Dear Language Enthusiast, We invite you to the exciting new edition of our Portuguese newsletter. For those of you unfamiliar with our newsletter, we hope that it helps to polish your Portuguese skills by combining useful information and cultural insight. As the cold weather begins here in New Hampshire, we are brought together for warm family gatherings. One New England tradition is a Sunday dinner at the grandparents' house, complete with pumpkin pie and hot cider, after a long day of apple picking or admiring the colored leaves of the forest. However, different countries have different traditions that bring them together. Therefore, our newsletter will focus on family roots and traditions. We feel it is necessary to understand the traditions of family and community in Brazil in order to better understand the way language reflects cultural values. Also included are tips for PortugueseNow! users. The first half is in Portuguese, and the second half is an English translation. Sincerely, Transparent Language www.transparent.com Em português: O povo brasileiro, descendente de várias culturas que formaram o que hoje é o Brasil, combina uma variedade de tradições e costumes que são únicos desta miscigenação. Desde os índios, os primeiros brasileiros, tanto os africanos quanto os portugueses, italianos, alemães, japoneses, sírio-libaneses e outros contribuiriam para que a cultura brasileira se moldasse. Estes imigrantes, em épocas e circunstâncias diferentes, estabeleceram o "mapa" cultural do Brasil. A diversidade desta herança cultural está presente em todos os aspectos da vida brasileira: culinária, música, arquitetura e religião. Estas manifestações culturais e religiosas parecem coexistir de uma forma pacífica e, até mesmo, completar uma a outra. Um aspecto interessante desta vida brasileira relaciona-se ao sincretismo religioso, que é o retrato da união dessas culturas diferentes. Embora o catolicismo seja dominante, há muitas festas dedicadas aos deuses africanos que são amplamente celebradas por muitos, como por exemplo, a festa de Iemanjá, deusa das águas. Flores e oferendas são levadas para a beira da praia, esperando que a deusa as aceite. Neste dia, como na noite de ano novo, as pessoas se vestem de branco, uma cor pura, para atrair boa energia. O brasileiro parece ser um povo muito tolerante e aberto, o que permite esta combinação de costumes e crenças de uma forma harmoniosa. É também um povo muito supersticioso. As superstições têm origens nas próprias raízes do Brasil e como tudo, da influência dos diversos povos que o formaram. Algumas delas são muito conhecidas por todos: não passar embaixo de escada, pois atrai o azar, nunca colocar a bolsa no chão para que a situação financeira não piore. O brasileiro também gosta de carregar amuletos, para repelir as energias negativas, atrair as positivas, como um sinal de sua fé e esperança. Crucifixos, figas (uma mão fechada, com o polegar entre o indicador e o médio que é usado contra a má sorte), medalhas, contas, fitas do Senhor do Bonfim, o santo protetor da Bahia (amarra-se no pulso com 3 nós, e se faz 3 pedidos), plantas como a arruda (carregar um ramo atrás da orelha para manter a inveja longe). Toda festa ou celebração religiosa no Brasil tem uma ligação com a comida. Oferecer comida e bebida é uma forma de agradecimento aos santos, aos deuses. Também é uma forma de partilhar a boa sorte, a prosperidade e a boa saúde. Por exemplo, em São Paulo, na Festa de São Genaro, nos finais de semana durante um mês do ano, toneladas de massas e doces, dentro da tradição italiana são vendidas e distribuídas pelas ruas do bairro italiano. No dia de São Cosme e Damião, dois freis tidos como santos e que se dedicaram às crianças pobres, os orfanatos, creches e centros de assistência ao menor recebem toneladas em doações, doces e balas. No último dia do ano, japoneses e seus descendentes brasileiros (nisseis e sanseis) se reúnem para preparar o Moti, um bolinho de arroz que deve ser comido no primeiro dia do ano, para trazer paz e prosperidade. São feitos milhares de bolinhos que são depois distribuídos pela cidade. Quando um brasileiro oferece comida a alguém, também é uma forma de partilhar, como alguém que oferece o que possui de melhor. Não se deve recusar para não ofender o anfitrião ou perder o amigo. Nem mesmo um cafezinho! In English: The Brazilian people, descendents of several cultures that make up what we know today as Brazil, combine a variety of traditions and customs that are unique to this country. In addition to the indigenous people, who were the first Brazilians, Africans, Portuguese, Italians, Germans, Japanese, Syrian-Lebanese and others contributed to the formation of the Brazilian culture. These immigrants, in different moments and circumstances, established the cultural "map" of Brazil. The diversity of this cultural heritage is present in all aspects of Brazilian life, from cuisine to music, architecture and religion. These cultural and religious variations seem to coexist in a peaceful way, and even complement one another. One interesting aspect of Brazilian life is the religious fusion, a portrait of the union of these different cultures. Although Catholicism is dominant, there are many religions dedicated to African gods and traditions. Many people openly celebrate these religions. A good example is the Festival of Iemanjá, who is the goddess of water. On this day, as on New Year's Eve, people dress in white, the pure color, to attract positive energy. They bring flowers and gifts to the beach, hoping that the goddess will accept them. The Brazilian people are open and tolerant. This allows these combinations of customs and beliefs to coexist in a harmonious way. Brazilians are very superstitious people. The superstitions have their origins in the Brazilian roots, and like everything else, originate from the influence of the several cultures which formed the country. Some of them are well known by all: not to walk under ladders, because that is supposed to attract bad luck, and not to leave your purse on the floor, so your financial situation will not worsen. Brazilians also like to carry amulets, to repel negative energy, and to attract positive energy, as a sign of faith and hope. Some of these include: crosses, "figas" (an open hand, with the thumb between the index and middle finger, believed to keep the bad luck away), medallions, beads, ribbons of the Senhor do Bonfim, patron saint of Bahia (tie ribbons around the wrist with 3 knots, and make 3 wishes), and plants like the herb "grace" (carrying the leaves behind the ear and said to keep envy away). Every festival or religious celebration is connected with food. Offering food and drink is also a way of thanking the saints and the African gods. Food and drink are a way of sharing good fortune, good luck, prosperity and good health. For instance, in Sao Paulo during the Festival of Saint Genaro, a lot of pasta and desserts are made in the traditional Italian way, and then sold and given away on the streets of the Italian neighborhood. On Saint Cosme and Saint Damiao Day, celebrating two monks who worked with poor children, the orphanages, day care centers and children's centers receive large donations of food and candy. On the last day of the year, the Japanese and their Brazilian descendents ("nisseis" and "sanseis") get together to prepare the "moti," a rice dumpling that must be eaten on the first day of the year for good fortune and prosperity. Thousands of dumplings are made and then distributed throughout the city. When a Brazilian offers food to someone, it is a way of sharing, like someone who offers the best of what they have. You must not refuse it, or you will offend the host or lose a friend. Do not refuse even the "cafezinho," or little coffee! Tips for PortugueseNow! Are you bored with the screen colors in LanguageNow!? Choose View / Preferences / Color and change the screen to fit your mood!     When you start getting comfortable with a language, challenge yourself! Test your vocabulary comprehension by hiding the Word Meaning window and reading the Title, or by hiding the Segment window and typing your own Segment translations in the Notes tab. To hide the information in any Reference window, click the bar above the window. Click it again to restore the information and check your understanding.

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