The world knows samba, a mix of European marches and African drumming; and bossa nova, a slower samba infused with French impressionism and American jazz. But Brazil's diverse population moves to the beat of many different drummers. And instruments that are unexpected here, like the banjo, have been incorporated in exciting ways.
Are these the world's best drummers? Bountiful lunches. Anthony Bourdain sits down for a traditional meal in Brazil's Minas Gerais state to learn about the complicated history of Brazilian cuisine.
A holdover from the Mediterranean lands that supplied Brazil with settlers from Portugal, Italy and Spain, lunch is dinner.
And a big dinner at that. Brazilian portions can be gigantic, often larger than even the standard American plateful. It's not a miscommunication when your waiter brings you enough food for twice your number. A light breakfast is advised, since you'll consume a lot more than you thought for lunch. Brazilians don't bury their cuisine in fiery sauces that kill flavor. In fact, aside from Bahians, they steer clear of hot sauces in favor of flavorful seasonings.
It's often said that if Brazilians could channel the creativity and industry they put into their annual Carnival blowout into economic endeavors, the country would be unstoppable.
Celebrating is a priority for Brazilians, whether it's on a colossal scale or just a backyard barbecue. They throw two of the world's biggest parties, Carnival, which makes New Orleans look minor league, and the New Year's Reveillon celebration.
Some 2 million people crowd the beaches of Rio to watch the spectacular Reveillon fireworks display. These are no or minute perfunctory bursts, but extended shows of firepower that can last 30 minutes and more, even in the Reveillon shows in small towns. And the festivities don't stop.
A profusion of regional celebrations, great support for the arts and an abundance of religious holidays keep celebrations on the calendar year-round. Plastic surgery. In a country with lots of beaches and few inhibitions about showing skin, it's not surprising that body beautiful is a preoccupation here -- and a very good occupation, too.
Brazil passed the United States in as the top country for several cosmetic surgery operations, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Brazilian plastic surgeons racked up more than , eyelid operations, , breast procedures, , bellies, , faces and 63, butt augmentations a rapidly growing segment, no pun intended. The dean of Brazilian plastic surgery, Ivo Pitanguy, is a national icon, as revered as famed architect Oscar Niemeyer or musician Milton Nascimento. Pitanguy believes that plastic surgery goes more than skin deep to emotional and spiritual well-being, and he pioneered a program five decades ago that offers free to heavily discounted plastic surgery to the poor.
More than two dozen public hospitals in Rio have followed suit with plans for low-income patients. There's no stigma to plastic surgery in Brazil and people talk openly about their procedures and recommended doctors. The quality of surgeons is high and the prices lower than in the United States. The combination attracts medical tourists from around the world.
Brazil is not usually referenced when thinking about Hispanic Latin culture, but it has many cultural similarities with other countries in the region. While many people claim that Spanish and Portuguese may be similar, as they are languages originating from Romance languages, it is the language that has largely disassociated the country from the rest of the continent.
One of the most relevant characteristics when it comes to differentiating Brazil from the rest of Latin America is its musical rhythms, which are usually more focused on the national audience than on the international, due to the language barrier. Brazilian gastronomy is influenced by European, African and Indigenous cuisine, and is widely noted for the use of different flours to prepare food, as well as the beans that usually accompany most of the country's typical dishes.
Skip to main content. Google Tag Manager. How is Hispanic Latino culture different from Brazilian Latino culture? How is Hispanic Latino culture different from By Erika Ardila. Most of Brazil's Atlantic rain forest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but they only cover about 7 percent of the country. Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a judiciary.
From until recently, the country struggled with democracy. But in , the military government was peacefully removed, and by , Brazil's politics and economy had become fairly stable.
Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits. Brazil is also South America's most industrial nation, producing chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.
Until recently, scientists thought Brazil was first settled by Asians about 10, years ago. But new evidence shows there were people living there at least 32, years ago. Some experts think they may have arrived from islands in the Pacific Ocean. Brazil was added to the map of the world during the great European explorations in the late 15th century led by Portugal and Spain. When Europeans first reached the coast of Brazil, the country was home to about 30 million indigenous people, or Amerindians.
Today, only about , remain, living primarily in Brazil's remotest places. Portugal established its first colony in Brazil in Colonists created sugarcane plantations along the coast and sent diamonds and gold back to Europe. Soon, people from West Africa were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. The discovery of large inland gold reserves brought thousands of people from the coasts and as far away as Europe to the interior of the country. In , Brazilians tried to kick out their Portuguese rulers.
The rebellion was soon put down, but it started a movement toward independence.
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