* Brazilian boys activities







Brazlian Boys' Activities



Figure 1.--These children at the Catholic parish church of Nossa Senhora do Perp�tuo Socorro, in Brasilia. The children approaching the altar to receive their First Communion. It is common in Brazil that the children receive their First Communion in bare feet.

The activities boys engaged in and the appropriate clothing are another interesting topic. Some activities have costumes or uniforms. In other cases we see how boys dressed for a range of occassions, including casual, play and dress occassions. There are of course basic similarities around rhe world. We have very limited information, but have begun to collect some basic information on boys' activuties in Brazil. Religion is a traditional activity of some importance. We also have information on: choirs, holiday, schools, sports, and youth groups. We have almost no information on Brazilian choirs. Brazil was a Portuguese colony and unfortunately we have no information on the boy choir tradition in Portugal either. A HBC reader notes two choirs: Coral dos Canarinhos from Petropolis and Rouxinois de Reine. Most Brazilian holidays are observed nationwide, but each state and city can and do establish their own holidays. Most are holidays celebrated in Portugal, mostly Christian. Some of the Christian celebrationse not narional hoidays. There are also several Brazilian secular national holidays. The Brazilian holidays are noted for their small number. The most famous Brazilian holiday is of course Carnival. As in most Christian countries, Christmas is a favorite with the children. We know very little about Brazilian education at this time. The state systems has been woefully underfunded. The country's current economic sucess may enable the country to improve the state system. Brazilian private schools generally require uniforms, but they are generally simple uniforms with "T" shirts or polo shirts with the school logo and short pants in the school colors. Sports are a relatively new, but particularly popular in Brazil, especially footbol. Sports especially outdoor sports are very popular in Brazil and because of the climate can be practiced year round. We do know that sport is dominated by soccer (footbll), almost to the exclusion of many other sports. Futebol is more than a sport in Brazil, it is a cultural phenomenon. A factor in the development of football in Brazil is surely the fact that only a ball was needed--no expensive equipment. Brazil is the largest, most populous country in Latin America. Unlike most other Latin American countries, which speak Spanish, the Brazilians as a former Portuguese territory speak Portuguese. The only Brazilian youth group we know of is Scouting.

Arts

We have no information at this time on Brazilian arts. We do have a page on a Brazilian boy prodigy, volinist Eug�ne-Maurice Dengrement (1867-93). He impressed European audiemnces and received a medal from the Brazilian president. He did not, however, have a succesful musicak careet and died at an early ge.

Choirs

We have almost no information on Brazilian choirs. Brazil was a Portuguese colony and unfortunately we have no information on the boy choir tradition in Portugal either. A HBC reader notes two choirs: Coral dos Canarinhos from Petropolis and Rouxinois de Reine. Hopefully our Brazilian readers will provide us some information.

Holiday

Most Brazilian holidays are observed nationwide, but each state and city can and do establish their own holidays. Most are holidays celebrated in Portugal, mostly Christian. Some of the Christian celebrationse not narional hoidays. There are also several Brazilian secular national holidays. The Brazilian holidays are noted for their small number. The most famous Brazilian holiday is of course Carnival. As in most Christian countries, Christmas is a favorite with the children.

Play


Religion

The Catholic Church has also been an important influence on Brazil. As with the Spnish, the Portuguese made the creation of Catholic colonies a goal of the conquest. Colonial Brazil was thoroughly Catholic. The Inquisition operated there and Protestants were not permitted. The many Africans imported as slaves brought with them their own religions. The slaves were prohobited from practicing their religions, but many maintained their beliefs and tradictions. The Africans not only affected Brazilian Ctholocism, but eventually founded actual religions. Slaves from Nigeraia founded Candomble. Slave masters and the Church forbid slaves from practicing Candomble. The slaves got around the prohibitions by coupling their deities with Jesus important Catholic saints. This apeased both the slave masters and the Church. The slaves while outwardly celebrating Catholic saints were actually worshiping their own traditonal dieties. The slaves identified Oxala, the god of procreation and harvest with Jesus. The masters and Church believesd that the old African traditions would eventually die out, but they have not. The overthrow of the monarchy brought a new republic (1889). This brought a new constitution which guaranteed religious freedom. As a result, Catholocism is no longer the only religion in Brazil. This meant it was possible for Protestants to operate in Brazil. Other churches, including Pentecostal, Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist, exist in Brazil, but are relatively small. There are over a million and a half Spiritists or Kardescists who follow the doctrines of Allan Kardec. These Spiritists believe in reincarnation. There are followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There are also small numbers of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists. More numerous are followers of Candomble and Umbanda. Umbanda is Kardescism and related to Candomble, but with an admixture of Christianity and Spiritist (animistic) beliefs. The great proprtion of the population, however, has remained Catholic and continue to be so today. The population is culturally Catholic, but actual church attendance is relatively low. As in other Catholic countries, a child's First Communion was an important event in their childhood. Families that could aford to do so commonly bought the child a new suit or special costume.

Schools

We know very little about Brazilian education at this time. The state systems has been woefully underfunded. The country's current economic sucess may enable the country to improve the state system. Brazilian private schools generally require uniforms, but they are generally simple uniforms with "T" shirts or polo shirts with the school logo and short pants in the school colors. Schools in the southern part of the country might have seasonal uniforms with long pants during the winter. Secondary schools might have long pants or joggers in the school colors. We have a little informstion about individual schools. A reader mentions the Semin�rio Imaculada Concei��o (Immaculate Conception Seminary) in Paranava�, Paran�. It was a minor seminary of the Carmelite friars. Hopefully other Brazilian readers will provide some infirmation on their schools. We note the Escola Paroquial S�o Jos�, a parish school in Blumenau, Santa Catarina about 1930.

Sports

Sports are a relatively new, but particularly popular in Brazil, especially footbol. Sports especially outdoor sports are very popular in Brazil and because of the climate can be practiced year round. We do know that sport is dominated by soccer (footbll), almost to the exclusion of many other sports. Futebol is more than a sport in Brazil, it is a cultural phenomenon. A factor in the development of football in Brazil is surely the fact that only a ball was needed--no expensive equipment. We see boys kicking balls all over the country. And of course, the country is a perenial favorite in World Cup competition ever since Pele led Brazil to victory in the 1950s. He is considered by many to be the greates player of all time. The only sport majny Braziliab boys want to play is football and thete is no seasonal shift as is the case of America and Europe. There is no cultural divide as well. All other major sports pale in popularity to football. This is reflected in the Olympics competition where Brazil does poorly in relation to its popularity. One other sport in which Brazil does excel is volleybazll, probably because of the popularity of beach volleball. And Braziliazns have combibed their interest in football and volleyball to create futvolley. A factor in Braziliab sport has been the endemic poverty of a large part of the population. The country's increasing economic success may change this in the future. Hopefully Brazilian readers will tell us more about sport in their country.

Work


Youth Groups

Brazil is the largest, most populous country in Latin America. Unlike most other Latin American countries, which speak Spanish, the Brazilians as a former Portuguese territory speak Portuguese. The only Brazilian youth group we know of is Scouting. Hopefully our Brazilian readers will provide more information on youth groups in their country.









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Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
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Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Smocks] [Long pants suits] [Knicker suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits] [Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer] [School sandals] [School smocks] [Sailor suits] [Pinafores] [Long stockings]



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Created: 9:38 PM 6/5/2014
Last updated: 8:50 PM 10/16/2015