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in 2008 saw Brazilian soccer “as art,” the glue that bound society. The game
appeals to the literate and the illiterate; the moneyed and the poor; city dwell-
ers and farmers. When a team loses, not only does it reflect poorly on the
players, but also on the country as whole.
Another popular sport, which combines martial arts, dance, and music, is
capoeira. The historical origin of the sport is up for debate, but many believe
it started in the sixteenth century with African slaves in Brazil who wished to
conceal their self-defense training. Capoeira is an art form that fuses fast and
complex spinning and kicking moves with a challenge of balance between the
players. Today, players across the world participate in the sport, with masters
of capoeira traveling the globe to teach it to other cultures.
The passion Brazilians have for soccer and capoeira is matched by Carni-
val, the annual festival celebrated forty-six days before Easter. While Carnival
is celebrated in many countries, Brazil’s is the most famous of all, with each
city celebrating in its own
boisterous
and colorful way. The celebration has its
A woman performs during Carnival 2014 in Rio de Janeiro.