Brazil - Types of Leisure Programmes

Every nation has her own favourite recreational activity, festival or sport during the leisure time and Brazil has plenty of them. So what do Brazilians do during their time free from demands of work and to get away from the stress? Let us find out.

1) Bumba-meu-boi

Bumba-meu-boi is a very popular and well-known comic-dramatic dance, which involves the death and resurrection of an ox. There are many variations over the years of the story behind the ox, but it is or basically about a farmer who killed an ox to please his wife who wanted to eat the ox’s tongue.

One of the most famous versions of the story goes this way:

“... it is about a story of a rich farmer who gives his favorite boi, or ox, as a gift to his beloved daughter, entrusting it to the care of a faithful ranch hand, Pae Francisco. Mae Caterina, Francisco's pregnant wife, develops a strange craving for the bull's tongue, and Pae Francisco kills the prize beast to satisfy his wife's need.

The crime is discovered, and after some adventures local Indians are called to help capture Francisco in his forest hideout. He is brought before the farmer and threatened with death as punishment. However, St John the Baptist visits the farmer's dreams and warns him not to kill the couple. Desperate, Pae Francisco tries to resuscitate the ox. With the help of spiritual shamans, called Curandeiros, the Caterina and Francisco are able to harness the power of the drum beat to resurrect the ox and save the couple from harm. All ends well, with Francisco being forgiven.”

-adapted from http://www.carnaval.com/boibumba/

This annual festival is held during the month of June and the star of the show will be a dancer dressed in an elaborate and colourful ox costume. During the festival, there will be music, song, dancers all together creating an explosive atmosphere. It is no wonder it became a popular tourist attraction in Brazil.

Although not as popular as the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, this festival has its themes, animal characters and cultures all strongly tied to the Brazilian identity.

2) F1 Grand Prix

Everyone knows that soccer is unparallel to any other sports in Brazil. However, there is another sport that attracts thousands of people too in this beautiful country where only soccer seems existent. And that is none other than the F1 Grand Prix held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The first Grand Prix was held in Sao Paulo in the year 1973 and it has been one of the most amazing circuits in the world. Besides of the beauty of Sao Paulo, what makes the race even more interesting is that fact that the track runs in an anti-clockwise direction and is located at high altitude, posing problems for the drivers. Thrills and spills are not uncommon in this event held yearly, which attracts about 80,000 people each time.

3) Beaches

One of the most common activity Brazilians do during their leisure time is to hit the beautiful beaches in the country. No matter your social class or your financial status, everyone is allowed to enter the beaches. With world famous beaches such as Jericoacoara and Canoa Quebrada, there are plenty of choices to select from. During the weekends, thousands of Brazilians will throng to the beach and enjoy a day there, before doing other activities in the night such as visiting nightclubs.

Considered as a “culture” to many Brazilians, the beaches are considered as one of the most favourite hangouts for them. In such a beautiful country where the sea is always clear blue and the sand sparklingly smooth, it is indeed no surprise.

References:

http://www.carnaval.com/boibumba/

http://gobrazil.about.com/od/culturehistorylanguage/g/bumba.htm

http://www.formula1.com/