subject: The Social Customs Of Brazil [print this page] Brazil is one of the largest countries in South America and many of its populace use Portuguese as their main language. This is not the only means that Brazilians communicate and the accepted social customs is one way many Brazilians exchange messages between themselves.
Meet and Greet. It is customary for Brazilian men to shake hands and make eye contact. For women, it is often done through a kiss on the left cheek first and then the right cheek. It is also not uncommon that friends slap hands or hug or tap their backs when meeting.
Invites. When invited to a Brazilian home, it would be best to bring the hostess either a bouquet of flowers or a small token as presents. Use bright colors because purple and black connote death and mourning. It is also acceptable to be thirty minutes late, called being fashionably late. When invited, it is better to be overdressed instead of being underdressed.
Business Meetings. These face-to-face discussions are often informal, as these discussions often become sumptuous gatherings. It would be best to avoid embarrassing a Brazilian in a gathering such as this, through either criticism or some other manner. This would lead to the person embarrassed to lose face with the public as well as the critic to lose respect within that group. Often, meetings start with small talk such as questions about the person's life. Do remember that despite the need for formalities, negotiations are laid back and relaxed with fine details being discussed. Be patient and all matters would be discussed in the long run.
Eating. Dining is often done in the company of family and friends. The national dish is called Feijoda, which is a mixture of rice, pork and spicy black beans. The national beverage is coffee, often mixed strong and with lots of sugar. Brazilians often consumes many cups throughout the day. Meals are often finished with fruits in season as dessert. Brazilians frown upon eating on the go or eating on the street, as this is considered sloppy. People would remain in the snack stand and finish the meal before they leave. In addition, utensil use when eating is mandatory as eating with hands is considered as uncouth and unclean. When picking up food, use a napkin and dining rooms or even stand up tables are areas where individuals can be found eating and nowhere else.
There are many other social customs that Brazilian practice. Thus when visiting the country, it would be best to read up on these customs to avoid offending these warm and friendly people and be welcome to their country and their way of life.
