Futbol is obviously taken very seriously in Brazil. During the World Cup workers pause from their duties to watch their team in action; even banks shut down 3 hours before matches to allow their workers time to prepare for the game.
The Rio Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous attractions in Brazil. It attracts thousands of tourists yearly, but it is also a tradition for Brazilians who often spend the year prior to the Carnaval preparing for it. Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia, Brazil, with its roots in Rio de Janeiro and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Rio Carnaval.
Modern day samba emerged at the beginning of the 20th century as a 2/4 tempo varied with the conscious use of chorus sung to the sound of palms and the batucada rhythm, adding one or more parts of declaratory verses. Traditionally, the samba is played by strings and various percussion instruments like the tamborim. Spoken by 99 percent of the population Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.
