is another word that is important to translate:
Holiday! We say "feriado" in Portuguese!
I'm thinking about create a box full of vocabulary here on my blog, I mean, with the words in English with the translation to Portuguese! Tell me what you guys think about it on Twitter, I'll just do it if you pals want to! My Twitter is: @SponDog - follow me if you want! :)
Well, well, well... I think I've barked a looot today and you pals deserve some peace now, so I'm going to bark on Twitter! BOL!
If you have any question about any Holiday (that I talked about or not), vocabulary, expression or anything, just tweet me! I'll be glad to help you!
Au Au!! Hugs!! High Five!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!
- Spon Dog
P.S.: The pictures!
1. Carnival Parade in Rio de Janeiro - February 2009!
2. Some colorful Chocolate Easter Eggs! Yummy!
3. Military Parade - Brasilia, Brazil - Independence Day Celebration!
4. Military Parade - Esquadrilha da Fumaça (in English is something like smoke squadron) - FAB!
5. Don't you know who is that boy right there? Come on! He's the President of Brazil! That one who was in Brasilia watching the Military Parade on 7th of September! Yeah! I know you would remember: Spon! He's unforgettable, isn't he? My mom just loves him, but I don't know why! To be honest, I'm jealous of him! BOL!
Bye Pals! See you soon! (:
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