Portuguese Language Blog

Carnival in Recife

Posted on 16. Feb, 2010 by Rachel in Holidays, Travel

While the international media tends to focus on Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, there are actually many more Carnival celebrations in Brazil worth seeing.

Photo: Recife Guide

One of those is Recife’s Carnival, one of the largest traditional celebrations that attracts partygoers not only for the music and dancing, but also for its historic roots. It also has the world’s largest bloco, a Carnival band that navigates through the streets with revelers.

There are plenty of places to explore Recife’s Carnival online, so here are some suggestions:

Portuguese Blog – overview from 2009

A gringo in Olinda blog – first hand accounts in English

Recife Guide blog – comprehensive explanation in English

Official Recife Carnival website – Portuguese

Terra – news, photos, and videos in Portuguese

Carnaval!

Posted on 12. Feb, 2010 by Rachel in Culture, Holidays

Carnival celebrations are already in full swing and get into high gear this weekend. If like me, you can’t make it to the festivities, there’s plenty available online to experience Carnival from afar.

Beija Flor’s 2010 Samba (reigning Rio champion)

Bloco band in Rio

Frevo classes in Recife

Ivete Sangalo at Salvador’s Carnival last year

Lyrics Practice: Carlinhos Brown

Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by Rachel in Learning, Music

With a song that is sure to brighten your Monday, to practice for Carnival which is rapidly approaching, and in honor of one of our Transparent colleagues currently in Bahia, here is Carlinhos Brown’s song “Maria Caipirinha.” Follow along with the lyrics, which are fairly straightforward.

Lyrics

Tê tê tê
Tetetê tetê
Tê tê tê tetê tetetê…
Samba da Bahia
Samba da Bahia…
Ê Maria Nega Tetê,
Você sabe o valor de onde veio
Você tem a mão calejada
Você sabe fazer feijoada
Você baila toda molhada
Não tá nem aí pra dinheiro
Vem Maria, bate o pandeiro
Para você tudo é fevereiro
Vem Maria sou de você
Tetetê tetê
Ô Maria eu sou de você
Tetete tetê
Ê Maria, ê Mariê
Tetete tetê
Ê Maria, ê Mariê
Tetete tetê
Tetetê tetê
Tetetê tetê
Tetetê tetê
Tetetê tetê
Tetetê tetê
Samba da Bahia…
Vem Maria Nega Tetê
Tetetê tetê
Vem Maria toca o dindê
Tetetê tetê
Vem Maria, quero você
Tetete tetê
Vem Maria para a Bahia
Tetete tetê
Vem Maria Caipirinha
Tetetê tetê
Vem Maria para a alegria
Tetetê tetê
Vem Maria pra feijoada
Tetetê tetê
Vem Maria, dança molhada
Tetetê tetê