Brazilian Days (133): May 13

Brazilian Days 133

May 13

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DAY OF:

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Dia do Automóvel
(Automobile). The first automobile appeared in 1771, when Frenchman Joseph Cugnot introduced a three-wheeled, steam-driven vehicle, In 1889, Germans Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler introduced the first gasoline-driven car. The first car in Brazil arrived in 1893 in São Paulo. Four years later, the first car was to be seen in Rio de Janeiro. In 1934, the ‘Dia do Automóvel was introduced by president Getúlio Vargas. The choice for 13 May as the date remains unclear, but on 13 May 1926 the first paved highway (with concrete) in Brazil was inaugurated: between Rio de Janeiro and Petrópolis. In 1956, president Kubischek opened possibilities for car manufacturing in Brazil. On 13 May 1958, the first car completely produced in Brazil was introduced: the Belcar.

 

AUTOMOBILE IN BRAZIL
Como Nasceu o Primeiro Carro Brasileiro	A História Automobilística Brasileira 01
A História Automobilística Brasileira 02	A História Automobilística Brasileira 03
A História Automobilística Brasileira 04	A História Automobilística Brasileira 05
A História Automobilística Brasileira 06	A História Automobilística Brasileira 07
A História Automobilística Brasileira 08	A História Automobilística Brasileira 09
A História Automobilística Brasileira 10	A História Automobilística Brasileira 11
A História Automobilística Brasileira 12	A História Automobilística Brasileira 13
A História Automobilística Brasileira 14	A História Automobilística Brasileira 15
A História Automobilística Brasileira 16	A História Automobilística Brasileira 17
A História Automobilística Brasileira 18	A História Automobilística Brasileira 19
A História Automobilística Brasileira 20	A História Automobilística Brasileira 21

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Dia do Zootecnista
(Zootechnician). This day honors the specialists of domestication, breeding, and improvement of various animal species. On 13 May 1966 was the first course for zootechnicians in Brazil. On 4 December 1968, Lei (law) 5550 regulated the profession.

 

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Dia da Fraternidade Brasileira
(Brazilian fraternity)

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Dia da Abolição da Escravatura
(Abolition of slavery in Brazil). On 13 May 1888, Imperial Princess Isabel (regent for her father Pedro II who was in Europe) signed the so-called “Lei Áurea”, which regulated the abolition of slavery in Brazil. Three years earlier, another law was introduced (Lei dos Sexagenários), which liberated slaves older than 60.

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
13 de maio de 1888, Abolição da Escravatura – Especial TV Senado	DIA 13 DE MAIO — DIA DA ABOLIÇÃO DA ESCRAVATURA NO BRASIL
Lei Áurea Princesa Isabel sancionou a lei que pôs fim à escravidão História do Brasil	Consciência Negra é destaque no documentário “História da Resistência Negra no Brasil

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Dia Nacional de Luta contra a Discriminação Racial
(Battle against Racial Discrimination) The World Day against Racial Discrimination is on 21 March.

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Dia da Polícia Militar
(Military Police, RJ).

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Dia do Vigilante
(Guard, RJ)

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Dia do Preto Velho
(Black old man).

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BRAZILIAN HISTORY:

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1821
Prince Regent Pedro received the title Defensor Perpétuo do Brasil (‘Eternal Defender of Brazil)
The title was approved in a joint session of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

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1767
Birth of D. João VI, King of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves

1860
Birth of Brazilian poet Raimundo Correia

1888
Signing of Lei Áurea, with which 600 thousand slaves were liberated.

   

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1808
Creation of  Imprensa Régia (Royal Press)

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1809
Creation of Corpo da Guarda Real da Polícia da Corte (Royal Guards), now Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal

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1905
Foundation of Sport Club do Recife

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1899
Foundation of Esporte Clube Vitória

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1948
Foundation of Criciúma Esporte Clube (SC)

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1930
Arrival of French Pilot Jean Mermoz in Natal after having crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 21 hours 12 minutes.

JEAN MERMOZ
Les routes du ciel 1927-1939	La Piste du Dakar 1997, Jean Mermoz

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1803
Abolition of the circulation of gold powder in the Brazilian capitanias

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1808
Carta-régia declared war against Botocudo indigenous.

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1817
Marriage of D. Pedro I with Carolina Josefa Leopoldina (daughter of emperor Francis I of Austria)
The marriage was in Vienna, in the absence of Dom Pedro. Eventually, she called herself Maria Leopoldina or Leopoldina.

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1821
The Hino Constitucional (composed by D. Pedro I) sung for the first time

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1926
Inauguration of  Ponte Hercílio Luz in Florianópolis – SC

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1967
Foundation of TV Bandeirantes

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2004
Câmara dos Deputados (Chamber of Deputies) approved the Brazilian military mission in Haiti

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2004
Launch of the program ‘Universidade para Todos‘

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2006
More than 30 people murdered in São Paulo within 15 hours.

By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2015
.

Brazilian Days (053): February 22

Brazilian Days 053 

February 22

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DAY OF:

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__

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BRAZILIAN HISTORY:

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1512
Death of navigator and merchant Américo Vespúcio (1454-1512)

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1902
Start of the mission by the sisters Dorotéias in Natal (RN)

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1903
Death of painter Vítor Meirelles

  

  

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1958
First performance of the theater piece ‘Eles não usam black-tie’, by Gianfrancesco Guarnieri.

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1971
Liberation of the Brazilian consul Aloísio Gomide in Uruguay

He was kidnapped on 31 July 1970.

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1978
Police officer Sérgio Paranhos Fleury taken prison per decree.

Sérgio was accused of participation in Esquadrão da Morte (death squad), a para-military group that committed several assassinations in the seventies.

  

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1989
Foundation of Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente (Ibama), the Brazilian Environmental Institute.

  

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1998
Golden Bear for the movie “Central do Brasil”, and actress Fernanda Montenegro, during the movie festival in Berlin.

  

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1999
Drowning of freshman Edison Tsung Chi Hsue in a swimming pool, during the initiation ceremony by the USP Medical Faculty.

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2009
Marriage of samba singer Neguinho da Beija-Flor with Elaine Reis at Marquês Sapucaí, Rio de Janeiro

By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2015

.

Brazilian Days (006): January 6

Brazilian Days 006 

January 6

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DAY OF:

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Dia da Gratidão

(Gratitude). This day is to pay gratitude to gifts, referring to the gifts of the Three Magi: Melchior (a Persian scholar), Casper (an Indian scholar), and Balthazar (an Arabian scholar). The gifts were gold, incense, and myrrh.

  

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Dia Mundial de Órfãos de Guerra

(World Day for War Orphans). The World Day of War Orphans was initiated by the French organization, SOS Enfants en Detresses. The day is held annually on 6 January; this special day enables the International Community to recognize the plight of a particularly vulnerable group. Needless to say that many war orphans are to be found in the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria), and in Africa (Somalia, CAR, Congo, Uganda, Rwanda).

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BRAZILIAN HISTORY:

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1502
Discovery of Baía de Angra dos Reis by André Gonçalves.

This bay, near Rio de Janeiro, was named after the day that the expedition of Gonçalo Coelho discovered the location. In honor of the visit of the Three Magis to Jesus.

  

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1598
Start of the construction of Forte dos Reis Magos, in Natal (RN).

The construction of this fortress was finished on 24 June 1598.

  

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1835
Cabanagem Revolt in Belém.

Rebels attacked and conquered the city of Belém, thereby killing President Sousa Lobo of Grão-Pará and the army commander. The extreme poverty of the people in the province, and the political irrelevance to which the province was relegated shortly after the Brazilian independence, were the sparkles for the popular revolt. The name cabanagem refers to the type of hut in which many people lived next to the rivers. An English regiment was able to suppress the revolt, but the rebels continued the fights until 1840. More than one third of the Grão-Pará population (estimated to be 120 thousand in 1833) died in the bloody conflict.

  

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1765
Restoration of the Capitania and government of São Paulo, per Carta Régia.

The capitania of São Paulo was dissolved on 9 May 1748, due to irregularities by the local government.

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1880
Foundation of the colonies in Criciúma (SC)

 

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1908
Start of the construction of Forte de Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro)

  

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1939
The United States announced approximation to Brazil

Brazilian chancellor Osvaldo Aranha was invited for a personal interview with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

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1963
Reestablishment of presidential system in Brazil.

A plebiscite favored the presidential system against the parliamentary system, which was in vigor since the installation of João Goulart as president in 1961.

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1987
General strike of truck drivers at the harbor in Santos (SP)

The strike affected 50 ships, of which 37 had to wait for their docking.

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1988
Maílson da Nóbrega installed as fourth minister of Treasury during the government of President José Sarney.

Francisco Oswaldo Neves Dornelles, Dilson Domingos Funaro, and Luiz Carlos were his predecessors. Maílson was already appointed as interim minister since 13 May 1987. He stayed in office until the installation of Fernando Collor as the new president.

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1989
Death of writer Elisa Lispector (1911-1989)

Elisa, born in Ukraine, was the older sister of Clarice Lispector, also a writer. The novel ‘O Muro das Pedras’ is best known and honored.

    

By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2015
.

Brazilian Days (359): December 25

Brazilian Days 359

December 25

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DAY OF:

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Natal
(Christmas).

  

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BRAZILIAN HISTORY:

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1615
Foundation of the city of Belém (PA)

  

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1599
Installation of the village of Natal (RN)

There was already a settlement, founded by Gerônimo de Albuquerque

  

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1930
Death of poet Hermes Fontes

    

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By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2014
.

Brazilian Days (133): May 13

Brazilian Days 133

May 13

.

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DAY OF:

---

Dia do Automóvel
(Automobile). The first automobile appeared in 1771, when Frenchman Joseph Cugnot introduced a three-wheeled, steam-driven vehicle, In 1889, Germans Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler introduced the first gasoline-driven car. The first car in Brazil arrived in 1893 in São Paulo. Four years later, the first car was to be seen in Rio de Janeiro. In 1934, the ‘Dia do Automóvel was introduced by president Getúlio Vargas. The choice for 13 May as the date remains unclear, but on 13 May 1926 the first paved highway (with concrete) in Brazil was inaugurated: between Rio de Janeiro and Petrópolis. In 1956, president Kubischek opened possibilities for car manufacturing in Brazil. On 13 May 1958, the first car completely produced in Brazil was introduced: the Belcar.

 

AUTOMOBILE IN BRAZIL
Como Nasceu o Primeiro Carro Brasileiro	A História Automobilística Brasileira 01
A História Automobilística Brasileira 02	A História Automobilística Brasileira 03
A História Automobilística Brasileira 04	A História Automobilística Brasileira 05
A História Automobilística Brasileira 06	A História Automobilística Brasileira 07
A História Automobilística Brasileira 08	A História Automobilística Brasileira 09
A História Automobilística Brasileira 10	A História Automobilística Brasileira 11
A História Automobilística Brasileira 12	A História Automobilística Brasileira 13
A História Automobilística Brasileira 14	A História Automobilística Brasileira 15
A História Automobilística Brasileira 16	A História Automobilística Brasileira 17
A História Automobilística Brasileira 18	A História Automobilística Brasileira 19
A História Automobilística Brasileira 20	A História Automobilística Brasileira 21

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Dia do Zootecnista
(Zootechnician). This day honors the specialists of domestication, breeding, and improvement of various animal species. On 13 May 1966 was the first course for zootechnicians in Brazil. On 4 December 1968, Lei (law) 5550 regulated the profession.

 

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Dia da Fraternidade Brasileira
(Brazilian fraternity)

---

Dia da Abolição da Escravatura
(Abolition of slavery in Brazil). On 13 May 1888, Imperial Princess Isabel (regent for her father Pedro II who was in Europe) signed the so-called “Lei Áurea”, which regulated the abolition of slavery in Brazil. Three years earlier, another law was introduced (Lei dos Sexagenários), which liberated slaves older than 60.

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
13 de maio de 1888, Abolição da Escravatura – Especial TV Senado	DIA 13 DE MAIO — DIA DA ABOLIÇÃO DA ESCRAVATURA NO BRASIL
Lei Áurea Princesa Isabel sancionou a lei que pôs fim à escravidão História do Brasil	Consciência Negra é destaque no documentário “História da Resistência Negra no Brasil

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Dia Nacional de Luta contra a Discriminação Racial
(Battle against Racial Discrimination) The World Day against Racial Discrimination is on 21 March.

---

Dia da Polícia Militar
(Military Police, RJ).

---

Dia do Vigilante
(Guard, RJ)

---

Dia do Preto Velho
(Black old man).

---

BRAZILIAN HISTORY:

---

1821
Prince Regent Pedro received the title Defensor Perpétuo do Brasil (‘Eternal Defender of Brazil)
The title was approved in a joint session of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

---

1767
Birth of D. João VI, King of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves

1860
Birth of Brazilian poet Raimundo Correia

1888
Signing of Lei Áurea, with which 600 thousand slaves were liberated.

   

---

1808
Creation of  Imprensa Régia (Royal Press)

---

1809
Creation of Corpo da Guarda Real da Polícia da Corte (Royal Guards), now Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal

---

1905
Foundation of Sport Club do Recife

---

1899
Foundation of Esporte Clube Vitória

---

1948
Foundation of Criciúma Esporte Clube (SC)

---

1930
Arrival of French Pilot Jean Mermoz in Natal after having crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 21 hours 12 minutes.

JEAN MERMOZ
Les routes du ciel 1927-1939	La Piste du Dakar 1997, Jean Mermoz

---

1803
Abolition of the circulation of gold powder in the Brazilian capitanias

---

1808
Carta-régia declared war against Botocudo indigenous.

---

1817
Marriage of D. Pedro I with Carolina Josefa Leopoldina (daughter of emperor Francis I of Austria)
The marriage was in Vienna, in the absence of Dom Pedro. Eventually, she called herself Maria Leopoldina or Leopoldina.

---

1821
The Hino Constitucional (composed by D. Pedro I) sung for the first time

---

1926
Inauguration of  Ponte Hercílio Luz in Florianópolis – SC

---

1967
Foundation of TV Bandeirantes

---

2004
Câmara dos Deputados (Chamber of Deputies) approved the Brazilian military mission in Haiti

---

2004
Launch of the program ‘Universidade para Todos‘

---

2006
More than 30 people murdered in São Paulo within 15 hours.

By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2015
.

Brazilian Days (359): December 25

Brazilian Days 359

December 25

.

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DAY OF:

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Natal
(Christmas).

  

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BRAZILIAN HISTORY:

---

1615
Foundation of the city of Belém (PA)

  

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1599
Installation of the village of Natal (RN)

There was already a settlement, founded by Gerônimo de Albuquerque

  

---

1930
Death of poet Hermes Fontes

    

---

 

By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2014
.

Brazilian Days (359): December 25

Brazilian Days 359

December 25

.

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DAY OF:

---

Natal
(Christmas).

  

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BRAZILIAN HISTORY:

---

1615
Foundation of the city of Belém (PA)

  

---

1599
Installation of the village of Natal (RN)

There was already a settlement, founded by Gerônimo de Albuquerque

  

---

1930
Death of poet Hermes Fontes

    

---

 

By Adriano Antoine Robbesom © 2007, 2014
.

Imaging Brazil 193: Standup Paddleboarding at Pipa Beach, RN (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

193. Paddleboarding 

JANUARY 2008: Paddleboarding

Paddle surfing is a very young sports discipline, which is derived from surfing. It is only a few years ago that this sport gained much popularity. Yet I saw these two men paddle surfing near Pipa Beach, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Most likely, they are local fishermen: the man on the left paddled and navigated, while the man on the right seemed to have a kind of a net float in his hand. The fishing boat in the background is called a jangada, a lightweight boat with a flat bottom, which is suitable for shallow waters. In just a few decades time, Pipa has grown from a dormant fishing village into one of the most popular beach resorts in Brazil.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 176: Cat with Yellow Eyes at Praia de Pipa, RN (2008)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

176. Cat with yellow eyes 

JANUARY 2008: Cat with yellow eyes

On our way from Belo Horizonte to Fortaleza, by bus, we had visited three paradisaical beach resorts in Northeast Brazil: Porto de Galinhas in Pernambuco, Praia da Pipa in Rio Grande do Norte, and Canoa Quebrada in Ceará. Each of them is more than worth visiting: breathtaking views, a beautiful beach, a calm ocean, cozy bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. We spent the night on the bus, while the two bus drivers carried us to another destination. Early in the morning, we arrived at the beach resort, took some breakfast, and went to the beach. Many of our large group visited the nearest beach barrack with cheap beer and stayed there all day. I joined a smaller group that preferred to walk around, to enjoy more of the location: we made long beach walks, we wandered along the narrow streets in the nearby village, and discovered many shops and restaurants. At night, all of us went to a hostel to take a shower, and then made another walk in the village until midnight. Then it was about time to enter the bus for another night ride. When we were walking in the village, I discovered this cat in a stoic pose. The flash light reflected in the eyes, turning them yellow.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

A Foreigner in Brazil (39): DEC 2006 (V). Jinglebells in Guarulhos (SP)

A Foreigner in Brazil (39)
DEC 2006 (V): Santa Claus in Guarulhos (SP)

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Experiences of a Dutchman living in Belo Horizonte, since December 2004, from month to month.
December 2006, part 5: Guarulhos: Celebration of Christmas, and the distribution of little presents to children in a favela (slum).

>> Click here for all episodes of ‘A Foreigner in Brazil 2006′ <<

Initially, a blue sky with some white clouds


Pillow

The two long weekends in Rio were followed by the Christmas holidays, one week later. I was invited by my friend Dayana and her family to spend Christmas in Guarulhos, a suburb of São Paulo. Two days before Christmas, I took the bus to São Paulo. For me it was the third time in a year that I visted Brazil’s major city. Usually, you might take the bus from Belo Horizonte at night. You will arrive in São Paulo early in the morning. Those who are able to sleep well in the bus, will have a fresh start in the morning. That time, I was not familiar yet with sleeping in the bus. It is not easy to have some night rest in an uncomfortable position, half-seated. You quickly may feel the muscles in your neck and lower back. A pillow, brought from home, may provide some more comfort, but such a pillow needs some extra space in your luggage. But indeed, I use my own pillow, when I have longer bus travels.

Cowboys on horseback, without a saddle

To São Paulo

However, I didn’t travel in the night, but I opted for a bus that departed in the morning. As a result, I could enjoy the varied and breathtaking landscape in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, where the highway is following the slopes of mountains. It was in summer, the heavy rains had transformed the arid landscape – as a result of a six-month period of drought – into a lush green landscape. During the bus trip, there were some heavy rains. Short but fierce rain showers; you see them approach from far away, like a giant grey curtain moving along the horizon. The sliding windows of the bus stayed closed. Late in the afternoon, I arrived at the large Tietê bus station. I took the metro to Tucuruvi. I continued with a bus ride to my final destination, Guarulhos. Fortunately, it was not too crowded, I had managed to avoid the expected Christmas rush.

A grey rain curtain.

Amigo Oculto

In Brazil, not 25 December, but the vesper, on 24 December is of more importance. At day, almost everything is still open; everyone can do the final Christmas shopping. At eight pm, everything is closed, except the 24-hour hypermarkets. When you are in bad need of something after eight, these hypermarkets are the best solution. Christmas Eve more or less resembles the Dutch Saint Nicolas Eve, on 5 December. There are some variants on this day in Brazil: People buy presents for each other, and these presents will be unwrapped after midnight. There will be a complete Christmas meal around midnight. When young children are present, the meal will be served some hours earlier. Another variant is the ‘amigo oculto’ (secret friend) and ‘inimigo oculto’ (secret enemy). Prior to this eve, the participants draw each other’s names. You will buy your secret presents, which are presented to each other at Christmas Eve. You will give some nice present to your ‘amigo oculto’, and some symbolical present to your ‘inimigo oculto’, which may slightly embarrass the receiver. To much joy of the others.

The stuffing, while roasting a sucking pig

Torta holandesa

I joined Dayana’s family to an uncle, where the entire family gathered. Dayana and her family belong to the social upper B class. That was expressed in the decoration of the house, the choice of the furniture, the party dresses, and the brands of the cars of the family members. The Christmas meal was also different to what is common in lower social classes. Traditionally, there was rice, but there were no beans. The rice was enriched with vegetables, like Greek rice. There was farofa, a mixture of manioc flour with various ingredients as vegetables, eggs, and bacon. A giant bone ham and a turkey were the main courses. As dessert, there were various sweet dishes, including a ‘torta holandesa’, a Dutch cake. They immediately asked me if am familiar with this cake, but I had to deny it. This very sweet cake with maizena biscuits and chocolate might have been introduced by some migrant, and who knows, this migrant might have been Dutch.

The poor children ran for their presents

Jingle Bells

Dayana already had informed me, that on Christmas Day, they would do something for the poor in their city. Just before noon, I was asked to help them to load large bags in the pickup. These bags contained small plastic bags with presents. For boys, for girls, and for young mothers. We all had to wear a Christmas hat, and received a whistle. I took my ‘seat’ in the cargo space of the pickup. Dayana started to whistle the melody of ‘Jingle Bells’, we joined her whistle. Dayana’s brother drove the pickup slowly, the streets were almost empty. Bystanders waved enthusiastically at us, motorists and motor riders horned at us. They already knew what were were about to do, we weren’t the only ones that had the intention to surprise poor children with Christmas presents. Slowly, we approached a favela (slum) in the city of Guarulhos), at only a few kilometers from Dayana’s home.

Bone

Dayana’s brother drove the pickup backward to the direction of the favela. We stopped at a few hundred meters in front of the favela. They didn’t want to take any risk. The used the horn of the pickup, and soon the first little curious faces appeared at the corner of the street. When one of the adults gave a sign of approval, the children and young mothers ran towards the pickup. We distributed the present among the many little hands that reached to us. Dayana’s brother was supervising the distribution, that it was orderly and fair. We soon had distributed most of the bags. There was a little pile left for another, smaller favela. In between, I cautiously took pictures. Pictures of the children, of the distribution. And then, I saw a young girl with a begging expression on her face, begging for her present. She was holding a large bone in her little hand, and there still remained some raw meat on it. It appeared to be her Christmas meal.

Each of the children received a little bag with
presents

Karaoke

Boxing Day is not celebrated in Brazil, it is a ‘normal’ working day. Only the schools are closed, since the students had started their long summer holidays before Christmas. They only return early February. I left Guarulhos on Boxing Day. I celebrated New Year’s Eve with another family, in a suburb of Belo Horizonte. And again, according to tradition, there was a complete meal at midnight. Again with roasted ham and roasted chicken. This family had organized a karaoke night, they all sang enthusiastically the musics displayed on the TV screen. I also had to participate, they had selected some English pop music for me. A musical start of 2007…

By Adriano Antoine Robbesom
.