Portuguese Language Blog

Though we don’t stop to think about it much, the pace of technology has moved incredibly quickly in the last decade, and it’s funny to think that in our lifetimes, the Internet was a new phenomenon. I recently came across a very funny video, a news report about electronic mail on a Brazilian news channel from 1990. Apparently, it’s the first TV report of its kind in Brazil, and it’s very fun to watch.

Have a look and see if you can answer the questions!

Questions

1. What was the original name for email in Portuguese?

2. What are some of the things you can do with email, according to the report?

3. What did you need to use email?

4. How many people used email in the whole country at the time?

5. How often can you access email, according to the report?

Read More…

Yesterday I wrote a post on Brazilian traditions on what to wear for the New Year.  I also mentioned how we have all sorts of superstitions and that I would share that with you all today!  For many Brazilians, what you wear, eat, drink and do at midnight or around that time, determine how your next year is going to be.  I’m not usually a very superstitious person, but this year’s New Year’s party is going to be na minha casa, and I like to play around with these kinds of traditions.  So here goes the rest of the tradições e simpatias do reveillon brasileiro:

O que comer:

- Lentilhas, or lentils, are eaten in various forms (soup, sala, with rice & meat) in order for your next year to be financially successful!!

- Carne de Porco – It’s uncommon for anyone to eat any poultry on new year’s eve here because chickens & turkeys kick back their legs to walk and pigs walk forward.  This is simbolic of the way the year will be – walking forward or moving backwards!

- Uvas & Romã – Eating grapes or pomegranate right after midnight and keeping 12 seeds and putting them in your wallet.  This also attracts more $$!

O que beber:

- Champagne & Vinho – Like with eating grapes, champagne and wine are made of grapes, so why not, right?!

O que fazer:

- Limpar a casa – Cleaning your home, taking out and donating all things you don’t use, and are overall superfluous is a good way to start the new year with no bad energy.  Catholics will also sometimes sprinkle holy water on doors and/or door handles.  Oh, change your sheets too!

- Pular Ondas – A tradition that stems from Candomblé and Umbanda, African inspired religions, if you’re at the beach, many will jump over 7 waves and make a wish on each hop for the year to come.  This is supposed to bring good vibrations your way all year long!

- Poem o pé direito no chão – Another superstitions actually quite literal.  At midnight, if you lift your left foot, you start the year off on the right foot . This is usually done with a glass of champagne in hand and hopping 3 times.  Hopping up a step on just your right foot also gives you a leg up!! (ok, I’ll stop with the cheesiness now)

I’m sure there are more I haven’t listed, but these are the most common ones I’ve heard of (or tried!).  Can you think of any others?  Do you think you’ll try out some Brazilian traditions to bring you luck in 2011?

Hope you all have a Feliz Ano Novo!

Reveillon? Oi? Yup, reveillon, or “new year,” is right around the corner already!!

And like with many other holidays, but especially for reveillon, Brazilians have all sorts of simpatias, or superstitions.  Since there are so many, I’m going to make this a 2 part post!!

First, we’re going to talk about colors and their meanings.  Most people traditionally wear white, which simbolizes a peaceful year ahead, and then women especially, wear different color underwear following the meanings below.  But hoje em dia, outfits are worn in various colors (but always paying attention to the simpatias!), and not just white!!

my outfit this year's somewhere along these lines...

I read this post on Toda Perfeita, a really girly Brazilian blog, that has a pretty complete description of each color and its meaning (boys, this counts for you too!):

Branco- vamos começar com a cor tendência do réveillon brasileiro; Essa é uma prática que herdamos da cultura africana, que acredita ser o branco, cor ideal para a atrair as energias positivas. Simboliza a paz, verdade, sabedoria, estimula a memória e proporciona equilíbrio interior.

Amarelo- use-a para ter dinheiro, riqueza e sabedoria – para gastar o dinheiro – o ano todo. Ajuda a estimular a intuição.

Rosa- para obter sorte no amor, beleza e afastar as energias negativas.

Vermelho- para quem quer romances intensos, muita paixão força e energia no novo ano é a cor indicada. Não quer se vestir de vermelho? Acessórios avermelhados já garantem sucesso na simpatia.

Azul- mas se o que você quer é calmaria, e literalmente que fique “tudo azul”, invista nessa tonalidade. Harmonia e saúde também são atraídos por essa cor.

Verde- representando as energias da natureza, o verde significa esperança, equilíbrio e recomeço. Renova as energias trazendo vida nova junto ao novo ano.

Laranja- assim como o amarelo, atrai sucesso financeiro. Proporciona um ano muito alegre, repleto de conquistas pessoais e profissionais. Se você está sonhando com aquela promoção ou procurando um emprego, o laranja é a cor certa.

Violeta- a cor da pedra filosofal, o violeta traz junto com o novo ano inspiração, sensibilidade, imaginação e estabilidade. Também eleva a auto-estima e ajuda a manter o foco. Ótima opção se seu objetivo no novo ano for a superação de algum obstáculo.

So for a recap in English…

Branco/White = peace, truth, wisdom, good memory and balance

Amarelo/Yellow = money, wealth and wisdom (to spend it!)

Rosa/Pink = luck in love, beauty and to drive away bad energy

Vermelho/Red = passion, strength and energy 

Azul/Blue = harmony,  health, and an overall calm year

Verde/Green = hope, balance and new beginnings

Laranja/Orange = financial success, happiness, professional and personal success

Violeta/Purple = inspiration, sensibility, imagination, stability; raises your self esteem and helps to keep you focused.

Doesn’t it make you want to just wear a rainbow?! Well, it doesn’t count… but don’t forget, the outfit, underwear and accessories count

Since I plan to have a 2011 with a lot of changes in my personal and professional life, I’m going to go with laranja this year (above is my dream reveillon outfit put together on ByMK)! What about you?

Now that you know what to wear on the 31st, keep an eye out for part II!