| Official Name: | Federative Republic of Brazil) Republica Federative do Brasil |
| Capital: | Brasilia |
| Population: | 172.6 million |
| Area: | 8.51 million sq km or 3.28 million sq mi |
| Currency: | Real |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Literacy: | 85% |
| Languages: | Portuguese |
| Major Cities: | Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janerio, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Salvadore |
| Climate: | Mixture of tropical and temperate climate |
About Brazil
Brazil, formally known as the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the most populated country in South America. Brazil is also regarded as the fifth largest country in the world in terms of population as well as area.
Geography : Brazil encompasses a territory of 8,514,876.599 sq. km between the Atlantic Ocean and central South America. The Amazon rain forest in the north and low-lying mountains and hilly terrain to the south flanks the country. The Brazilian coastline extends over 7,367 km to the east. Physically the Brazil mainland is sub-divided into Northeast, North, South and Southeast. Brazil is predominated by Tropical climate and it is the treasure trove of natural resources and varied biodiversity.
History : Before the colonization of Brazil by the Portuguese in 1500, semi-nomadic people inhabited the place for about 10000 years. Brazil remained a sovereign state since 1822 and in1889 the republican system was implemented. From 1985 onwards, Brazil has been considered as presidential democracy and at present is a Federal Republic.
States : The Federative Republic of Brazil consists of twenty-six states and one federal district and 5,564 Municipalities.
Population : Brazil, being a multi-racial country comprises of varied population of Amerindian, European, African and Asian origin. Most of the populace is centralized along the coast in big urban centers.
Brazil Culture: Owing to its multi-ethnicity, Brazil has diverse cultural influences. However, the major influence is that of the Portuguese. The principal religion in Brazil is Catholicism and the country has the biggest Roman Catholic population in the globe.
The official language of Brazil is Portuguese and it is the only nation that speaks Portuguese in South America.
Physical Map of Brazil
Brazil is dominated by two chief geographic features - the vast Amazon Basin, which spans the width of northern Brazil, and an extensive highland plateau, known as the Brazilian Highlands, which covers most of the South and Southeast. The important rivers of Brazil is made up of the Amazon and its tributaries, which is ranked the largest in the world. The Amazon is also the world's second longest river. Brazil has been bestowed upon with immense natural beauty, right from the distinctive dome shape of Sugar Loaf Mountain in the city of Rio de Janeiro, to the magnificent Iguacu Falls in the far south, to the strange limestone formations in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region.
Flora And Fauna of Brazil
Brazil's Amazon rain forest is the largest tropical rain forest in the world and has extensive vegetation, with tall trees and several types of other vegetation, which include woody vines and unusual varieties of plants that do not root in the soil, but grow by attaching themselves to other plants. The wildlife of Brazil consists of around 750 species of mammals in South America, out of which 417 are found in Brazil. Larger mammals include pumas, jaguars, ocelots, rare bush dogs, and foxes. Deer are plentiful in the south, and monkeys of many species dot the rain forests.
People of Brazil :
Brazil's population is made up of a mixture of Native American, European, and African people, which gives rise to an ethnic society in Brazil. The Portuguese had arrived in 1500, while other European groups came after 1850 and the ancestors of African Brazilians arrived as slaves, in the beginning of mid-1500s. This is how Brazil got its unique ethnic background. The Native American population, however, who has been in Brazil for a very long time, is today present in a very small group.
The ethic mix of cultures of all the three races - American, European and Brazil gives the country a unique cultural heritage. However, Portuguese culture still manages to influence Brazil. The country also has a strong folk-art tradition, a mixture of the art of Native Americans, Africans, and Portuguese. Brazil also has an affiliation towards poetry and has seen the birth of many poets. Besides this, painting and pottery also form part of Brazil's artistic culture. Music has always been a part of every Brazilian's life, the most popular being Samba which is a result of the blending of rhythm and vocal styles of the Native Americans, Portuguese, and Africans.
The flag of Brazil is green in colour with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil. The globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress).
Economy of Brazil :
Brazil has been through economic difficulties despite witnessing a growth in its industrial sector. Faced with a series of oil crisis in 1973 and 1979, accumulation of high foreign debt and periods of rapid inflation, Brazil has seen the economy progress very slowly. However, the government, with a view to see Brazil Economy recover, has been taking firm steps, like it has reduced its role in planning the economy and in financing the development of new industries.
It has also opened up a number of state-owned companies to private investors in areas such as steel, petroleum, electricity, and telecommunications. In 2001 services accounted for 57 percent of Brazil's gross domestic product (GDP); industry, 34 percent; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 9 percent.
Brazil Consulate
The Brazil consulate is open to public from Monday to Friday. The Brazil Consulate has many branches spread all over the world. The Consulate not only looks after the foreign affairs but tackles many other diplomatic issues too.
The Brazil Consulate General in Miami is located at 80 SW 8th Street - Suite 2600. The main functions of the Consulate are:
Visa Sector For Application of visas the timings are from 9am to 11am
- For picking up the passports with visa (when are granted): The following business day between 12noon and 1pm - Reception B. Visa inquiries/information by telephone are accepted from 3 to 4pm
- Legalization of documents For delivering: from 10am to 1pm - Reception A
- For picking up: from 1:30pm to 4pm - Reception B
The Consular Services at Brazil includes functions like:
- Customs Information
- Adoptions in Brazil
- Death Registration
- Arms and Ammunitions
- Legalization of Documents
20 Park Plaza - Suite 1420
Boston, MA 02116
Consulate General of Brazil in Chicago
401 North Michigan Ave - Suite 3050
Chicago, IL 60611
Brazilian Embassy-Consular Service in Washington, D.C.
3009 White haven Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
The Brazilian Consulate is the Consul's office or an official residence where diplomatic missions are being taken. It holds an important position in the government of the country.
Brazil Christmas
Brazil Christmas involves characteristic local cultures and conventions, celebrated by people from diverse ethnic and national groups.Unlike New Zealand and Australia, Brazil has a less snowy Christmas, owing to its geographical and altitudinal positions. Brazilians comprise assorted racial traditions; so their ways of celebrating Christmas vary considerably.
Christmas in Brazil involves varied traditions and customs, emerging out the multi-ethnic culture of the land. One such custom comprise creation of "Presepio" or a confinement scene, symbolizing the firs6t sleep of Christ on a straw bed in Bethlehem. Introduced in the 17th century, "Presepio" is a popular religious practice in north-eastern Brazil, especially in Paraiba, Maranhao, Ceara, Pernambuco, Piaui, Alagoas, Bahia, Sergipe and Rio Grande do Norte, displayed extensively in churches, residences and shops.
Organizing a folk play called "Los Pastores" (The Shepherds) is another tradition of Brazil Christmas. The Brazilian version of the play comprises a gypsy and shepherdesses who tries to kidnap the Christ Child. According to this folk legend, Papai Noel or Father Noel brings gifts for the infants in Brazil.
A third Brazilian Christmas convention includes a practice called "Amigo Secreto" or 'Secret Friend', where correspondences occur within families and friends through apelidos or fake names. Later they al meet together to reveal those secret persons and offer them special gifts.
The practice of dedicated Catholics attending the "Missa do Galo" or Midnight Mass is yet another important tradition involving Brazilian Christmas. December 24 and 25 are the days when these Masses are celebrated at different times. Added to these specific Brazil Christmas traditions, are excellent floral decorations that are illuminated at night with excellent fireworks and electric lights. All these together offer this Latin American country, a distinct identity during Christmas celebrations.
