36 / 64
Brazil after 1850, has contributed to some distinctly Brazilian cultural forms,
especially in music and architecture. Distinct cultures also continue to
survive among Afro-Brazilians, non-Portuguese immigrants from Europe
and Asia, and isolated pockets of Indians. Portuguese is spoken by all
Brazilians, but the language has absorbed hundreds of words from Indian
and African languages. Accents, dialects, and slang vary by region.
Variety in All Walks of Life
Brazil is officially a Catholic country, but in practice the country’s reli-
gious life also includes Indian
animism
, African cults, Afro-Catholic
syn-
cretism
, and Kardecism, a spiritualist religion embracing Eastern
mysticism, which is gaining popularity with white Brazilians.
Architecture was the first art form in Brazil that developed into a
distinctively Brazilian style, through the blending of European and African
influences. During the 18th century, wealth created by sugar plantations and
gold mines went into the building of gorgeous churches and public buildings
in the regions of Bahia, Pernambuco, and Minas Gerais. After independence
in 1822, Brazilian architects turned away from their Portuguese inheritance
Brazil
animism—
the worship of animal and nature spirits.
classical—
relating to the ancient Greeks or Romans, especially with regard to their art,
architecture, and literature.
syncretism—
a combination of different systems of belief.
Words to Understand in this Chapter
36