Escolas de Samba

Escolas de Samba are not actually ‘schools’. In 1928, the first carnival performance froup – initially called Deixa Falar, later Estácio de Sá – was created in Rio de Janeiro by samba composer Ismael Silva. From Rio, the custom of having parades by escolas de samba spread to other cities of Brazil. 

Carros Alegóricos

Contrary to what the name suggests, the samba ‘schools’ do not give samba lessons per se. Each samba group organizes its annual parade and holdsa parties and rehearsal presentations all year round. Many samba groups actively participate in the community and carry out social projects. 

Carros Alegóricos

Escolas de samba have a defined structure, including a president, a carnavalesco (creative director), the samba-enredo (annual theme song with lyrics) puxador-de-samba (leading samba singer who keeps the beat going), and the disnguished couple that leads the parade. The parade consists of the porta-bandeira (holder of the samba group’s banner) and the mestre-sala (master of ceremonies), bateria (percussion section), many carros alegóricos (theme floats) and numerous ala (wings, or sections), notably that of the baianas, traditional women from Bahia wearing hoop skirts, lace blouses, headcloths, panos-da-costa (traditional shawls), sandals, necklaces, earrings and costume jewelry. 

Mestre-sala & Porta-bandeira

The contestant samba group compete for points awarded after the parade according to the rules. Depending on the results of the count the groups move on to be semifinalists and finalists. 

Carros Alegóricos

Each announcement of finalists brings fervent bursts of emotion and celebration. The categories are: themes an d accessories, percussion section, opening section, evolution, lyrics, costumes, harmony, master of ceremonies and banner holder, and the samba-enredo.

If you want to know more, read here: Samba School or Carnaval 

Despite I being Brazilian, I don't like Carnival, Samba schools and stuff like that, but it's still part of the culture of my people. Haha :D

Doce

Typical fare at birthday parties, Brazilian sweets are tiny treats. Rolled or shaped into little pies and served in paper wrappers, their ingredients are common in Brazilian recipes: 

 beijinhos (grated coconut), 

 brigadeiros (milk caramelballs covered with chocolate), 

 cajuzinhos (cashew nuts),

 cajuzinhos (cashew nuts),

 maria-mole (grated coconut),

 queijadinhas (grated cheese and coconut),

 quindins (eggs yolks and grated coconut),

 quindins (eggs yolks and grated coconut), etc.

Cuíca

A cuíca is a musical instrument in the form of a tiny barrel covered with animal skin at one end, which is fixed to a piece of leather or a wooden stick and produces a hoarse sound when rubbed with a damp cloth. Of Bantu origin, it was brought to Brazil by slaves from the Congo and Angola. 

It's often to use them in the carnival, in Bahia.  

Once integrated into the Brazilian percussive arsenal, the Cuíca was traditionally used by samba school in the carnival groups and Capixaba Congo, but it's now also found in contemporary Jazz and Latin styles.

Other names for the instrument: roncador, tambor-onça, porca, quica, adufe, omelê.

Cordel

Cordel is a type of folk literature printed on pamphlets illustrated with woodblock prints. The name indicates the way the poems are presented to the reader; the booklets are hung on strings at street fairs and farmer’s markets. Brought over by the Portuguese in the second half of the 19^th century, the cordel is still quite prevalente in the Northeast. 

The poems narrate events in daily life, such as floods and droughts, heroic deeds performed by the cangaceiros (a heavily armed gang that roamed throughout the Northeast scrub region in the first three decades of the 20^th century), the lives of other famous bandits, miracles, and events in Brazil’s recent history.

Books about Cordel Literature:

 

 Cordel Adolescente , Ó Xente ! - Coleção Vertentes

   Author: Orthoff, Sylvia

   Editor: Quinteto Editorial

       

 Minhas Rimas de Cordel

   Author: Obeid, César

   Editor: Moderna

 Cordel - Expedito Sebastião da Silva

   Author: Silva, Expedito Sebastião da

   Editor: Hedra

 Cordel - Francisco das Chagas Batista

   Author: Batista, Francisco das Chagas

   Editor: Hedra

 Cordel - Franklin Maxado

   Author: Maxado, Franklin

   Editor: Hedra

Cordel - Paulo Nunes Batista

   Author: Batista, Paulo Nunes

   Editor: Hedra

Mitos e Lendas do Brasil em Cordel

   Author: Longobardi, Nireuda

   Editor: Paulus 

Romances de Cordel

   Author: Gullar, Ferreira

   Editor: Jose Olympio.

 Lula na Literatura de Cordel

   Author: Neto, Crispiniano

   Editor: Imeph

Meu Livro de Cordel

   Author: Cora Coralina

   Editor: Global

 O que é Literatura de Cordel - Coleção Primeiros Passos Vol. 317

   Author: Luyten, Joseph M.

   Editor: Brasiliense

Patativa do Assaré - Coleção Biblioteca de Cordel

   Author: Assare, Patativa do

   Editor: Hedra

"Eu sou de uma terra que o povo padece mas não esmorece e procura vencer.

Da terra querida, que a linda cabocla de riso na boca zomba no sofrê.

Não nego meu Sangue, não nego meu nome. Olho para a fome, pergunto: Que há?

Eu sou brasileiro, filho do nordeste, sou cabra da peste, sou do Ceará."

I tried a translation about it's written in the image., but I'm afraid that  has not been very good, sorry for anything. 

"I'm from a land that people suffer but don't fade(give up),  and seeks to overcome.

The beloved land, that beautiful Cabocla(Indian Woman) of laughter mouth mocks while suffer.

I don't deny my blood, don't deny my name. Watch for the hungry, ask: What is it?

I am Brazilian, son of the Northeast, I'm brave man, I'm from Ceará." 

Coconut

Coconuts are essential in the Brazilian kitchen.

We yield: água de coco (coconut water), leite de coco (coconut milk, often used in puddings, ice cream, stews, etc.), coco ralado (grated coconut, used in sweets and cakes), raspas de coco (coconut flakes, used to make coconut brittle) and even cleaning products like bar and liquid coconut soap detergent, and cosmetic products, like shampoo and body soap.

The shell of the coconut is used in artesanato (craftwork); the fiber obtained from the shell is also used by the automobile industry to make car seats.

Brazilians love to drink coconut water when they are at the beach or even when it's warm.

Churrascaria & Churrasco

A churrascaria is a restaurant that basically serves grilled beef, or churrasco (barbecue). 

Those with a rodízio, or rotating service, charge a fixed price for all you can eat, and the  waiters constantly bring to the table the different cuts of meat on large spits.  

These types of restaurants usually have a salad bar as well, which is also unlimited.

Brazilians love to do  a good barbecue at home with friends and family. 

In celebration of Brazilian always there's um churrasquinho (a barbecue).

Choro

The beginnings of Choro music, a Brazilian adaptation of European dance rhythms in vogue at the time, go back to around 1870. Since then, this fascinating genre of music has been explored by successive generations of illustrious musicians, most notably the composer and instrumentalist Pixinguinha (RJ, 1897-1973). 

Today’s choro band is composed of one viola, one or two six-stringed guitars and another with seven strings, a ukelele, a tambourine, and occasionally one or more wind instruments.

Instruments like these (from left to right): Violão 7 strings or Viola, Violão(acoustic guitar), Bandolim, Flauta, Cavaquinho and Pandeiro

Some of the best Chorões known are Chiquinha Gonzaga, Ernesto Nazareth and Pixinguinha. Some of the most famous Choros are:

"Tico-Tico no Fubá", by Zequinha de Abreu

"Brasileirinho", by Waldir Azevedo

"Noites Cariocas", by Jacob do Bandolim

"Carinhoso" and "Lamento" by Pixinguinha

"Odeon", by Ernesto Nazareth

Chimarrão

Chimarrão is bitter boiling-hot mate tea (erva-mate), taken without sugar and drunk from a cuia (cured gourd or horn) through a metallic or bambu straw called a bomba. It is ubiquitous in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and common in many other southern and western states. 

Image about method of preparation 

Erva-mate and the glass (called by Cuia) commonly used for the consumption of Chimarrão

This metallic straw inside the glass (cuia) is called by Bomba

In 2003, the story of Chimarrão turned plot samba school Aliança,

Joaçaba in Santa Catarina, Brazil. 

At the time, the school won its third title.

Chamada a cobrar

A chamada a cobrar is a telephone call that may be made from any public telephone (known as the orelhão, due to its similarity to big ears) or private line. The collect call is paid by the recipient of the call, and no telephone card is needed. So even, without money for a call, the person can communicate.

If you are lucky, maybe, you'll find some like these...  Decorated :)

BeePhone

FlowerPhone

RosePhone

ShoePhone

But, probably you'll see Orelhões like these

These last two are the most common phones that you can find walking in Brazil.