Expert: Sandra - 7/18/2009

Question
I would only like to learn more about Brazilians' culture based on these questions...

What is/are the colour(s) that symbolise(s) good or/and bad luck? For example: Chinese think Red symbolises good luck.

What is/are the flower(s) used in funerals and weddings? For example: Chinese use chrysanthemums in funerals.

Are there any particular animal that symbolises bad or good luck? For example: Americans think that Black cats symbolise bad luck.

Thanks for helping me...!

Answer
In Brazilian culture, although beliefs about a rabbit’s foot or black cats might be held in common with others, a lot of the traditions having to do with colors, etc. are based on beliefs brought by slaves from their home country in Africa, mixed a bit with the native Indian peoples’ beliefs too, and camouflaged in the Catholicism of the Portuguese.
The Orishas (Orixás) are the deities in the traditional Yoruba religion and in the religious traditions of African diaspora countries such as Brazil. The religion is known in Brazil as Candomblé or Umbanda.

The orixás all have their favorite foods, colors, and numbers. For example:
* Ogún is the god of iron, war and labor, and the owner of all technology. His colors are green and black. His food is black beans with onions.
* Oshosi is a member of the group known as the Warriors. His colors are blue and yellow. His food is corn with honey and coconut.
* Oshún rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, streams and rivers, embodying love and fertility. The colors associated with this orixá are yellow and gold. The food is hard-boiled eggs.
* Yemanjá lives and rules over the seas and lakes. She also rules over maternity. Her colors are blue and white. Her food is rice with honey. At her festival on the second of February, it is traditional to throw flowers into the sea as an offering to her.
* Shangó is a warrior orixá who rules over lightning, thunder, fire, the drums and dance. His colors are red and white. His food is okra.

Hope this information adds to your cultural understanding of Brazil.