Bossaball! Earth’s Biggest

Feel the Beat

Screech, Slurp, Slap, & SwooshAnimals of the Amazon

Screech, Slurp, Slap, & SwooshAnimals of the Amazon

ARRRRRGH!ARRRRRGH!

Play Ball!Bossaball!

Earth’sBiggest

Party!

Play Ball!Bossaball!

Join the Earth’s

BiggestParty!

Feel the Beat

FACES_FEB09_C1_a 12/9/08 10:00 AM

MYSTERYPHOTO?MYSTERYPHOTO?

A B O U T T H E C O V E R

Dive right into our issue on Brazil! © Karen Word/South American Pictures

C O N S U L T I N G E D I T O R

Christopher Dunn received his Ph.D. in Luso-Brazilian studies from BrownUniversity in 1996, the same year he joined the department of Spanishand Portuguese at Tulane University. He holds a joint appointment withthe African and African diaspora studies program and is a core memberof the Stone Center for Latin American Studies. Since 1999, he has servedas director of the Brazilian studies program at Tulane. He is the authorof Brutality Garden: Tropicália and the Emergence of a BrazilianCounterculture (University of North Carolina Press, 2001). He is co-editorwith Charles Perrone of Brazilian Popular Music and Globalization(Routledge, 2001).

Editor: Elizabeth Crooker CarpentiereAssociate Editor: Peg LopataDesign/Production: Brenda Ellis, Graphic SenseCopy Editor: Sarah JohnsonProofreader: Jack Burnett

Editorial Director: Lou WarynciaArt Director: Ann DillonRights and Permissions Coordinator: Patricia Silvestro Assistant Editor: Marcia Lüsted Interns: Allison Johnson, Jade Zarzeka, R.M. Schuford,

Amy MacArthur, and Kara Robinson

C A R U S P U B L I S H I N G C O M P A N Y

Chairman and Publisher: Andre W. Carus Editor-in-Chief: Marianne Carus Chief Operating Officer: Jason Patenaude Marketing Manager: Amy L. Reisinger Production Manager: Karen Dauck

Founding Editor: Margaret Cooper

A D V I S O R Y B O A R D

Sarah Witham Bednarz, Assistant Professor ofGeography, Co-coordinator Texas Alliance for GeographicEducation, Texas A&M University

Diane L. Brooks, Ed.D., Director (retired),Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional ResourcesOffice, California Department of Education

Ken Burns, Florentine Films

P. Ann Kaupp, Anthropology Outreach Office, NationalMuseum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Maryann Manning, Professor, School of Education,University of Alabama

Shawn Reynolds, Director, Indiana UniversityInternational Resource Center

Carol Johnson Shedd, Outreach Coordinator (retired),Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Sandra Stotsky, Professor of Education Reform, 21stCentury Chair in Teacher Quality, University of Alabama

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9

Member, Classroom Publishers Association

A 2007 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner

Editorial and Marketing office: FACES, 30 Grove St., Suite C,Peterborough, NH 03458. Tel: 603-924-7209.

FACES: People, Places, and Cultures (ISSN 0749-1387) (USPS 743-910) ispublished monthly with combined issues in May/June, July/August, andNovember/December by Cobblestone Publishing Company, a division of CarusPublishing Company, 315 Fifth Street, Peru, IL 61354. Periodicals postage paidat Peru, IL, and at additional mailing offices. One-year subscription (9 issues)$33.95; $15 additional per year outside the U.S. (includes Canadian GST/HST).Please remit in U.S. funds (GST #130428204). Prices subject to change. Backissue prices available on request. For SUBSCRIPTIONS, CHANGE OFADDRESS, and ADJUSTMENTS, write to FACES, P.O. Box 9306, La Salle, IL61301-9306. Please give both new address and old address as printed on lastlabel. Allow six to eight weeks for change of address. POSTMASTER: Pleasesend change of address to FACES, P.O. Box 9306, La Salle, IL 61301-9306.

Copyright © 2009 by Carus Publishing Company. All rights reserved.Reproduction of the whole or any part of the content is illegal without writtenpermission from the publisher. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscriptsor other material. All letters assumed for publication become the property of Carus Publishing Company. For information regarding our privacy policyand compliance with the Children’s On-line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA),please visit our Web site at www.cobblestonepub.com or write to CarusPublishing/COPPA, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354. Editorial correspondence:FACES, 30 Grove Street, Suite C, Peterborough, NH 03458. Printed in theUnited States of America.

Indexed and/or Abstracted in:

Children’s Magazine Guide, Primary Search and Middle Search, Readers’ Guide for Young People, Readers’ Guide

to Periodical Literature, Vertical File Index,CobblestoneOnline.net

Mmmm . . . what is this?The answer is on page 47.

Mmmm . . . what is this?The answer is on page 47.

FCES_FEB09_C2_a 12/8/08 10:33 AM Page 1

t h i s m o n t h i n

Page

42

Page

24

Page

8

A C T I V I T Y :

Brigadeiros

D E P A R T M E N T S :

High 5

At a Glance

Critter Corner

Ask FACES!

Face Facts

Art Connection

Guest Review

Say What?

One Last FacePage

26

FacesFacesF E A T U R E S :

Brazil: A Land of Beauty and Diversity

Dance.. . Fight. . . Play. . . Capoeira!

A Tasty Melting Pot

F E A T U R E S :

8 Brazil: A Land of Beauty and Diversityby Christine Graf

12 Dance.. . Fight. . . Play. . . Capoeira!by Katie Sciurba

16 A Tasty Melting Potby Grace Todino-Gonguet

Christ the Redeemer

Dear Tommy . . .

Growing Up in Brazil

Luciano Corrêa: Proud to Be Brazilian

Extreme Sports: Brazilian-Style

The Vanishing Amazon and the Fight to Save It

Carnival Parade: The Biggest Brazilian Celebration

Thiago Soares: From Silly Clown to Ballet Superstar

Pelé: The King of Football

James the Vine Puller

19 Christ the Redeemerby Peg Lopata

20 Dear Tommy . . .by Connie Colón

22 Growing Up in Brazilby Eduardo Monte Jorge Hey Martins

24 Luciano Corrêa: Proud to Be Brazilian by Kristy Dempsey

26 Extreme Sports: Brazilian-Styleby Kristy Dempsey

30 The Vanishing Amazon and the Fight to Save Itby Christine Graf

34 Carnival Parade: The Biggest Brazilian Celebrationby Katia Barber

37 Thiago Soares: From Silly Clown to Ballet Superstarby Kristy Dempsey

38 Pelé: The King of Footballby Kyle Rogers

42 James the Vine Pullerretold by Pat Betteley

A C T I V I T Y :

18 Brigadeiros

D E P A R T M E N T S :

2 High 5

4 At a Glance

6 Critter Corner

40 Ask FACES!

40 Face Facts

46 Art Connection

47 Guest Review

47 Say What?

48 One Last Face

FCES_FEB09 pp01_48_f 12/8/08 10:22 AM Page 1

Using the Land

2

Brazil is home to the biggest partyand biggest rain forest on Earth.

by Cynthia Hatch

The Largest Rain Forest on Earth Imagine a rain forest that is the size of thecontinental United States. The Amazon, in Brazil, is just this size; but unless something is done, itwon’t be that large for long. Each year, thousandsof acres of rain forest are cleared and burned byfarmers hoping to graze their cattle. This clearing is called deforestation.

Using the Land Sharing Brazil’s land with the Amazon rain forestleaves less than half of the country available tofarm. Yet the people of Brazil raise coffee, cattle,and grain crops. They also export iron ore.

The Largest Rain Forest on EarthImagine a rain forest that is the size of thecontinental United States. The Amazon, in Brazil, is just this size; but unless something is done, itwon’t be that large for long. Each year, thousandsof acres of rain forest are cleared and burned byfarmers hoping to graze their cattle. This clearing is called deforestation.

Brazil is home to the biggest partyand biggest rain forest on Earth.

Brazilians are a diverse people who originate

from Indian tribes, African slaves, and European settlers.

Here are five fascinating facts about Brazil.


Come and Join the Party

Home to Many

Foods Reflect Different Peoples

3

Come and Join the Party Every summer, 100,000 locals and tourists enjoy the Samba

Parade during the carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Colorful costumeddancers and gigantic floats drift down the avenue to the sounds

of the samba. After eight long months of preparation, each of the 14 neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro shows the world

Brazil’s diverse and beautiful culture.

Foods Reflect Different Peoples It’s not surprising that Brazilian food reflects its rich

and varied past — Indians, Portuguese, African slaves,Germans, Italians, Arabs, and even the Japanese have

made Brazil home. Brazil’s national dish, feijoadacompleta, is a stew filled with beans and leftover

meat that is eaten with rice, collard greens, orangeslices, and Brazil’s unique condiment, farofa. Other

popular foods are made from okra, dried cod, milk, tamarind, and sausage.

Home to Many Brazil is home to nearly 200 million people. They live in cities,on farms, and in the rain forests. Many farmers are very poorand can’t read or write. The Indians of Brazil belong to 210different tribes, who speak 170 languages. Some of thesetribes live deep within the Amazon.

A kitesurfer’s board sportsthe Brazilian flag.


Pic

o d

e N

eblin

a

Mar

ajo

Isla

nd

GU

IA

NA

H

IG

HL

AN

DS

BR

AZ

IL

IA

N

HI

GH

LA

ND

S

G

UY

AN

A

SH

IE

LD

AM

AZ

ON

RIV

ER

BA

SIN

Araguaia R.

Branco R. N

egro

R.

Amaz

on R

.

Puru

s R

.

Madei

ra R

.

Tapa

jós R.

Tocantins R.

São Francisco R

.

Guapor

é R

.

Xingu R.

Am

azon

R.

Jap

urá

R.

Lak

eT

itic

aca

Para R

.

Jari R

.

Equ

ator

Bra

sília

Man

aus

Sal

vado

r Rec

ife

FR

EN

CH

GU

IAN

A(F

RA

NC

E)

SU

RIN

AM

E

GU

YAN

A

VE

NE

ZU

EL

A

CO

LO

MB

IA

PE

RU

BO

LIV

IA

Equ

ator

4

Br

az

il

Atl

an

tic

Oc

ea

n

Pa

cif

ic

Oc

ea

n

Bra

zil

Br

az

il


Co

rcov

ado

Mo

un

tain

Paraná

R

.

Gu

anab

ara

Bay

Paraguay R.

AT

LA

NT

IC

OC

EA

N

Bel

o H

oriz

onte

Por

to A

legr

e

Rio

de

Jane

iroS

ão P

aulo

Cop

acab

ana

Bea

ch

São

Vic

ente

Foz

do

Igua

çuC

uriti

ba

Join

ville

CH

ILE

AR

GE

NT

INA

UR

UG

UA

Y

PAR

AG

UA

Y

025

050

0 ki

lom

eter

s

025

050

0 m

iles

Offi

cial

Nam

e:F

eder

ativ

e R

epub

lic o

f Bra

zil

Loca

tion:

East

ern

Sou

th A

mer

ica,

bor

derin

g th

eAt

lant

ic O

cean

to

the

east

. Col

ombi

a, V

enez

uela

,G

uyan

a, S

urin

ame,

and

Fre

nch

Gui

ana

are

to the

nort

h. T

o th

e w

est lie

s Pe

ru; t

o th

e so

uth,

Bol

ivia

,Pa

ragu

ay, A

rgen

tina,

and

Uru

guay

.

Are

a:3.3

mill

ion

squa

re m

iles

Popu

lati

on:

190 m

illio

n (2

007 e

stim

ate)

Gove

rnm

ent

:fed

eral

rep

ublic

Cap

ital

:Bra

silia

Eco

nom

y:se

rvic

es, 6

5.8

per

cent

; ind

ustr

y,

28.7

per

cent

; agr

icul

ture

, 5.5

per

cent

(2007 e

st.)

Clim

ate:m

ostly

tro

pica

l, bu

t te

mpe

rate

in s

outh

Terr

ain:

mos

tly fl

at to

rolli

ng lo

wla

nds

in n

orth

;so

me

plai

ns, h

ills,

mou

ntai

ns, a

nd n

arro

w c

oast

albe

lt

Hig

hest

poin

t:Pi

co d

a N

eblin

a, 9

,888 fe

et

(3,0

14 m

eter

s)

Reso

urc

es

and

crops

:bau

xite

, gol

d, ir

on o

re,

man

gane

se, n

icke

l, ph

osph

ates

, pla

tinum

, tin

,ur

aniu

m, p

etro

leum

, hyd

ropo

wer

, tim

ber,

cof

fee,

soyb

eans

, whe

at, r

ice,

cor

n, s

ugar

cane

, coc

oa,

citr

us, b

eef

Indu

stri

es:

text

iles,

sho

es, c

hem

ical

s, c

emen

t,lu

mbe

r, ir

on o

re, t

in, s

teel

, airc

raft

, mot

or v

ehic

les

and

part

s, o

ther

mac

hine

ry a

nd e

quip

men

t

Nat

iona

l lan

guag

e:P

ortu

gues

e

Nat

iona

l Day

:Sep

tem

ber 7

Curr

enc

y:B

razi

lian

Rea

l (1

BR

L = 0

.62152 U

.S.

dolla

r)

Peo

ple:

whi

te, 5

0 p

erce

nt; b

lack

/mix

ed, 4

9 p

erce

nt;

Asia

n, 0

.5 p

erce

nt; I

ndia

n, 0

.5 p

erce

nt

Mai

n re

ligi

ons

:Rom

an C

atho

lic, 7

3.6

per

cent

;Pr

otes

tant

, 15.4

per

cent

; oth

er, 1

1 p

erce

nt

Bra

zil

�ca

pita

l cit

y

�ci

ty o

r to

wn

coun

try

boun

dary

�m

ount

ain

LEG

EN

D

5

At

a G

lance

At

a G

lance

Bra

zil


6

by Peg Lopata

hat do a giant Amazon otter, a river dolphin, a jaguar, and a black spider monkey have in common? They all inhabit the Guyana Shield region, a

tropical forest in the northern Amazon of Brazil.Luckily for them and all the many other plantsand animals that grow and live here, thisplace — an area of land bigger thanEngland — has recently been protectedby the Brazilian government, and forgood reason.

This area has more biodiversity thanall the tropical forests on the planet,meaning that more species of plants andanimals live here than in any other place in theworld. With protection, this area will remain homenot only to those animals mentioned above, butalso to hundreds of other plants and animals whodepend upon living in this region for survival.

A Major MeowThe jaguar (Panthera onca) is not like any

kitty you might have seen or owned. It is thelargest of American cats — sometimes weighingmore than 300 pounds. Including its tail, it cangrow to more than 8 feet long. Not only is thejaguar big, but also it is a strong swimmer andclimber. Its jaws are powerful, too — it can dragprey two or three times its own weight. Insidethose jaws are teeth that can bite through atortoise’s shell. The jaguar is the only big catthat uses its teeth to crush the skulls of prey it catches.

This cat once prowled and pounced its waythrough the southwestern United States all theway to northern Argentina. Today, they are foundmainly in the rain forests of Central and SouthAmerica. Hunting and habitat loss continue tothreaten the survival of this species, but they are protected in the Guyana Shield.

The Determined DolphinThough dolphins usually live in

salt water, they can also be foundin the Amazon River. The Amazonriver dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), anendangered species, is the largest of fresh-water dolphins. They are usually about 6feet long, weighing up to 350 pounds. Thisdolphin can bend its neck to a 90-degreeangle. “Watching the river dolphin is amagical experience. It is like a trip to ancienttimes when men and some animal speciesinteracted more trustfully. You call them andthey come closer, they stick around you, showingup from time to time above the water’s surface, in different positions, as if they were playing to surprise you, allowing you to enjoy theirdelicious and friendly wild intelligence,” saysAdolfo Moreno, a conservation director with theWorld Wildlife Foundation, Bolivia.

Though South American Indians believedkilling the Amazon dolphin brings bad luck, new settlers and outsiders have captured

W

Screech, Slurp,Critter CornerCritter Corner Screech, Slurp,

W


7

or killed many of thisspecies. As Moreno explains,

“The conservation of the GuyanaShield region of Brazil is impor-tant for the Amazon river dolphin.

The survival of the river dolphinin the region depends upon living in

a way in which competition between

men and dolphins for food and shelter does notincrease drastically, a competition people would

win, not the dolphin.”

Not Just Another OtterThough its antics are certainly

entertaining, the South Americanotter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is nocute little thing — it grows to some

6 feet in length. This otter, a memberof the weasel family, is a powerful

swimmer, using its tail, webbed feet, andlong body to propel itself through the water.

Their water-repellent fur keeps them dry andwarm. They eat mostly fish, needing about 6 to 9pounds of food a day.

The South American otter will continue to raiseits young if humans can help them survive. Thisis important, as there are only about a few thou-sand river otters still in the wild.

Life Among the LimbsThe thumbless black spider monkey (Ateles

paniscus) may weigh only about 13 pounds andbe only 14 to 26 inches long, but it has a power-ful grip that keeps it aloft as it swings frombranch to branch in the Amazon rain forest. It uses its tail like a fifth limb for swinging, too.

These noisy animals, which sometimes live in groups of up to 30, are busy communicatingwith one another with barks and screeches.What’s all the noise about? It could be just aloud, heated debate, as spider monkeys havelarger brains than any other monkey their size in the Western Hemisphere.

Peg Lopata is associate editor of FACES.

, Slap, and SwooshNoises of the Rain Forest

An otter, dolphin, jaguar, and monkey — just four of the many amazing animals of the Amazon.

, Slap, and Swoosh


8

hen Portuguese explorer Pedro ÁlvaresCabral set sail for India in 1500, thingsdid not go quite as he had planned. Winds blew him off course, and he

ended up in Brazil. He claimed the newly discov-ered land for Portugal and named it Terra daVera Cruz (Land of the True Cross). As many as five million native Indians lived there at thetime, descendants of the Asians who had crossedthe land bridge that once connected Russia toAlaska. Archeological evidence suggests thatthey migrated to Brazil 11,000 years ago.

Portuguese settlers arrived soon after Cabral’sdiscovery. They changed the country’s name toBrazil because of the abundance of brazilwoodfound in the forests. They planted sugarcane onthe fertile soil of the northeast coast and forcedIndians to work in theirfields as slaves. ManyIndians were killed as they resisted beingenslaved or died from exposure to Europeandiseases.

Others retreated deep into the jungles of theAmazon to avoid capture. The colonists turnedto West African slave traders to supply themwith new slaves. By the 1800s, slaves wereworking on productive coffee and cotton planta-tions, cattle ranches, and gold and diamondmines throughout the country.

Portugal’s King João and his family escapedto Brazil in 1807 after the French invaded theircountry. Brazilians didn’t want the kingrunning their country — theywanted independence. Whenthe king was called back toPortugal after 15 years inBrazil, he left his son Pedro incharge. His son went againsthis father and supported Brazil’sindependence in 1822. Pedro wasnamed emperor, but his popularityfaded and he abdicated his throne.His son, Pedro II, took over andruled the country for almost 50years. In 1888, Brazil became thelast country in the Americas to

by Christine Graf

W

A Land of Beauty and DiversityBrazilBrazil

A Land of Beauty and Diversityby Christine Graf

W

FCES_FEB09 pp01_48_f 12/18/08 3:31 PM Page 8

9

abolish slavery. The following year, Pedro II wasoverthrown and sent into exile by military leaderswho wanted to establish a republic.

During the first republic, Brazil was ruled byregional cities, especially from the states of São

Paulo and Minas Gerais, which favored theinterests of wealthy landowners. During the longpresidency of Getúlio Vargas (1930–1945), Brazil’slower and middle classes gained more power

and received more benefitsalthough he was an author-

itarian ruler. He wasoverthrown in 1945,

but came back as ademocratically elected

president in 1950. In1964, a military dictator-

ship came to power, ending20 years of democratic rule.Democracy rebounded in1986, when Brazil’s citizenstook back their government.

Brazil’s approximately 200million people continue tolive under democracy in

the world’s fifth largest

Teenagers from Brazil, like teens around the world, enjoy taking a break from schoolto spend time with friends.

This cathedral is located in Brasília, a city built in the 1950sto become the new capital of Brazil. When seen from above,the city resembles the shape of an airplane.

Teenagers from Brazil, like teens around the world, enjoy taking a break from schoolto spend time with friends.

This cathedral is located in Brasília, a city built in the 1950sto become the new capital of Brazil. When seen from above,the city resembles the shape of an airplane.


10

country. More than half of them are of Europeanorigin while less than one percent are indigenous(descendants of Brazil’s original Indian inhabi-tants). Forty-nine percent of the population areblack or of mixed race. No other country outsideof Africa has such a large black population, andmany Brazilians are the descendants of the eightmillion Africans who were brought to the country as slaves.

The landscape of Brazil is as diverse as itspeople. Half of the country is covered in forests,including the Amazon, the largest rain forest inthe world. Located in the northern part of Brazil,the Amazon region is the largest area but is hometo the fewest people. It is where themajority of the indigenous

An employee in a Volkswagen factory in São Paulo works on an engine that usesalternative fuel.

Up to 160 inches of rain falls annually in the Amazon.

An employee in a Volkswagen factory in São Paulo works on an engine that usesalternative fuel.


11

population lives. They belong to 210 differentIndian tribes and speak 170 different languages.At least 50 tribes live deep in the jungle and havenever had contact with the outside world.

In contrast to the Amazon region, the south-eastern region is home to almost half of thecountry’s population. This highly industrializedarea includes Saõ Paulo and Rio de Janeiro,Brazil’s largest cities. Iron ore mines, huge coffeeand grain plantations, and fertile farmland arescattered throughout the region.

Farmland is also located along the coast of thenortheastern region, but the interior plain haspoor soil and is prone to devastating droughtsand floods. About 30 percent of Brazil’s peoplelive in the northeast, mostly in cities along thecoast.

Fewer people live in the central plateau that islocated south of the Amazon. Except for Brasília,the capital city, the region contains mostly hugeplantations and cattle ranches. Cattle grazing isalso prevalent in southern Brazil, where cowboyscalled gauchos tend to the herds. The world’slargest wetland can be found in western Brazil.Hundreds of animal species live there, includingalligators, giant anteaters, and the jabiru stork,which stands 5 feet tall.

Brazil is filled with natural beauty, but the country faces many social and economicchallenges, including illiteracy, high inflation,child labor, political corruption, and poverty.Eighty percent of those in rural areas live inpoverty and don’t have access to adequate waterand sanitation.

The Brazilian government, led by the extremelypopular president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is working to address these problems and hasimplemented programs such as Zero Hunger,which is aimed at making sure that no Braziliangoes hungry. They have their work cut out forthem, but their love of Brazil and its people willkeep them going.

Christine Graf is a frequent contributor to FACES.

Phones can come in handy no matter where you live, but especially so if you

reside in a remote region of the Amazon.

Sweet fuel?Sugarcane is harvested for use as a foodsweetener and a fuel additive (ethanol).

Sweet fuel?Sugarcane is harvested for use as a foodsweetener and a fuel additive (ethanol).


12

Play...

CapoeiCapoeiby Katie Sciurba

Starting young.Starting young.Picking up capoeira skills at a young age

is one way to master the sport.

Fight.. .Dance...


13

he jogo, or “game,” is about to begin.A circle, known as a roda, takes shape.

Three musicians who are part of the roda play a slow, distinct beat on bowlike instru-

ments made with gourds called berimbaus. Their plinging sound is soon accompanied by adrum (atabaque), a tambourine-like instrument(pandeiro), a two-headed bell (agogô), and a gratingreco-reco.

The pulsing music sets the stage for capoeira. An experienced player or leader, a mestre, starts

to sing. The lyrics of his song are often spiritual,praising God or the power of ancestors who havecome before. The leader’s voice is joined by othersin the roda. He calls. The group responds.

Two players, who have been crouching nearthe berimbau musicians, stand and shake handsto ignite this match of capoeira. They enter thecenter of the circle, sometimes with a cartwheel-like motion — an aú. They wear loose pantscalled abadas so that they can move freely andengage their entire bodies during the jogo.

Without missing a beat of the song, the twoplayers — or capoeiristas as they are called inBrazil and other capoeira communities — movein a series of attacks and counterattacks againsteach other, with kicks and hits similar to thoseseen in martial arts. The strikes deliveredduring capoeira, however, rarely land uponone’s opponent. Instead, the two capoeiristasflow seamlessly with and against each other in

eira!

he jogo, or “game,” is about to begin.A circle, known as a roda, takes shape.

Three musicians who are part of the roda play a slow, distinct beat on bowlike instru-

ments made with gourds called berimbaus. Their plinging sound is soon accompanied by adrum (atabaque), a tambourine-like instrument(pandeiro), a two-headed bell (agogô), and a gratingreco-reco.

The pulsing music sets the stage for capoeira. An experienced player or leader, a mestre, starts

to sing. The lyrics of his song are often spiritual,praising God or the power of ancestors who havecome before. The leader’s voice is joined by othersin the roda. He calls. The group responds.

Two players, who have been crouching nearthe berimbau musicians, stand and shake handsto ignite this match of capoeira. They enter thecenter of the circle, sometimes with a cartwheel-like motion — an aú. They wear loose pantscalled abadas so that they can move freely andengage their entire bodies during the jogo.

Without missing a beat of the song, the twoplayers — or capoeiristas as they are called inBrazil and other capoeira communities — movein a series of attacks and counterattacks againsteach other, with kicks and hits similar to thoseseen in martial arts. The strikes deliveredduring capoeira, however, rarely land uponone’s opponent. Instead, the two capoeiristasflow seamlessly with and against each other in

TT

eira!


a graceful fighting dance that appears to bechoreographed. It is important for capoeiristasto play upon their opponents’ moves, some-times just narrowly missing being struck or landing a strike. Capoeristas will even stopa kick or hit right in front of their opponentsto show them what they could have done butdecided to withhold.

One of the main moves of capoeira is theginga, which consists of a rocking, side-to-side step. This is a foundational movementthat leads into more elaborate steps. Acrobat-ics often accompany capoeira jogos, withplayers doing handstands, flipping in the air, or spinning themselves on just one hand.The competition comes from the capoeiristastrying to outdo each other with flourishes that show off their skill and strength. Whilemany jogos are playful or mocking, some arecombative. The type of match depends on thedynamic between the capoeiristas.

There is no official winner or loser of a jogo.The match ends when one of the players orthe mestre decides it is time to finish. One ofthe berimbaus is lowered, and a single note isplayed over and over until the two capoeiristasshake hands and exit the roda. From there, a new set of players can enter and start a newmatch.

While the roots of capoeira are somewhat

mysterious, it is clear that the form as weknow it today stems from the African peoplewho were brought to Brazil during the slavetrade. It isn’t certain whether they adapted an existing dance or altered one of their own.But it is thought that the practice of capoeirawas a form of concealed resistance. Accordingto this theory, slaves were making it look like a dance, but they were actually practicing aform of combat that they could use againsttheir masters.

After the African slaves were set free inBrazil, capoeira began to be practiced bygroups of gangs. The dance/fight/game wasthen associated with outcasts of society, andit was outlawed during the 1890s. Penaltiesfor continuing to practice capoeira includedexpatriation (being forced to leave Brazil) or even having the tendons on the back of the feet cut. As a result,capoeiristas took topracticing under-ground. They developeda coded beat that couldbe used as a warningagainst law enforcers.Capoeira wasn’t legal-ized again in Braziluntil 1937, with thehelp of President Getulio

Yoga? Gymnastics?Capoeira is a bit of both, as shown by this man’s modified headstand.

14

Legend has it that capoeiristas began to wear whiteabadas to demonstrate their skill. The players who kepttheir pants cleanest were considered the most skillful.


15

Vargas, who wanted to make the art form a national sport.

Although capoeira has traditionally beenperformed by men — the majority of whomwere of African descent — capoeiristas todayinclude women and people of many different

backgrounds, inside and outside of Brazil. It is so popular, in fact, that capoeira perform-ers have become a tourist attraction in bigBrazilian cities, sometimes to the dismay of capoeiristas who would prefer their art to remain a traditional practice.

Katie Sciurba has written for children and adults. Two of herfavorite writing topics are music and dance.

A sport with music — another characteristic ofcapoeira.


16

razilian food is a flavorful blend of tastesand cultures that reflects the history of the country. Take feijoada completa(fay-jo-A-da kom-PLE-ta), the “national

dish.” It is a rich stew of beans and leftovermeats eaten with rice, collard greens, farofa(a crumblike condiment unique to Brazil), and orange slices. Brazilians drink caipirinha(kai-pi-RIN-ya), an icy slush of lime juice, syrup,and sugarcane alcohol, before the meal. Fordessert, there is Romeu e Julieta, made of softcheese and guava (a tropical fruit) paste. Whatcountries influenced this traditional meal?

Brazil was inhabited by native Indians forthousands of years before the Portuguesecame. They lived mainly on fish and the bountyof the forest — root vegetables, herbs, greens,fruits, and nuts. Manioc, a staple food, is thesource of farofa, which is as common as saltand pepper on the Brazilian table. One legend-ary Amazonian dish is pato no tucupí, duckwith a tongue-numbing herb sauce. Manyenergy drinks contain guaraná, a rain forestberry. Brazilians adore the freshly squeezed

juice of tropical fruits such as papaya, mango,pineapple, and tamarind.

The Portuguese colonizers imposed not onlytheir language and religion, but also theirfood. Bacalhau (dried salted cod, pronouncedba-kal-YAW), linguiça (sausage, pronouncedling-GWI-sa), savory pastries, and dessertslike fresh cheese with marmalade enrichedthe Indian diet.

West African slaves brought in to work the plantations spiced up the local fare withcoconut milk, dendê (palm) oil, okra, andpeppercorns. It is said that the slaves createdfeijoada to make use of meat scraps — includ-ing tongue, pig’s ears, nose, and tail — fromthe master’s table. Acarajé (a-ka-ra-JE), frittersof black-eyed peas filled with dried shrimp, are typical of Afro-Brazilian soul food.

Around the 17th century, cowboys fromthe south started roasting pieces of beef (afterthe more valuable hide was removed) in a holein the ground, seasoning it with ashes fromthe fire. This gave rise to the popular Brazilianchurrasco (barbecue). In the 1960s, truckers

A Tasty Melting Pot

B

A Tasty Melting Potby Grace Todino-Gonguetby Grace Todino-Gonguet

B


17

When it comes to eating,

Brazilians follow a more formal,

European way. They always use

a knife and fork, even for pizzas,

sandwiches, and chicken. They

never drink from a bottle or can.

Finger foods are picked up

with a napkin.

When it comes to eating,

Brazilians follow a more formal,

European way. They always use

a knife and fork, even for pizzas,

sandwiches, and chicken. They

never drink from a bottle or can.

Finger foods are picked up

with a napkin.

Yum! Yum! The simple foods are often the best.


from the south spread the rodizio (ro-di-ZI-yo),where a variety of grilled meats is served at thetable, to the whole country. In a modern restau-rant, passadors (waiters) go around the tableslike matadors with meterlong swords of grilledbeef, pork, sausages, and chicken hearts seasonedwith sea salt and herbs. They serve thin slices of meat continuously until diners “surrender”and raise a white flag on the table. Side dishesinclude rice, black beans, fried bananas, greens,French fries, onion rings, and farofa.

Italians brought pasta, pizza, and the after-dinner cafezinho (espresso coffee, pronouncedka-fe-ZIN-yo). Germans fleeing the end of WorldWar II introduced sausages and dairy products.Arab immigrants carried along their snacks and sweets. Japanese and other Asians furtheradded to the local menu.

Though Brazilian cuisine varies by region,eating habits generally follow the European style.Breakfast is often simple — coffee with milk, breadand jam, sometimes a slice of ham or cheese, andfresh fruit. Lunch is a long, leisurely, sit-downaffair with rice, beans, salad, and meat or seafood.Office workers go to lanchonetes (snack bars,pronounced lan-cho-NE-tes) and buffet-stylepor-kilo restaurants. Here, as the name suggests,food is paid according to its weight. With such a heavy lunch, dinner is served quite late and isusually a light meal of soup, bread, and dessert.

Unlike the casual image that Braziliansproject, their table manners are more formal.Children learn the do’s and don’ts quite early as they often eat out with the family. Braziliansalways wash their hands before eating andrarely touch food with their hands. They use a knife and fork, even when eating pizza or sand-wiches! The fork is held in the left hand and the knife on the right at all times, as they do inEurope. Finger foods are picked up with a napkin.Fruit is often served whole in a dish. Braziliansstab the fork deep into the core of the fruit andcut out pieces with the knife. Brazilians alwaysuse a glass and do not drink from the bottle or can.

Adults do not eat or drink on the go and willnot have coffee or drinks in their cars. Braziliansof all ages enjoy stopping at a juice bar or foodstand, where they sit or stand around until the food is finished before going on their way.But whatever time of day or part of the country,nothing beats a very strong, very sweet cafezinhowith family and friends.

Bom apetite!

Grace Todino-Gonguet lives in the Sultanate of Oman and spendsher summers in Portugal. Her latest work is an illustrated anthologyof Omani folktales for children.

18

BrigadeirosBrigadeiros

Every Brazilian child’s birthday includes

this treat. It tastes like chocolate truffles

and is easy to make. Adults love them, too!

You need:

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa or

chocolate powder

1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering hands

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

Toppings: coconut flakes, chocolate sprinkles,

sugar, crushed nuts

1. Combine cocoa, butter, and condensed milk

in a medium saucepan.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring all the time

(this is very important!), until thickened.

The mixture should start to “pull away” from

the sides of the pan, and you should see the

bottom of the pan when you stir. Cook and

stir for another two minutes.

3. Pour the mixture into a lightly oiled dish.

Let it cool to room temperature or put into

the refrigerator to set.

4. Lightly oil or butter your hands. Take a

teaspoonful of the mixture and make a

little ball about half the size of a golf ball.

5. Roll the brigadeiros in coconut, chocolate,

sugar, crushed nuts, or other toppings

and place each one in a small paper cup.

6. Refrigerate until ready to eat.


owering 2,300 feet above the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil upon the granitepeak of the Corcovado Mountain is a

100-foot-tall famous sculpture known through-out the world as Christ the Redeemer. Want to

visit? It’s easy. Just hop aboard an electric railwayfor a 20-minute ride up. The ride is an adventurein itself as the train passes through the world’slargest urban forest. The viewing area once requireda climb up 200 steps, but today escalators andelevators take visitors to the top.

This beautiful art deco–style statue was erectedin 1931 to honor the 100-year anniversary ofBrazil’s independence from Portugal. The originaldesign by Carlos Oswaldo included Jesus holdinga globe in one hand. Eventually, a different designby French sculptor Paul Landowski was chosen. A local engineer, Heitor da Silva Costa, supervisedthe construction. Soapstone was chosen as thebest material for the outer layers because it’smalleable and yet durable. The Corcovado Railwayhauled the large pieces of the statue to the top of the mountain. It took five years to complete.

Though considered a holy place by many, the Roman Catholic Church did not officially designate it as a sacred site until 2006. Rio de Janeiro’s Roman Catholic archbishop, Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, blessed the small chapelunder the statue. It now can be used for religiousceremonies, such as baptisms and marriages. For many, there can be no more romantic place to be married — but don’t plan to bring along allyour friends and family. No cars are allowed to goup to the statue, so your wedding party must waitfor hours to travel up by train.

In 2000, this 12-story-high sculpture got a$1.8 million facelift, which included fixing cracks,replacing broken bits, and cleaning away dirt. Newlighting was added to enhance the night views ofthe statue. But travelers who’ve been there saythe best time to visit Christ the Redeemer is inthe late afternoon while the sun is setting. Thesplendor of the statue, the view from the mountain,and the majesty of the site are all at their peakthen.

19

owering 2,300 feet above the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil upon the granitepeak of the Corcovado Mountain is a

100-foot-tall famous sculpture known through-out the world as Christ the Redeemer. Want to

visit? It’s easy. Just hop aboard an electric railwayfor a 20-minute ride up. The ride is an adventurein itself as the train passes through the world’slargest urban forest. The viewing area once requireda climb up 200 steps, but today escalators andelevators take visitors to the top.

This beautiful art deco–style statue was erectedin 1931 to honor the 100-year anniversary ofBrazil’s independence from Portugal. The originaldesign by Carlos Oswaldo included Jesus holdinga globe in one hand. Eventually, a different designby French sculptor Paul Landowski was chosen. A local engineer, Heitor da Silva Costa, supervisedthe construction. Soapstone was chosen as thebest material for the outer layers because it’smalleable and yet durable. The Corcovado Railwayhauled the large pieces of the statue to the top of the mountain. It took five years to complete.

Though considered a holy place by many, the Roman Catholic Church did not officially designate it as a sacred site until 2006. Rio de Janeiro’s Roman Catholic archbishop, Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, blessed the small chapelunder the statue. It now can be used for religiousceremonies, such as baptisms and marriages. For many, there can be no more romantic place to be married — but don’t plan to bring along allyour friends and family. No cars are allowed to goup to the statue, so your wedding party must waitfor hours to travel up by train.

In 2000, this 12-story-high sculpture got a$1.8 million facelift, which included fixing cracks,replacing broken bits, and cleaning away dirt. Newlighting was added to enhance the night views ofthe statue. But travelers who’ve been there saythe best time to visit Christ the Redeemer is inthe late afternoon while the sun is setting. Thesplendor of the statue, the view from the mountain,and the majesty of the site are all at their peakthen.

The open arms of Jesus Christ are a welcome sign to many

who visit Brazil’s most famous sculpture.

Christ theRedeemerby Peg Lopata

TTby Peg Lopata

The open arms of Jesus Christ are a welcome sign to many

who visit Brazil’s most famous sculpture.

Christ theRedeemer


Bossaball! Earth’s Biggest

Documents

Transcript of Bossaball! Earth’s Biggest