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National Holidays for Brazi & Calendar |
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Holidays for Rio, Sao Paulo, Recife &
Brazilia by USA state.gov |
| New Year's Day,
Jan. 1 |
| Epiphany, Jan. 6 |
| Carnaval, week
preceding Ash Wednesday in February or March |
| Good Friday (date
varies) |
| Easter (date
varies) |
Tiradentes Day,
Apr. 21
Commemorates the execution of national hero Joaquim José
da Silva Xavier, a conspirator in the 1789 revolt
against the Portuguese. Xavier, a dentist by trade, was
nicknamed Tiradentes, or tooth-puller. |
| Labor Day, May 1 |
| Corpus Christi (May
or June) |
Independence Day,
Sept. 7
Anniversary of declaration of independence from Portugal
by Dom Pedro II in 1822 |
| Our Lady of
Aparecida Day, Oct. 12 |
| All Souls Day, Nov.
1 |
Declaration of the
Republic Day, Nov. 15
Anniversary of the proclamation of 1889 which removed
Dom Pedro from power. |
| Christmas, Dec. 25
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State
Flags
of
Brazil
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AC
Acre
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AL
Alagoas
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Second Thursday in January Senhor
Bom Jesus dos Navegantes Penedo Alagoas |
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AM
Amazonas
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Parintins Folklore Festival – State of
Amazonas
In the heart of Amazônia, in Parintins, there a competition
between Caprichoso and Garantido, the city’s most famous bois-bumbás.
The oxen are characters of a dramatic dance from the Christmas
season, in which one of them dies and resuscitates later. The
city is painted blue (Caprichoso) and red (Garantido), dividing
the crowd of 100 thousand people who go to the Bumbódromo every
year. Floats, costumes and fireworks complement the party,
WHEN: the second half of June, and lasts three days.
carnaval.com/boibumba/
Heart and
Soul of Amazonas
http://www.culturamazonas.am.gov.br
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AP
Amapá
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BA
Bahia
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Jan 1 - Procissão de Senhor Bom
Jesus dos Navegantes Salvador Bahia
January 24 - February 2 NS de Nazaré - Nazaré Bahia
Feb 2 -Festa de Iemanjá - Salvador, Bahia
February or March Lavagem da Igreja de Itapoã - Itapoã,
Bahia
Mid August Festa da NS
de Boa Morte - Cachoeira, Bahia
Second half of October NS do Rosário - Cachoeira Bahia
November NS do Ajuda NS do Ajuda
carnaval.com/bahia/events
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CE
Ceará
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July Regata de Jangadas Dragão do
Mar - Fortaleza, Ceará
August 15 Festa de Iemanjá - Fortaleza, Ceará |
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DF
Distrito
Federal
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Brasilia, a capital created ex nihilo in the centre
of the country in 1956, was a landmark in the history of town
planning. Urban planner Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer
intended that every element – from the layout of the residential
and administrative districts (often compared to the shape of a
bird in flight) to the symmetry of the buildings themselves –
should be in harmony with the city's overall design. The
official buildings, in particular, are innovative and
imaginative.
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ES
Espírito
Santo
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GO
Goiás
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Festa do Divino Espírito Santo, or
Ascension, - Pirenópolis, Goïás
The celebrations of the include the commemoration of the
medieval victory of Iberian Christian knights over the Moors. An
historic town, Pirenópolis preserves its colonial architecture
in churches and civil buildings.
WHEN: Forty days after Easter
Goiás is a testament to the occupation and colonisation of the
lands of central Brazil in the 18th and 19th centuries. The
urban layout is an example of the organic development of a
mining town, adapted to the conditions of the site. Although
modest, both public and private architecture form a harmonious
whole, thanks to the coherent use of local materials and
vernacular techniques. |
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MA
Maranhão
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Once a year São Luis, the state capital of Maranhão,
stages a festival dedicated to the established Brazilian folk
tradition of Bumba Meu-Boi, a popular folk tale reenacted
through Brazilian dance. People dancing in ox costumes provides
a great source of amusement for the crowds who take any
opportunity to boisterously share their though as Brazilians
often do.
WHEN: The month-long celebrations also coincide with the
religious celebrations of Saint Anthony (13 June), St John (24
June) and St Peter (28 June) |
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MG
Minas
Gerais
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September Cavalhada - Caeté, Minas
Gerais |
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MS
Mato
Grosso do Sul
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MT
Mato
Grosso
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PA
Pará
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Nazareth Candle –
Círio de Nazaré
Belém, State of Pará
The city’s largest party, Círio de Nazaré (link para o texto
sobre Círio de Nazaré) is a homage to Our Lady of Nazareth,
patron of the State of Pará. It gathers approximately 1.5
million believers in a procession through the city to the
Nazareth Basilica. In the procession, the Saint’s image is
conducted on a platform, with a long cord attached to it.
Thousands of people compete to earn the privilege of holding the
cord as a way of showing gratitude for the blessings.The
people”s devotion, something that touches the whole world. The
Our Lady of Nazareth procession, considered to be the largest in
the Catholic world.
WHEN: The event is held yearly, always on the second Sunday of
October. The festivity lasts 15 days and ends with the Recírio
procession, on Monday, which carries the replica of Our Lady of
Nazarrthto the chapel next to the Basilica.
More info:
ciriodenazare.com.br (official site)
December 8 Festa de Iemanjá
Belem Parã
Belém City Hallwww.belem.pa.gov.br
PARATUR
www.paratur.pa.gov.br
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PB
Paraíba
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June Parties (Festa Junina)
In Campina Grande, State of
Paraíba, this festivity is enlivened by the forro-pé-de-serra
and the square dance – the typical rhythm from the Northeast and
one of the several types of dances in the country. The Party
gathers thousands of people and has won the title of the
“Greatest São João in the World”. Its name is in honor of Saint
John’s Day, June 24th, one of the most important festivities of
the June circuit. The People’s Park becomes an enormous outdoor
ballroom, where one can also find typical foods and arts and
crafts.
WHEN: All of June [more]
December 8 Festa de
Iemanjá - João Pessoa, Paraíba |
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PE
Pernambuco
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Mid April Drama da Paixão de Cristo
- Brejo da Madre de Cristo, Pernambuco
June Parties (Festa Junina)
Also in the interior of the
Northeast and competing with Campina Grande is the city of
Caruaru. There, northeastern rhythms like forro, xote, and baião
attract approximately one million people to the Caruaru Party.
There is also presentation of square dancers, floats and
folklore groups, while fireworks illuminate the sky. There are
kiosks of typical foods and arts and crafts spread around the
city, and there is also a meter-high bonfire marking the last
day of festivity.
WHEN: Take the Forro train from Recife but first enjoy
the celebration in Recife the last 3 weeks of June
September Festival de
Cirandas - Itamaracá, Pernambuco
[more at
our Festivals of Pernambuco page] |
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PI
Piauí
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PR
Paraná
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RJ
Rio
de Janeiro
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New Year in Copacabana –
Festa de Iemanjá
- City of Rio de Janeiro
The most famous New Year’s Eve party in the world gathers
millions of people along Copacabana Beach. Coming from all parts
of Brazil and from other countries, people usually dress in
white to celebrate the beginning of the New Year, to watch the
fireworks and to perform private rituals for passing from one
year to the next. Some people offer flowers to Iemanjá, believed
to be the queen of the sea; some jump seven waves in order to
have a good year, among other things. The celebrations start in
the evening of December 31st, with many musical shows, and only
end at sunrise. For the 2005 New Year's
rituals the the Umbanda Association in Rio de Janeiro moved its
celebration forward to December 29th. Nearly 5,000 people
celebrants dressed in white performing centuries-old rituals
flooded Copacabana beach, bearing offerings of flowers and gifts
for Yemanja. Even so, Candomble is so much
a part of New Year that most Brazilians, believers or not, wear
white on New Year's.
January 1 - 20 Folia de
Reis - Parati
September 8 Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios - Parati
Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora dos Remédios,
Parati,
the ten-day Festa do Divino Espírito Santo festival by
crowning an Emperor, distributing food amongst the poor and
giving sweets to children, along with processions, masses,
dancing and music. On the days leading up to Pentecost the
celebrants start off from the Igreja da Matriz de Nossa
Senhora de Remédios and proceed to the festeiro's [festival
leader] house. On the days leading up to Pentecost the
celebrants start off from the Igreja da Matriz de Nossa
Senhora de Remédios and proceed to the festeiro's house. On
Pentecost Sunday there is another musical fanfare at dawn, a
procession and mass, celebrated by the Bishop of the
Diocese, as well as the symbolic releasing of a prisoner
from the old prison. There are sweets and games for the
children at the festeiro's hous
When:May
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RN
Rio
Grande do Norte
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Feb Grande Vaquejada do Nordeste -
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte |
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RO
Rondônia
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RR
Roraima
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RS
Rio
Grande do Sul
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Gramado Cinema Festival
At the top of the Gaúcha Mountain Range, Gramado has a
cinematographic scenery, with its beautiful landscape. In
Gramado, national and Latin-American films are proudly
exhibited. The winners take the Kikito – a city symbol trophy –
that represents the God of Good Humour.
WHEN:The event always happens in August and lasts 6 days.
More Info:
festcinegramado.com.br (official site)
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SC
Santa
Catarina
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Oktoberfest
The country’s largest German party, the Oktoberfest receives
hundreds of thousands of people that consume and celebrate.
Blumenau, a city of German colonization, becomes the main
destination in Santa Catarina during the WHEN: two weeks in
October
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SE
Sergipe
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SP
São
Paulo
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São Paulo International Film Festival
This festival, in 2006 is the 30th edition Nearly 350 films
(approximately 300
feature films), from more than 50 different countries
WHEN:The event starts in the second half of October and
continues for two weeks
More Info:
www2.uol.com.br/mostra/ (official site) English & Portuguese
Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix
The only GP in South America attracts racing fans from all over
the country and the world to the racing circuit at Interlagos,
in the city of São Paulo.
WHEN: traditionally held in the months of March or April.
More Info:
www.gpbrazil.com/pt/
October 12 Festa de NS
Aparecida - Aparecida, São Paulo |
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TO
Tocantins
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Rio de Janeiro laying claim to world's
largest New Year's Eve party.
For the 2005 New Year's the
"marvelous" City fired off 150 metric tons of fireworks
and turned loose dozens of bands and DJs to entertain
2.5 million revelers on Copacabana Beach.
``I've been to London, Paris, but this is the biggest
party in the world,'' Clifton said as he strolled on
Copacabana Beach with three friends on Dec. 28, two
hours after stepping off a packed British Airways Boeing
747 following a 13-hour flight. ``Nor can we forget that
we're expecting eight inches of snow at home.'' said
Andy Clifton, a 48-year- old British doctor, to
Bloomberg News
With officials expecting an additional
1.3 million partygoers at eight other sites throughout
the city, the estimated crowd of almost 4 million would
outstrip the Guinness Book's record for a New Year's
party: a three-way tie at 3 million people between New
York, London and Rio in 2000. For the 2005 festivities
over 116,000 foreigners and 464,000 visitors from
other parts of Brazil are expected to join in with the
local population of Cariocas. |
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Largest Cities in
Brazil
2005 |
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Rk
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Cities
|
Pop.
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1
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Sao Paulo |
10,009,000
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2
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Rio de Janeiro |
5,613,000
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3
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Salvador |
2,331,000
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4
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Belo Horizonte |
2,154,000
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5
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Fortaleza |
2,139,000
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6
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BRASILIA |
2,016,000
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7
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Curitiba |
1,618,000
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8
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Recife |
1,388,000
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9
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Porto Alegre |
1,321,000
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10
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Manaus |
1,285,000
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11
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Belém |
1,200,000
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12
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Guarulhos |
1,134,000
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13
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Goiânia |
1,073,000
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14
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Campinas |
962,000
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15
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Sao Gonçalo |
880,000
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16
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Nova Iguaçu |
873,000
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17
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Sao Luís |
855,000
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18
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Maceió |
806,000
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19
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Duque de Caxias |
756,000
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20
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Sao Bernardo do Campo |
742,000
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21
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Teresina |
703,000
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22
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Natal |
699,000
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23
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Osasco |
671,000
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24
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Campo Grande |
665,000
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25
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Santo André |
631,000
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26
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Joao Pessoa |
594,000
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27
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Jaboatao dos Guarapes |
567,000
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28
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Contagem |
529,000
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