584
On February 14, people around the world celebrate love and romance. From gifting carved wooden spoons in Wales to bouquets of snowdrops in Denmark, every corner of the world honors Valentine’s Day a bit differently, but the idea that love ought to be celebrated is universal.
You are viewing: When Is Valentine’s Day In Brazil
Brazil is one of several outliers. Valentine’s Day becomes Dia dos Namorados and is celebrated in June rather than February. In this way, it doesn’t get overshadowed by the colorful, elaborate season of Carnaval. Plus, it doubles as a celebration of Saint Anthony of Padua, a saint with special significance to Brazil and other former Portuguese colonies.
Read on to learn more about what makes Brazil’s version of Valentine’s Day so special! We’ve even included easy-to-follow instructions for Brazilian simpatias (“sympathies” or rituals) to help you get your love life on track.
If you’re looking for more ways to say “I love you,” at any time of the year, consider learning a language with Rosetta Stone Unlimited. You’ll get unlimited access to lessons, learning tools, and more in 25 languages for life. You’ll never run out of ways to express yourself or your love!
When does Brazil celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Dia dos Namorados (Lover’s Day) is what Portuguese speakers call Valentine’s Day. Every year, Dia dos Namorados is held on June 12. Contrary to popular belief, celebrating the day in June instead of February is not a tradition passed down from Portuguese rule and is instead specific to Brazil. So why the unconventional date?
February 14 often overlaps with Carnaval, the biggest holiday in Brazil. To pay proper respects to love of all kinds, Brazilians recognized the need to set a day far away from the chaos and festivities of Brazil’s most boisterous celebration. June 12 made the most sense for Brazilians as it falls right before the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padua. Like Saint Valentine, Saint Anthony is a more regional, Brazilian symbol of love and marriage.
Why does Carnaval take precedence over Valentine’s Day?
Brazil and other historically Catholic countries celebrate Carnaval on the three days before Ash Wednesday. You might recognize it best by other names, like Carnevale in Italy or Mardi Gras in New Orleans. No matter where it’s held, Carnaval is loud, colorful, and hard to miss. In Colombia, for example, Carnaval is an incredible fusion of indigenous, African, and Spanish cultures filled with parades, dancing, and elaborate costumes.
Somehow, Brazil’s Carnaval takes the festival to new heights. For four days, most of the country shuts down and comes together to party in the streets all night. Millions of tourists from around the world come to Rio de Janeiro to join the revelry. An event this important to Brazil’s culture and economy couldn’t possibly compete with Valentine’s Day.
Why is Anthony of Padua so important in Brazil?
Read more : When I Fly Towards You Ep 13
Anthony of Padua was a Portuguese priest from the 13th century. He was so beloved during his lifetime that he was canonized as a saint just a year after his death. He is known worldwide as the patron saint of lost items and the patron saint of marriage in Portugal, Spain, and Brazil. He was even an honorary general in the Brazilian army. Brazil’s particular admiration for Saint Anthony of Padua comes from their history as a colony of Portugal, his dedication to the poor and downtrodden, and his blessings on marriages. The latter is what makes him a fitting honoree for celebrations of romantic love.
>> Learn how to say “I love you” in 25 languages, including Portuguese!
Dia dos Namorados traditions
Like Valentine’s Day and its other equivalents, Dia dos Namorados is a heavily commercialized holiday. Florists, candy companies, and other purveyors of romantic gifts look forward to the annual sales boost. You’ll recognize similarities between many of the Valentine’s Day traditions celebrated in the United States, but some have their own Brazilian flare.
Date nights and gifts
Like most of the world, Brazilian couples celebrate Valentine’s Day in familiar ways. Couples spend the day or evening together in the company of chocolate, flowers, and small trinkets to show their love and appreciation. Big fans of the holiday decorate their homes for the occasion.
While there aren’t any dishes specific to Dia dos Namorados, you can be sure that date nights in Brazil are as unique as they are delicious. We’re particularly interested in desserts, since love and sweetness go hand in hand. Bolo de rolo, an 18-layer guava cake, sounds like the perfect way to celebrate.
Parades and public events
The people of Brazil love a parade. Valentine’s Day in Brazil is no exception. Loud, lively parades with carnaval-style choreography wind through the streets of every city. The streets are decorated with festive hearts and flowers. People play loud music and dance the samba in the streets. This all creates a more lively public atmosphere than a typical American Valentine’s Day.
Simpatias
Couples and single people alike take part in simpatias (sympathies)or rituals to manifest their romantic hopes. The complexity of these rituals varies. For some, you might light a candle and pray to Saint Anthony. Others are reminiscent of potions and spells. Here are a few popular examples of simpatiasfor new and existing relationships. Follow the instructions below and see if they work for you!
Attracting a loving partner
This is one of the most popular simpatiasfor singles. To do it, place a small figurine of Saint Anthony upside down in a cup of water, ask him to introduce you to someone you will date and fall in love with, and tell him he will stay upside down in the cup until he grants your request. There is room for humor in asking for help from the saints.
Then, boil a rose in a liter of water for five minutes, mix in a spoon of honey, and spread the mixture on yourself from the neck down. As you wash it off, thank Saint Anthony for his help and throw away what’s left of the mixture.
The city of Concordia has their own local variation of this simpatia. Instead of placing Saint Anthony in a cup of water, they place him upside down in a bowl of salt. To each their own when it comes to rituals. All that matters is the result!
Securing a date
Read more : When Can You Transplant Rhubarb
If you’re not necessarily looking for a long term partner but want to go on a date soon, this is the simpatia for you. This one isn’t just for Dia dos Namorados but can be performed on any Friday!
To start, buy a glass, fill it with water and add three pinches of salt. Place a red rose in the salt water and leave it for two days. After you take out the rose, dump the water on your body while you’re in the shower and repeat the phrase “Santo Antônio, send an Antônio to me” three times. Throw away the rose, but you can keep the glass and use it normally.
Attracting your soul mate
If you’re ready to find your person and lock down your relationship, keep a picture of Saint Anthony in your wardrobe and say a prayer to him every night. When you find who you’re looking for, take the picture down and give it to a friend or relative who is looking for love. It’s a little like the traveling pants, but if you do this one right, you won’t need that picture back any time soon.
Going from friends to lovers
If you have a crush on a friend and want them to come to their senses, there’s a simpatia for that, too. Leave a little honey in a saucer and a picture of you and your crush together at the foot of a picture on Saint Anthony for seven days. Every morning, ask Saint Anthony to change your friend’s feelings, say an Our Father, and leave a coin at the scene. On the eighth day, throw the saucer away, keep the photo in a romantic book, and give the coins to the first person in need you see. Results may not be immediate.
Warding off romantic rivals
This simpatia is for people in relationships who want to keep the competition at bay. To do it, write your partner’s name under a small picture of Saint Anthony and put it in a gift box with petals from a red rose and two rings. Keep the box in a drawer, the back or your closet, or somewhere else where you can keep it a secret.
Ending jealousy within your relationship
This is the simplest simpatia. If you have a jealous lover, light a white candle and pray to Saint Anthony to bless your relationship and strengthen your bond so your partner will forget their envy. Jealousy and the accompanying paranoia can siphon the fun out of any relationship, so consider keeping this one in your back pocket. Our two cents: this simpatia works best when paired with honest, open conversations.
Find out if you’ll marry your current partner
If you’re in a relationship and want to know if they’re the one, this simpatiacould give you some clarity. On Saint Anthony’s day, fill a bowl with water, place two needles in it, and add two tablespoons of water on top. Leave the bowl overnight. If the needles land together, marriage may very well be in your future!
Explore the world with Rosetta Stone
Brazilians might be busy throwing the party of the year in February, but that doesn’t mean they don’t value love in all its forms. Dia dos Namorados is an incredibly thoughtful and meaningful day to honor love, marriage, and Saint Anthony of Padua. And if you’re striking out on dating apps, one of Brazil’s many sympatias might be just what you need to find the one.
From holidays to festivals, Brazil has a rich and colorful culture that’s hard not to fall in love with. Learning Portuguese can help you learn even more about it! Rosetta Stone can help you prepare for the trip of a lifetime or a conversation with someone new in your own community. Real-world, culturally relevant exercises immerse you in Portuguese like no other platform can. Plus, our TruAccent speech recognition helps you sound like a local based on data from thousands of native speakers.
Written by Luca Harsh
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHEN
