Expert: Sandra - 2/6/2010

Question
hi  i am 9 and need to find out how brazils dress wot food they drink and eat dance and clothes would u be able to help me please x

Answer
Hi Michele.
I would be happy to help you learn more about Brazilians.

Brazilians dress just like you do. Most of the country is hot, because it is near the Equator, so people use summer clothes (shorts, sandals, sneakers, T-shirts, dresses, mini-skirts) a lot of the time. A lot of the same brands of clothing that are popular in the U.S. (Billabong, Ralph Lauren, etc.) are also popular in Brazil. Office workers in the business center of Sao Paulo often wear suits to work. People in the south, where it is cooler in the winter, use long-sleeved shirts, sweaters and turtle-necks in the winter months. (The winter months in South America are March through October.)

Brazil is a tropical country, so there is a variety of yummy fruits. People drink lots of fruit juice. But Coke, Pepsi and a soft drink called guarana are also popular. Grownups often drink beer -- refreshingly very cold beer on a hot day. A small strong coffee with lots of sugar is popular as a pick-me-up during the day, or to relax after a meal.

The basic food at lunch and dinner in Brazil is rice and beans. Lunch is the big meal of the day. Breakfast is usually bread with jam, cheese and/or ham and coffee and/or fruit juice. Brazilians like to barbecue. They eat a lot of meat. Seafood is also popular, because Brazil has a long coastline and many rivers. Some Brazilian food traditions came from Africa with the slaves (like the seafood stew called moqueca), some came from the Portuguese/Azorean settlers, some from the cowboys in the south (barbecue), some from the native indians (hearts of palm), and some from the slaves during the colonial period (feijoada, a meat and bean stew). In the big cities, you can also find Japanese, Chinese, Middle-eastern, French, etc, food. some famous chefs of international quality at top restaurants, as well as McDonalds. And hot dogs are popular too!

Brazilians love music. Brazilians of all ages, from grandmothers to babies, can often be found at the same music show. There are many songs and singers/bands/composers that the whole population knows and loves, not just those of one age group. There are many popular rhythms. One of the most well known worldwide is samba, for Carnaval and for partner dancing at a club. Also bossa nova is well known. There are many others, like sertaneja (country music), and pagode (from the African heart of the country in Salvador). But everyone, of all ages and from all parts of the country, dances forro.

I hope this helps.
Maybe someday you can travel to Brazil to hear the wonderful music, eat the yummy food and play on the beautiful beaches.