Brazil

Culture, Ethnicity, Family, and Class Distinctions

Key components of the Brazilian national culture include the Portuguese language, which provides Brazilians with an identity distinct from other Latin American countries, and its Catholic heritage. Unifying symbols of the national culture that also provide an important basis for social networking include the Carnival festival and soccer, known as futebol. Brazilians strongly support local and national soccer teams, often forming local soccer clubs, gathering in large crowds to watch key national matches and following their teams online. National holidays are another avenue for large-scale social networking, including Brazilian Independence Day, the Proclamation of the Republic, and the Feast of Nossa Senhora Aparecida recognizing Brazil's patron saint. Carnival is the largest national holiday.

Brazilian Carnival is a world-renowned, four-day celebration held before the start of the Lenten season leading to Easter and is noted for its colorful parades. Musical competitions between the samba schools that proliferate in Rio de Janeiro and other urban areas are another important component of Carnival. The different samba schools then create floats featuring music, dancers, and singers that highlight each year's Carnival theme in order to compete. These samba schools serve as year-round social clubs within their communities, while raising funds for the annual musical competitions featured during Carnival.

Brazilian society is noted for its racial and ethnic heterogeneity as well as its divisions among social classes. Ethnic and racial identifications provide an important avenue of social networking. Major groups among the Brazilian population include indigenous peoples, Afro-Brazilians, people of European ancestry, people of mixed ancestry, and Japanese Brazilians. Government land reserves for indigenous groups and quilombo, communities of descendants of runaway slaves, have helped foster close social networks among these two population groups. There is also a strong social divide among rural and urban populations.

Familial social networks have long been a key component of Brazilian life. Brazilian society, like that of many Latin American countries, places a strong emphasis on family ties and the maintenance of close kinship networks known as parentelas. These networks include both the paternal and maternal families. Ritual kin such as godparents are also important components of familial social networks. Brazilians are expected to maintain these networks through frequent socialization as well as online e-mailing and social networking. Familial social networks also aid members through career networking, economic help, or other needed services.

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