Most people don’t associate country music, plaid shirts, square dancing, and cowboys with Brazil. But, in this large country of over 200 million people, there is a lot of regional music for every musical taste. As winter arrives in Brazil, particularly in the northeast, thoughts turn to forró, the most popular country-style music, and the […]
Getting up at 4:30 am wasn’t easy for night owls like us, but we knew that pre-dawn was the time to arrive if we wanted to catch the religious — sacred — part of the festival for Iemanjá. We jumped into the taxi to the Rio Vermelho neighborhood, lightly caffeinated, proud of ourselves for even […]
When January arrives in Salvador, every day is a pre-funk for Carnaval. We roll right out of one of the biggest New Year’s Festivals in the world and just keep partying. One of those signature days is Lavagem do Bomfim. This festival falls on either the second or third Thursday of the month, depending upon […]
In this city that is deeply connected to Africa and in a country that is very religious, residents cherish the opportunity to connect with their spiritual ancestors. And let’s be honest, they are always looking for a reason to party, as well. December 8th is the day of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, or the immaculate […]
What do you think of when you hear “Brazil Carnaval”? I bet it’s the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval with the sambadrome, women in high heels, and feathery costumes. That is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime spectacular. And pretty much the complete opposite of what you’ll find at Salvador’s millions-strong 6-day street party/city takeover. When is Salvador’s Carnaval […]
What music and dance form has its own verb and national day of recognition? Samba! That’s what. The verb: sambar The day: December 2nd A brief history of samba in Brazil The history of samba is disputed, with both Bahia and Rio de Janeiro claiming to have originated the dance and musical form. However, what […]
New Year’s Eve celebrations are a big deal around the world, but in Salvador we take it to a different level. The phrase “go big or go home” is true when it comes to Salvador and its ability to throw a party. We host the biggest New Year’s celebration in Brazil — a free multi-day […]
December 4 in Salvador marks the official un-official kickoff of the Carnaval season. It is the Festa de Santa Bárbara / Dia de Iensã. While not an official holiday, that doesn’t stop more than ten thousand people from commemorating. I encourage you to watch the video above. A picture is worth a thousand words, and […]