At lunch yesterday with 3 other girls from work, we got to talking and as with every chat we usually have when we’re able to break away from the boys, we talk things girly.\u00a0 Yesterday was as girly as you can get: gyno visits & “dream” weddings. \u00a0I’ll skip the chat on gyno visit…<\/p>\n
After banquet waitressing for 5 years, I’ve seen tons of weddings! \u00a0So many that I probably wouldn’t want a “traditional” wedding anymore… I’ll probably want something Rachel Getting Married<\/a>-esque (the movie, not the other writer for this blog!). \u00a0But now that I’m in Brazil, what IS <\/em>a traditional wedding?<\/p>\n First, the n<\/strong><\/em>oivado<\/em><\/strong>, or engagement. \u00a0Most people I know in Brazil haven’t had spectacular wedding proposals. \u00a0The couples usually decide together, then go out and buy their wedding bands, alian\u00e7as<\/em><\/strong>, place them each on their right ring finger, and go tell their family, etc. \u00a0Of course there are romantic couples out there, I’ve just yet to find a great story here! \u00a0And then they wear these bands on their right hand until their wedding day! \u00a0Usually they’re gold in Brazil as well because there’s also a big tradition of anel de compromisso<\/em><\/strong>, or simply, alian\u00e7a de namoro<\/em><\/strong>, which a lot of people wear just to tell others they’re in a committed relationship.<\/p>\n Bridal showers are usually called Ch\u00e1 de Panela<\/em> or <\/span>Ch\u00e1 de Cozinha<\/em>, and literally focus on kitchen supplies. \u00a0Bachelor\/ette parties, <\/span>festa de despedida<\/em>,\u00a0are oftentimes celebrated together, or there are two parties! \u00a0You know Brazilians and their desire to throw a party for everything.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Then there’s preparing for the wedding ceremony and reception!<\/p>\n Weddings are usually in the evenings and on Saturdays. \u00a0I’ve seen churches where the earliest time you can schedule a ceremony is 4:30 PM. \u00a0And since most Brazilians are Christians, and amongst those, mostly Catholic, a huge tradition is to get married in na igreja<\/strong><\/em>, although this tradition has been straying for some time. My poor grandmother was dumbfounded when my cousin said she wasn’t getting married at church and said, “Mas n\u00e3o \u00e9 o sonho de toda mo\u00e7a entrar na igreja no dia do casamento dela?<\/em>” \u00a0The bride will usually also walk into the church with Ave Maria playing (personally, I want this <\/a><\/em>rendition of it.) \u00a0At the church, there is the signing of the marriage license, and it is also signed by padrinhos<\/strong> <\/em>and madrinhas<\/strong>, <\/em>the North American equivalent of the wedding party.<\/p>\n Speaking of wedding party, matching dresses and tuxes aren’t very common in Brazil. \u00a0\u00c9 muito coisa de americano<\/em>. \u00a0Os padrinhos<\/em> simply wear whatever formalwear they’d like and that’s if they can afford it!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Receptions are traditionally held at the same sorts of places as north American weddings, but catering halls here are called <\/span>buffets (pronounced, “b\u00edf\u00eas). \u00a0Instead of seated a la carte dining, you’ll usually see buffet style dinner served. \u00a0And for dessert? <\/span> Docinhos<\/strong> and <\/em>bem casados<\/em>. Along with the cake, of course. \u00a0Docinhos<\/em><\/span><\/strong> <\/em> are those Brazilian candies everyone raves about and <\/span>bem casados (which translated literally is, “well married,”) are tiny square wrapped up cakes which are two slices of cakey goodness sandwiching something like <\/span>doce de leite, <\/span>chocolate, or anything else yummy and sweet. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n And <\/span>of course there’s dancing! The kind of music depends on the couple’s taste and region they’re from!<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n After all that, I think I’d still want a “Rachel” wedding with a Brazilian twist. \u00a0I’ll probably get married in a tiny little country church with close friends & relatives, then rent out a <\/span>s\u00edtio and throw a huge <\/span>churrasco with great food! … and <\/span>bem casados.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I guess that’s all I can think of that’s “different,” can you think of anything else? \u00a0Are there different traditions in other Lusophone countries you can think of?<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At lunch yesterday with 3 other girls from work, we got to talking and as with every chat we usually have when we’re able to break away from the boys, we talk things girly.\u00a0 Yesterday was as girly as you can get: gyno visits & “dream” weddings. \u00a0I’ll skip the chat on gyno visit… After…<\/p>\n