● The most commonly consumed beverages are cola and guarana. The latter is a local carbonated drink made from guarana berry juice, known for its fat-burning properties. Brazilians drink a lot of coffee, regardless of the time of day. Even children are allowed to drink coffee.
● The food is not very diverse. Brazilians prefer to eat three side dishes simultaneously: rice, beans, and fried potatoes. The side dish is always accompanied by fresh salad and quality beef. Pork is not consumed in Brazil. This fact is not related to religious beliefs. Simply put, pork meat is considered too fatty.
● On dark, narrow streets in Brazil, even in the capital, it is impossible to meet people late in the evening. Children, even during the day, do not play in the streets without adult supervision. At night, even driving through red lights is allowed to minimize the possibility of carjacking.
● There are always many beggars on the streets in Brazil. Even young and perfectly healthy people may beg. No one considers it shameful.
● The most popular holiday is Christmas, as the majority of the population are Catholics. Moreover, over 70% of the country's residents are accustomed to going to church every Sunday.
● The only thing that can compete with football in popularity among the local population is samba, the most popular Brazilian dance. It is performed solo or in a group. Samba became famous thanks to Brazilian carnivals — unique national dance festivals during which literally everyone dances! It is a parade of local samba schools, which compete with each other in the most expressive dances and colorful costumes. Carnivals (and samba schools) are funded by criminal barons, or locally known as bicheiros. Samba schools start preparing for it almost a year in advance. For four days, no one works; everyone celebrates and rests. And the main dancers are residents of poor neighborhoods-favelas.
● Brazil is a cult of the body and beauty! Few countries can compare with the number of people who run and engage in sports (usually on the coast).
● Plastic surgeries in Brazil are a very popular way of perfecting the body. They are available to women with any income: on credit and installment payments. Typically, Brazilian women strive to enlarge their breasts (which are often significantly smaller than the hips due to natural features) or insert implants into their buttocks to make them rounder and more appetizing. Brazil ranks second in the number of operations performed per year, after the USA.
● One of the extreme modes of transport in Brazil is... the city bus! The driver accelerates until you haven't even had a chance to sit down, let alone pay. The solution is simple. The driver's salary includes a certain number of kilometers around the city per day (let's say 20), and all others are paid additionally. So they try to cover as many kilometers as possible.
● One of the natural landmarks of the country is the Iguaçu Falls, located on the border of Brazil and Argentina.
● Brazil is considered a country with a high crime rate. It's better not to bring valuables to the carnival, not even bags and pocketed clothes: the local swindlers' dexterity knows no bounds! Moreover, one should be cautious not only in the vicinity of favelas (which tourists are not recommended to visit) but also when using regular ATMs. Local criminals have quickly learned to skim information from cards and clone them. Before you know it, your money will disappear.
● Favelas, or slums, are clusters of shacks on cliffs. Favela residents typically work in the dirtiest jobs. All criminal authorities and drug barons can also be found in the slums. The entrance is guarded by the police, but they won't go in, even if gunfire is heard. Favelas have their own laws. In Rio de Janeiro, a third of the city's population lives in such slums, often adjacent to wealthy neighborhoods.
● The main cathedral in Rio de Janeiro is jokingly called the "upturned bucket" by locals. The building, listed among the most original churches in the world and officially referred to as an example of modernism, actually resembles a bucket or a Mayan pyramid. Despite the large number of stained glass windows, the cathedral inside gives a gloomy and oppressive impression, especially in gloomy weather.
● Brazilians are obsessed with football not only during championships but always! It's believed that the national team's victory increases the population's productivity. On weekends, everyone rushes to the beach to play football. And if you happen to be in a cafe during a football match broadcast, relax and forget about haste: without exception, all employees will turn into fans!
● One of Brazilians' favorite games is "keepy-uppy," their special beach football. You have to keep the ball up with bare feet for as long as possible without letting it fall onto the sand.
● The national hero of Brazilians is Pelé, one of the most influential figures in world football. It is believed that most little Brazilians learned to read just to read the biography of the great player, "My Life and the Beautiful Game," which he wrote in 1977.
● Less known worldwide but equally beloved at home is another footballer, Pele's contemporary, Garrincha. Born in a poor neighborhood with injured legs, he brought victory to the national team in the 1962 World Cup. But unlike Pele, Garrincha had no ambition, and he drank himself to death.
● The standard and favorite meeting place for Brazilians is the beach. For everyone, from children to pensioners. For any purpose — from a business meeting to dancing.
● This South American country ranks second in the world for the number of airports (the USA is first). Brazil has about 4,000 airports in total. Leading in passenger traffic among them are the São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport and the Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport.
● The anthem of Brazil is very complex and can be understood only by highly educated people.
● There is no official religion in the country, but 74% of Brazilians profess Catholicism. Thanks to this, Brazil ranks first in the world in terms of the number of Catholic population. Also, a significant portion of Brazilians are Protestants. Pagan beliefs are still widespread in the country.
● Car owners in Brazil care about the environment. Five million Brazilian cars run on biofuels made from sugarcane and rapeseed waste. Brazil produces bioethanol from sugarcane — a low-cost raw material using renewable, reliable technologies.
● The country's football team is the only team to have participated in every FIFA World Cup, winning first place five times. Another record of this team is that it has won the FIFA Confederations Cup four times.
● About 10% of Brazilians cannot read or write. The literacy rate of women and men is approximately equal.
● Brazilian children donate their milk teeth to make prosthetics for children with dental problems. School teachers collect milk teeth, which are then given to dental clinics.
● Brazilians are in no hurry; nothing happens quickly in this country, and being a few hours late is commonplace. The same applies to the work of government agencies: for example, you may have to wait about four months to see a state doctor.
● When entering into marriage, Brazilian women do not give up their maiden name: the husband's surname is simply added to their own. However, the age of marriage in Brazil is quite high: marriages rarely occur before the age of 25. Families are large, and it's rare to find a family with only one or two children. The average Brazilian family raises three or four children.
