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Guide for dating in Manaus helps you to meet the best girls. This dating guide gives you tips how to date Brazilian women. You will learn rules where and how to flirt with local Brazilian girls. We advise how to move from casual dating to the relationship and find the real love. We also tell the best dating sites in Manaus. In this article below you will find more information where to meet and date girls in Manaus, Brazil.

A group of hot girls at the Porao De Alemao in Manaus


Girls in Manaus:

  • Looks of girls: 4.5 / 5
  • Attitude of girls: 3.5 / 5
  • Loyalty of girls: 4 / 5
  • Education level of girls: 3 / 5

Dating in Manaus:

  • Chance of arranging dates: 3 / 5
  • Casual dating culture: 3 / 5
  • Online dating popularity: 2.5 / 5

Sex in Manaus:

  • Women's sexual activity: 3 / 5
  • One-night stands: 3 / 5

More about Manaus:

  • Nightlife in general: 3.5 / 5
  • Locals' English level: 1.5 / 5
  • Moving around the city: 3 / 5
  • Budget per day: US$100 - $300
  • Accommodation: US$30 - $60

Dating

Brazil is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 210 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth-most populous. It is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas. Brazil has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. Manaus is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. It is the seventh-largest city in Brazil, with an estimated population of 2.2 million. The city is situated near the point where the Negro and Solimões rivers meet to form the Amazon.

Brazilian has some of the most beautiful girls in the world. However, they are also extremely controlling and often show jealousy. If you choose to date a girl from Brazil, be ready to give up any communication with female friends - or they will be treated as the worst enemies and your girlfriend can eventually throw a temper tantrum because she is not satisfied with who your friends are.

Dating Culture

Brazilians are pretty passionate and impulsive. So once they meet somebody nice and good to spend time with they are up to a relationship. When in other countries it takes a long process of thinking everything over and analyzing the need to approach a person you like with a suggestion to date, in Brazil it happens as fast as a week goes.

Sugar Dating

Sugar dating is one of the best ways to find a date in 2023. Men who are willing to buy gifts for sugar babies, will get physical or emotional pleasure for a return. Take a look of the wide selection of girls from SecretBenefits.

Online Dating

Dating in Manaus can be a bit tricky due to not knowing if you have a solid connection, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before you venture to the night club or bar, so you can meet a few locals ahead of time. AdultFriendFinder.com lets you meet local members in Manaus and get to know them on a personal basis before you meet in person. Take advantage of site features like live chat and member to member webcams so you can begin flirting before arranging a face-to-face meeting.

Webcam Dating

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Women

Brazil gave men and women the same access to education, improved maternal health and reduced rates of adolescent pregnancy. Paradoxically, not all women have benefited from these advances.

Physically speaking, Brazilian women are not too tall; in fact, some of them are on the shorter side, most of the women you shall come across are in-between 5 feet and 5 feet 6 inches. The appearances of the women also change as you travel across the country. Most of the women from Brazil identify themselves with some part of African races, they have darker skin tones, while the Northern part of the country is dominated by the real natives who are Afro-Brazilian, and the Southeastern part of Brazil has women exactly the type you see in pop culture music videos and movies.

As you move to the southernmost part of Brazil you shall come across women who associate themselves with European ancestry, these women are fairer and more feminine. On the whole, most of the women redefine beauty standards and they usually have asymmetrically shaped faces with a variety of features depending upon their ancestry. The women undoubtedly have curvaceous figures, with most women having what can be described as a guitar-shaped body.

Brazilian Girls (age 18 - 29)

One popular aspect of most Brazilian women across the globe is their perfectly shaped buttocks. The hype is real; most of the women here have plump, round, and firm buttocks. The women tend to look attractive for most of their lives because they take immense efforts in maintaining their figure, the women exercise a lot and keep themselves actively busy at most times. A lot of cardio, squats, and weight training exercises are common for Brazilian women.

Similarly, the women take an extraordinary effort in dressing up, this is done irrespective of what the occasion is, the women take good care of their bodies, they are extremely hygienic as well. Most of the Brazilian females take three showers per day. They also believe in looking good, smelling good, and being presentable at all times. The women keep make-up to a minimum but they use quite a few other products to maintain their radiance. As described earlier, most of the women from Brazil have an undeniably sexy demeanor, they ooze raw sexual energy and are inviting in many ways.

Brazilian Women (age 30 - 45)

Because these women are more financially stable, they can purchase pricier hence better clothes than when they were young. Those who are still single or the liberal ones will still be inclined to put on tight clothes that enhance their features. The married ones dress more conservatively. These women are also able to purchase better fashion accessories, jewelry and beauty products which they put both at work and when they go out.

Those who had not married earlier get married and settle down in their families. As they do so, they strive to maintain a balance between the family and their careers and social lives. Many people lose friends at this time as they are unable to find time to catch up as was the case earlier in life. It is also at this time that many women make choices in their careers before settling down to pursue what they want and this will affect how they spend their time.

Apart from the married ones, women at this age are easy to hook up with. This is because of the urge to settle down which makes them more outgoing and receptive to approaches by men. Hooking up with these women is easy and good as they are generally more mature than their younger peers and so they have an understanding of what a relationship entails.

Brazilian Ladies (age 45+)

Many Brazilian women get married early meaning that at this point, most Brazilian women are married with children. Some of the children are also old enough to move out and start their own families. This leaves the women at home with their husbands.

As the women grow older, they tend to change their dress code and cover up more. This means that the amount of skin they expose is greatly reduced. For the women in formal employment, the length of the dresses and skirts increases downwards while the trouser pants become looser. The neckline also moves up as they now become mothers. This does not mean that they become less attentive to their appearance, rather they move from risqué to classy. The women in this age bracket can finance their lifestyle and so they dress and accessorize more expensively.

Foreign Girls (tourists, expats, students, etc.)

Manaus’s location near the Amazon Rainforest makes it a favorite stopover for tourists planning to explore the forest. The world's largest rainforest is home to many species of birds, fish, monkeys, and more. The town is also located near the confluence of two rivers to form the largest river in the world, the Amazon.

Sex

It has already been mentioned that religion plays a central life in the lives of many Brazilians. This has resulted in fewer girls engaging in sex before marriage. This has however changed recently with the proliferation of western culture into the lives of Brazilians. This has opened up more Brazilian girls to casual sex. While parents and other guardians may have control over girls while they are still growing up and living under their roofs, they lose this as soon as the girls finish secondary school and go away to universities and colleges.

Sex Culture

Getting laid in the country of Brazil is a relatively easy prospect, you need a simple game plan and you shall get laid. While many local women are conservative and only get into relationships with marriage in mind, there are those women who can easily engage in casual sex. These are the girls who are found in nightclubs and other entertainment joints and university tourists.

One-Night Stands

Many young Brazilians are hooking up and having sex only to go their separate ways in the morning. This has been also greatly influenced by the great number of foreigners who come into the country for different reasons. These foreign women are seldom looking for long term relationships but will be content with one-night stands.

Best Places to Meet Single Girls

Manaus is the Amazon’s largest city, an incongruous urban metropolis in the middle of the jungle and a major port for seafaring vessels that’s 1500km from the ocean. The Amazonian rainforest has a population density half that of Mongolia, but the journey there invariably begins in (or passes through) this gritty, bustling city.

Manaus is no architectural gem but does have some genuinely rewarding sights, including a leafy zoo and an interesting beach-and-museum combo. It's a place to stock up on anything you forgot to pack, make reservations and begin your journey out into the jungle, or refill your tank with beer and internet after a week in the forest. Manaus is best enjoyed as a starting point for your Amazon adventure, not the end of your road into the Amazon.

Bars, Pubs and Nightclubs

  • Copacabana Chopperia: Rio-style bar and dance club, with a semi-open-air bar, performance stage and dance floor, with room for 7000 revelers! DJs spin everything from samba and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) to electronica and funk. Check out the club's Facebook page for details and deals.
  • Mao Bar: This bar is super-cool – a moodily lit, semi-subterranean spot on the basement level with great music and drinks and a laid-back backpacker vibe. Occasional live music and movie screenings.
  • Porão do Alemão: If you’re up for an evening of good old rock and roll, then Porão do Alemão is the place for you. Discover local and international bands while rocking the night away. Known as the most popular rock nightclub at Manaus, the place is often crowded. If you prefer partying with a smaller crowd, Thursday is the recommended day to go. Not only is the club famous for featuring great bands, the drinks are affordable and the food is also good.
  • Lappa Bar: Party Brazilian style at Lappa Bar as they play Samba music all night long. Learn Samba moves from the locals or if you're looking for variety, then you should visit the club on Friday when they feature live bands that play different music styles, all equally enjoyable. Not only is Friday great for music but also food and drinks between 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Happy Hour offers a buffet with two beers.
  • Bar do Armando: Conveniently located near the Opera House, there are seats outside the bar that give you a chance to observe Manaus by nightfall when offices close and people are out for a good time. Meet people from all walks of life like writers, politicians, and bohemians. Satisfy your taste buds by trying their popular food and drink combo, an ice-cold and an "x-porco” sandwich that is seasoned with lime.
  • Cahaçaria do Dede: They are famous for stone-fried “carque” or South American jerky and “coalho” which is traditional Northern Brazil soft cheese, among other mouth-watering selections. Pair them with beer and go crazy with the choices as they offer 600 liquor brands. Be adventurous and try Brazilian beer, like “cachaca” and “chope”. You are sure to enjoy your evening with live music and great customer service.
  • Bardot Bar: Keep your evening elegant while having fun at Bardot Bar. The place has a grand piano and plays live music every day. As the name suggests, the bar is a tribute to Brigitte Bardot who was an actress, singer, and model before she became an animal rights activist. Her photo is displayed on a wall in the bar’s stage. With its cozy atmosphere and good service, you’re sure to have a memorable evening.
  • Move Lounge: Dance your night away to electronic dance music from some of the best local DJs at Move Lounge. Party with the lively locals and because the club is popular, be sure to arrive early before the line gets too long. They offer an assortment of drinks so you would not run out of choices. Visit their website before hitting the club because they regularly have different themes, offering you a new experience each time.
  • Ao Mirante Music Bar: Begin your evening with a majestic view of the sunset while sipping a cold beer or other alcoholic beverage. Relax by the beach while soaking in Manaus culture through their iconic reggae music. Compared to most bars, the place is quieter that gives it a great atmosphere for talking with your travel buddies, or be adventurous and befriend the locals or fellow tourists.
  • O Sindicato: The place has a nice vibe and atmosphere; people get involved with the songs while drinking beer. They also offer food and it goes well with the drinks. A good thing to do is to check their Facebook page, as sometimes they offer promos in the beer price.
Party at the Copacabana Bar in Manaus

Shopping Malls

Some of the malls in Manaus include:

  • Manaus Plaza Shopping
  • Shopping Grande Circular
  • Minishopping Parque 10 Mall
  • Sumaúma Park Shopping
  • Dubai Shopping Center
  • Amazonas Shopping Center
  • Millenium Shopping
  • Ponta Negra Shopping

Outdoors

  • Jardim Botânico Adolpho Ducke: Spanning over 100 sq km, this 'garden' is the world's largest urban forest. There's a network of five short trails (guides and closed shoes required, two to three hours, free with admission) and an open-air museum that includes rotating exhibits on Amazonian flora and fauna and a spectacular 42-meter-high observation tower.
  • Mercado Municipal Adolfo Lisboa: Manaus' historic city market was inaugurated in 1882, a downscaled replica of Paris' famed Les Halles market. Safe and bustling, the central building has mostly handicraft shops, with wares ranging from predictable kitsch to high quality.
  • Bosque da Ciência: Occupying a lush forest plot within the city, Bosque da Ciência (aka INPA, for the research institution that runs it) has enclosures for rescued manatees, giant otters and more. There are many smaller animals simply roaming around, such as squirrel monkeys, sloths and anteaters.
  • Praia da Lua: Manaus’ best beach has fine white sand and tea-colored water, and can be coupled with a visit to the Museu do Seringal for a nice city escape. Like all river beaches, Lua is biggest when the water is low (September to December). Beach shacks serve fish and beer at tables set up along the water.
  • Parque Ecologico Januari: As close as you'll get to experience a real Amazonian ecosystem on a half-day trip from Manaus, this 9000-acre park has flooded forests, giant water lilies, large trees, fishing opportunities and a smattering of Amazonian wildlife. It's fairly tame compared to the real thing, with raised wooden walkways and even a restaurant, but it's still a worthwhile introduction.
  • Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso: Located on the grounds of a former rubber baron estate, this museum includes tours of the historic townhouse, a replica rubber-tapper shack and smokehouse, and a leafy trail showing how rubber trees are tapped. Sounds gimmicky, but is instead intriguing.
  • Encontro das Águas: Just beyond Manaus, the warm dark Rio Negro pours into the cool creamy Rio Solimões, but because of differences in temperature, speed and density, their waters don't mix, instead, flowing side by side for several kilometers. The bi-color phenomenon occurs throughout the Amazon, but nowhere as dramatically as here.
  • Catedral Metropolitana de Manaus: Manaus' main cathedral has twin bell towers and a warm yellow interior. It makes for a welcome respite from the busy streets just outside.
  • Porto Flutuante: Inaugurated in 1902, Manaus' 'floating port' was a technical marvel of its day, able to adjust 15m or more to seasonal water levels. Great river views.

Universities and Colleges

Some of the universities and colleges found in the city include:

  • Universidade Federal do Amazonas

• Universidade do Estado do Amazonas;

• Universidade Luterana do Brasil;

• Universidade Paulista;

• Universidade Nilton Lins;

• Centro Universitário do Norte;

• Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Amazonas;

• Sidia Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia;

• Centro Universitário de Educação Superior do Amazonas;

• Centro Universitário do Norte.

Relationship

Brazilian culture is primarily Western and is derived from Portuguese culture, but presents a very diverse nature showing that an ethnic and cultural mixing occurred in the colonial period involving mostly Indigenous people of the coastal and most accessible riverine areas, Portuguese people and African people.

Dating among youth may begin when people are in their early teens, but these relationships tend not to be serious. Teenagers usually meet at school and socialize in groups. Once people are young adults, they usually date for one to three years before deciding to become engaged. Since Brazil is quite a class-conscious society, people will generally get into serious relationships and marry from a similar social background.

Holiday Romance

We work hard every year with the hope that we will be able to take time to relax and to explore life outside our work environment. This time comes in the form of the holidays. Whether it is during the festive season or other traditional holiday periods or we want to create our holiday moments, this is time that we all look forward. World-systems create a tedious repetitive cycle that guides our adult life. Once someone gets a job, their life becomes a routine of moving from home to work every weekday morning and getting back home every evening. The weekends are used to do any pending house chores and for some, do side hustle. This trend becomes stricter once children come along.

Naturally, we all look forward to getting away for the holidays. Holidays come with the added benefit because they offer the chance for one to hook up with beautiful girls. Spending the holidays in Manaus is the perfect opportunity for you to hook up with local Brazilian girls or even foreign girls who are also on holiday. While many people get into holiday romance planning to hook up just for the duration of the holiday, some of these hookups blossom into long-term dates which in turn may result in marriage. The various interesting places mentioned above will give you enough distractions and spice up your holiday romance.

Tips for Successful Relationship

As the months and years roll on, we tend to slink into our proverbial sweatpants and get lazy in our relationship. We lose our patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness, understanding, and the general effort we once made toward our mate. Think back to the first year of your relationship and write down all the things you used to do for your partner then start doing them again.

Over time, we assume that our partner knows us so well that we don't need to ask for what we want. What happens when we make this assumption? Expectations are set, and just as quickly, they get deflated. Those unmet expectations can leave us questioning the viability of our partnership and connection. Keep in mind that "asking for what you want" extends to everything from emotional to sexual wants.

Create a weekly ritual to check in with each other. This can be short or long, but it begins by asking each other what worked and didn't work about the previous week and what can be done to improve things this coming week. Additionally, use this opportunity to get on the same page with your schedules, plan a date night, and talk about what you would like to see happen in the coming days, weeks, and months in your relationship.

Unless you have committed to an asexual partnership, sex and touch such as kissing, holding hands, and cuddling are vital components of a romantic relationship. How much sex a couple has is, of course, up to the particular pair of individuals, so you must discuss your ideas about it to manage any desire discrepancy.

Life and work distractions can become paramount in our minds, and that leaves little time or energy for our partner. Barring any emergencies or deadlines, we should be fully present when we are with our mate. We truly hear what they are saying (instead of pretending to listen), we leave our distractions behind, and we don't pick them up again until the sun comes up and we walk out the door.

When conflicts inevitably come up, remember to approach them thoughtfully and with a lot of kindness toward your partner and yourself. If you see the stress beginning to escalate during a conversation about a conflict, one or both of you can call a break so that cooler heads can prevail.

In most disagreements, we communicate from the obvious emotions such as anger, annoyance, and the like. Leading from this place can create confusion and defensiveness, and it can ultimately distract from the real issue. Start communicating from the bottom layer which is the feelings that are driving your reactions, such as disappointment, rejection, loneliness, or disrespect.

Conversations quickly turn to arguments when we're invested in hearing our partner admit that we were right or when we are intent on changing their opinion. Choose to approach a conversation as an opportunity to understand your significant other's perspective as opposed to waiting for them to concede. From this perspective, you will have an interesting dialogue and prevent a blowout or lingering frustration.

It's well understood that apologizing is a good thing, but it only makes a real impact when you mean it. Saying things like "I'm sorry you feel that way," "I'm sorry you see it that way," or "I'm sorry if I upset you" are a waste of time and breath. Even if you don't agree that your action was wrong, you will never successfully argue a feeling.

Any issues you avoid, or truths you don’t want to acknowledge, will likely undermine your relationship. It’s better to face the truth squarely in the face right now and address it, rather than let it sabotage your relationship in the long run. Be intentional and figure out the truth about your relationship. Think through all aspects of it—your feelings and thoughts, the other person’s feelings and thoughts, as well as their external context.

Love

Every human being is born with the ability to show love not only to the people one is born with such as family but with someone else whom we meet along the way. It is this ability that makes human beings start families as compared to other animals which mostly procreate without any feelings attached. A human being will sire another human and will continue to recognize and treat them as their child however old the child grows. This is in contrast to other animals that only bring their children up to the point where they can take care of themselves.

It is mysterious how we meet someone from an entirely different background or even nationality and our mutual feelings grow to a point where we always want to be with them. Apart from some cultures that allow relatives to marry one another, we will always get married to someone who was at one time a stranger. While two animals will meet and procreate and soon drift away, two human beings in love will continue to have those feelings towards each other for a long time even if they were to go their separate ways.

With the rise of social media, one of the best ways of showing love in Manaus is by flaunting your relationship on social media. This includes putting up photos of the two of you and writing each other love messages.

How to Make Sure She Is the One

Before marrying a woman, you must be sure that she will always support you in any situation, especially in the presence of other people. If she is very considerate, then you won’t have to worry that she somehow will disgrace you. For example, a tactless woman may make a toxic comment to your relatives or may comment on your shortcomings in front of the guests. It doesn’t mean that she should always agree with you. She just has to know how to gently tell you about your problems.

A healthy, stable relationship focuses on giving rather than taking. Seeing your significant other happy should make you just as happy, and she should treat you in the same way. Your joy should be her joy, too—it can be as simple as asking about your day or looking after you when you are sick. As time passes, the excitement at the beginning of the relationship will pass, but you should both be just as focused on giving each other happiness.

If you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you must find that person intellectually challenging. Looks are fleeting but personality is forever—your conversations together should be interesting, insightful and full of depth. Your partner should be able to challenge your opinions, opening up your mind to new ideas and concepts.

An ideal wife is someone who will do good things, not just because other men's wives do them too, but because they are the right things to do. She surpasses other women, not because she competes with them, but because she competes with herself and tries to improve every day a little bit more.

There is a big difference between a wish and the ability to have children. If your girlfriend shows that she likes children and maybe even persuaded you to have a pet, then you know that her mother's instincts are active. For your children, this means that if you marry her, they will have a nice mother and a happy and healthy family. Look at her reaction when you start talking about children, she may feel afraid, but never disgusted.

In addition to supporting and encouraging you to pursue your own goals and dreams, she will have her own as well. A mature woman has a vision for her future and chases after it with voracity. A mature woman will be someone you can take on the world with. She will be your partner in crime, a teammate in your relationship, and life.

Marriage

While 18 years is officially the minimum age of marriage in Brazil, under the Civil Code 2002, minors under the age of 16 were until now able to be married off if they were pregnant or if they had older sexual partners seeking to avoid a criminal sentence for statutory rape.

There is a distinction between types of marriages in Brazil, namely civil and religious. However, religious marriages are on the decline, particularly in urban areas. Traditionally, Brazilians were expected to marry at a young age and reproduce early in their life. This is changing in contemporary society, with an increasing number of people going to university and seeking financial security before marriage. These attitudes are more predominant in the urban middle class.

Getting married in Brazil can be a bit complicated, so be sure that you understand the steps at the outset, and also understand that Brazilian law prevails throughout the process. You cannot simply be married at a foreign consulate or embassy here.

A religious ceremony alone does not constitute a legally binding marriage. A civil process is also required.

You must register your intention to marry. To register, you and your fiance(e) should go to a Civil Registry Office and complete the application. Take your passport. You must also be accompanied by two witnesses who are at least 21 years old. They should bring identification. A fee (currently 72 Reals) must be paid.

When visiting the Registry, verify the exact forms and steps required, as these can vary slightly. The required forms generally will include birth certificate, passport (for foreigners) or Brazilian national identity card, declaration of civil status, and proof of residence. If either party was previously married, proof of termination of the prior marriage would be required. Documents not in Portuguese may need to be translated.

You will also need to register the marriage; this is not the same as registering the intent to marry, but a separate step. This registration also takes place before you can get married. You'll need to pay another fee of approximately 18 Reals per page of documentation required.

Following registration of the marriage and paying the fees, a marriage license will be issued; this may take up to 30 days. After the license is issued, it will be valid for three months. You may legally marry during this period.

Wedding

A wedding in Brazil is always a fun, noisy, and quite a joyful event. The local population likes to have fun and therefore does not miss such an opportunity, as it is always fun and brings all sorts of positive emotions even to those who know nothing about their culture. In the old days, there was such a tradition as “Bumba-Meu-Boi.” Its essence is that a groom had to tame a donkey, as a rule, belonging to the father of a bride. If a groom managed to tame a stubborn animal, this is means that he has proved his strength and resilience. In some regions of the country, this tradition is still preserved.

The majority of Brazilians are Catholic by religious tradition. Therefore, most Brazilian wedding ceremonies follow Catholic wedding customs.

After the bride and groom recite their vows, the clergyman blesses the rings and hands them to the bride and groom. The couple will now place the rings on their partner's left ring fingers, reflecting the transition from engaged to married. After all the prayers, blessings, and readings have concluded, the clergyman gives his assent for the bride and grooms to seal their nuptials with a kiss.

Following the kiss, it's time for the signing of the register. First the bride and groom sign. Then, their madrinhas and padrinhos sign as witnesses. Madrinhas and padrinhos are chosen ahead of time by the bride and groom. Typically, three older couples are chosen as attendants to the bride and groom. Witnessing the signing of the registry is among their most important duties during a Brazilian wedding ceremony. Besides, these couples often serve as godparents to the couple throughout their marriage.

Once the register is signed, the newly married couple invites their guests to join them for the big party to follow!

No Brazilian wedding feast is complete without the traditional drink called Caipirinha. Also, Casadinhos cookies are quite popular among the dishes of a traditional Brazilian wedding table. They are surprisingly tasty and they are the hallmark of many Brazilian women. A wedding celebration in Brazil is unthinkable without loud music, songs, laughter, and wild dances, namely Samba. A wedding continues until late night and is filled with fun, noise and an abundance of colorful costumes.

After an event comes to an end, the newlyweds go to their apartments. At the same time, when going inside an apartment, a groom should be in front of his wife, enter a room first, and do it with his right foot.

Family Life

Families come in all shapes and sizes in Brazil. In cities such as Manaus, a typical Brazilian family consists of a husband and wife and their two children. In some rural areas of Brazil, it is common to have families of five or six children. When a baby is born, families celebrate together. Once the mother and baby are home from the hospital, countless visitors arrive at the house with gifts. In Brazil, it is traditional for each guest to receive a little present from the baby – usually some sweets and a message.

Many households today have two parents that work outside the home, so the extended family, which includes cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents (‘padrinhos’) and close friends, all help with childcare. But these close-knit families are changing, as children who grow up and graduate from college are increasingly choosing to live elsewhere. Family members often have to relocate for work and no longer live near their extended families. In communities all over Brazil, single-parent households are on the rise.

Originally, Brazil's social structure was primarily patriarchal. Men were typically in positions of power and head of the household. Additionally, a sense of strong masculine pride was, and in many cases, still is common within this culture. Women were relegated to domestic duties and often lacked formal education. However, women were also the glue that helped hold the family together. Grandparents and the elderly are seldom put in a nursing home; instead, they most often live with their children. Their input on important family discussions is encouraged and sought after.

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