On September 7^th, we wish a very happy celebration of Brazil’s Independence Day to all our amazing team members from Brazil! Know that you are dearly appreciated in our team and that we are grateful to have you in our multicultural Nobel family.

Last year, on the occasion of Brazil’s National Day, we learned about this beautiful country’s history, geography and so much more, but this year we expand our knowledge related to Brazil and discover together some interesting aspects of the Brazilian culture, folklore, language and communication style.

Did you know that?

• One of the Brazilian myths, the myth of Boi-Bumbá, tells the story of an ox that was brought back to life by healers and indigenous shamans. Brazilians celebrate this piece of folklore yearly with big parties all around the country. The National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute even included the Bumba-Meu-Boi celebration in the list of Cultural Heritage of Brazil.
• Boto Cor-de-Rosa (Amazon River dolphin) is one of the unique wild animals of Brazil. It is the largest of the river dolphin species and transforms from grey to pink as it ages. But there is more to this dolphin in the Brazilian folklore. It is said that Boto Cor-de-Rosa is a magical creature that is able to take the form of a handsome man late at night who seduces beautiful young women. Indigenous people believe the blowhole of the Amazon River dolphin does not disappear while Boto is in its human form. Therefore, he needs to wear a hat to hide it!
• Although the majority of the country is within the tropics, more than 60% of the population lives in areas where altitudes, sea winds, or polar fronts moderate the temperature. Cities on the plateaus, such as São Paulo and Brasília, have milder temperatures, while cities on the coast, such as Rio de Janeiro, have warmer climates. In Brazil’s southern cities, the subtropical climate is characterized by hot summers and colder winters than the rest of the country.
• If you are planning a trip to Brazil, keep in mind the tipping culture of this country: a service charge of ten to fifteen percent will generally be added to any restaurant or nightclub bill. In hotels, ten percent is usually added to the bill.
• While sampling Brazilian food, make sure to give a try to the brigadeiro, a traditional Brazilian dessert. It is made of condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and chocolate sprinkles covering the outside layer.
• Brazil is considered to have the greatest biodiversity of any country on the planet, containing over 70% of all animal and plant species catalogued!
• According to some historians, the name of the country was adopted from the plant Pau brasil (Caesalpinia echinata), a member of the legume plant family and the national tree of Brazil.
• Brazil’s culture is uniquely diverse for the region, and includes European, Japanese, African, and indigenous influences. Because of Brazil’s transnational history, Brazilians sometimes do not consider their country “Latin American,” and certainly not “Hispanic.”
• Brazilians tend to communicate indirectly. In general, they are sensitive about hurting other people’s feelings and may downplay issues or keep information to themselves to avoid conflict or confrontation.
• Although Brazilians have a somewhat indirect communication style, they also often use the word “no”. People in many other cultures with indirect communication styles generally avoid saying “no,” believing it to be too direct and negative as a response. However, the word “no” in Brazil does not always have such a strong meaning. For example, many negotiations are punctuated by the word “no,” but the word is often used as a means of keeping a conversation going. It may simply indicate that the person needs to be more convinced of the logic of an argument.
• Brazilians tend to be very expressive communicators. They tend to use many hand and arm movements while speaking. However, this does not imply that anything is wrong or that there is a conflict of any kind. Also, Brazilians typically stand very close to each other while conversing and often touch. A pat on the arm while talking, for example, is common. Try not to back away if a colleague enters what you consider your personal space.
• Family tends to be an essential and protected part of Brazilian culture. Family obligations are often given priority over work obligations.