Culture of the Southern Region:parties, dances and much more

The culture ofSouthern Brazil , formed by Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, is characterized by the influence of immigrants who arrived mainly during the 19th century, where they left an undeniable importance in the formation of the Brazilian people.

According to 1998 data from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), the Southern Region of Brazil has a total population of 24,546,983 inhabitants.

European Immigrants in the Southern Region

In the culture of the south it is possible to perceive a great European influence in all forms of cultural manifestations. This is due to the history of migrant occupation in this region of the country.

Portuguese immigrants

In 1808, D. João arrived in Brazil and was concerned with populating the south of the country not only to develop the region's economy, but also to guarantee Portugal's possession of the territory.

Soon Portuguese immigrants arrived, coming mainly from the Azores Archipelago, and settled on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, where they dedicated themselves to fishing and subsistence agriculture.

German immigrants

The Germans deserve a special mention, not only because they had a large contingent, but also because they made an important contribution to the expansion of the economic occupation.

In addition, they created a new landscape thanks to the spread of small agricultural properties, the construction of typical chalets, and the introduction of craft activities, the embryo of important industries.

The cities that received the largest number of German immigrants were São Leopoldo and Novo Hamburgo, in Rio Grande do Sul; Blumenau, Joinville, Brusque and São Bento do Sul, in Santa Catarina; Londrina, Rio Negro and Cruzeiro do Oeste, in Paraná, among others.

Blumenau and Joinville are cities strongly marked by the Germanic architecture of the houses. The city of Pomerode, in Santa Catarina, is the most German city in Brazil.

Italian immigrants

The Italians occupied a position of undeniable prominence in the formation of the culture of the Southern Region. They arrived in 1870 and initially settled in rural areas.

In Rio Grande do Sul, they were mainly dedicated to the cultivation and industrialization of grapes. Many of its initial centers were transformed into important cities such as Caxias do Sul, Bento Gonçalves and Garibaldi.

In Santa Catarina, they dedicated themselves to a varied agriculture. They founded important cities such as Nova Trento, Urussanga and Nova Veneza.

In the regions where they are more numerous, they have introduced habits and customs from their country of origin, with emphasis on the consumption of pasta in food.

Winemaking is one of the main cultural aspects of the Southern Region that reflects the influence of Italian immigration.

Serra Gaúcha has great importance on the national scene due to wine production. The city of Caxias do Sul, for example, stands out as the main wine production center in the country.

Other immigrants in the Southern Region

The culture of the Southern Region was also influenced by Poles and Ukrainians, who settled in Paraná.

There, they left marks on the landscape, thanks to their wooden houses.

Parties of the Southern Region

The impact of Italian immigration is also reflected in the diversity of popular festivals in the region.

Discover the main parties in the Southern Region of Brazil.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a festival of Germanic traditions, originally celebrated in Munich, which takes place in October in some southern cities. Among them are Blumenau (SC), Santa Cruz do Sul (RS) and Santa Rosa (RS).

Considered the biggest German party in the Americas, Oktoberfest features a beer festival, with shows, parades, typical dances and varied cuisine.

Feast of Our Lady of the Navigators

The feast of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes, held in Rio Grande do Sul, is a tradition brought by the Portuguese. It is a procession in which the image of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes is taken to the Sanctuary.

Originally the procession was by river, but after impediment by the Port Authority, it became by land.

Grape Festival

The traditional Grape Festival takes place in February and portrays the Italian colonization through parades, regional shows and an exhibition of grapes and wines.

Dances of the Southern Region

Discover the main dances of southern Brazil.

Dance of the Ribbons

Also called stick-of-tapes, the ribbon dance consists of a kind of pole measuring about 3 meters to which several colored ribbons held by the dancers are pegged, who turn around the pole to form designs with the ribbons.

Chimarrita

The chimarrita is a dance of Portuguese origin whose music has a very lively rhythm.

The dancers form couples that dance by tapping and clapping.

Chula

The chula is a dance derived from a Portuguese dance.

It consists of a male dance where participants dance around a wooden stick performing jumps and tap dances.

Interested in learning more about dance? Don't miss the texts below!

• Folk dances
• History of dance in Brazil

Music from the Southern Region

Check below a list of the main musical styles and rhythms of the South of Brazil.

• Fandango
• Vanerão
• Xote
• Call me
• Balaio
• Tatu
• Mache
• Ribbon stick
• Band music

South Region Clothing

Find out which are the main typical costumes of the South.

Bombs

Bombachas are baggy pants, sometimes worn inside boots, that are buttoned at the ankle.

They are usually made of tergal, linen, denim or cotton.

Poncho

The poncho is a typical South American garment, widely used in southern Brazil as protection against the cold.

Gift dress

The prenda dress is the typical female gaucho costume.

It is usually a dress without a neckline or with a very discreet neckline, adorned with lace, embroidery, ribbons and/or ruffles, among others.

Crafts from the Southern Region

Like other cultural aspects of southern Brazil, handicrafts are influenced by European immigration to the region.

Check out below some of the main arts that represent the traditions of the Southern Region.

• Rents
• Ceramics
• Crafts with porongo
• Pêssankas
• Wooden Sculptures
• Crafts with leather

Cuisine of the Southern Region

Discover the main typical dishes of southern Brazil.

Barbecue

Barbecue is a specialty of Rio Grande do Sul that originated in the Pampa Region.

Barbecue preparation can be done on a grill or on the ground (a type of preparation known as a ground fire.)

In southern Brazil, meats are roasted on skewers. In other regions of Brazil, they are sometimes roasted on a grill.

Chimarrão

Chimarrão is a typical southern drink, prepared with yerba mate.

The herb is placed in a kind of gourd and then irrigated with boiling water. The result is a kind of tea, consumed without sugar.

Polenta

Polenta is a typical Italian dish that has also become popular in southern Brazil. It consists of a delicacy made with cornmeal, water and salt and its preparation can be fried or cooked.

Cuca

Cuca is a dish of German origin that consists of a kind of tray cake made with fruits, such as bananas and apples, which has a slightly crunchy topping and is served in pieces.

Other typical dishes of the Southern Region

• Carter rice
• Angel Talk
• Barreded
• Boiled pine nuts
• Ambrosia

Also read about the culture of other Brazilian regions:

• Southeast Culture:Discover its Traditions
• Culture of the North:Know Its Wealth
• Northeast culture:everything you need to know
• Culture of the Midwest:Partying, Dancing, and More

Folklore Quiz

Don't stop here! Toda Matéria has selected a series of very rich texts to help you expand your knowledge :

• Cultural diversity in Brazil
• Brazilian folklore:legends, games, songs, dances and parties
• Origin of popular expressions you need to know
• Unmissable Legends of the Southern Region
• Feast of the Divine