This year, 2015, Brazil officially turns 193 years old, commemorating the day when the federative republic officially declared independence from the United Kingdom of Portugal in 1822.
On this occasion patriotic displays will be organised throughout the world’s 5th most populous country, with the main celebration to be held at the Esplanada dos Ministérios (Ministries Esplanade) in the capital Brasilia, featuring a grand military parade in the presence of president Dilma Rousseff (the 36th person and first woman to hold office there).
Similar parades will be held in all of the 27 capitais do Brasil (Brazilian capitals), likewise, and families and friends will gather to enthusiastically announce Deixa a festa rolar – let the party begin! It’s a time for family, fun, dancing and of course a Brazilian-style barbecue, be it Rodizio or Churrascarias.
Outside of Brazil, the biggest celebration will be a festive parade on 46th street in New York City on Sunday, September 6, where as many as a 1.5 million people are expected to turn up.
Here in Thailand and Phuket there isn’t anything grand planned, mainly due to the small number of Brazilians here.
Nonetheless, Thailand does increasingly appeal to Brazilian tourists and professionals. According to the Immigration Bureau, last year nearly 50,000 (47,991 to be precise) Brazilians visited the Kingdom, which represents a 22 per cent increase, year-on-year!
Sure they like the beaches and jungle, which are similar to their own. But that’s not the real reason they come. If not to holiday, then certainly to work. Their beautiful tall girls are common among the Bangkok modeling scene, and their talented footballers are on the starting roster of nearly every professional club here.
Phuket is no exception, we currently have three professional Brazilians living in and serving Phuket – two on our futsal (five-a-side) squad, Phuket United, and one with our football (11-a-side) outfit, Phuket FC.
The Phuket News spoke with two of them about September 7.
Andrezinho Deia Lopes, or “Zinho” as he is known internationally, is the speedy left winger for Phuket FC, who has had a part in nearly every goal the club has scored this season, directly or indirectly. He joined the club last year and lives here with his Brazilian wife Andrea and their daughter Anna-Louisa.
Asked what September 7 means to him, he said, “It’s a celebration for the victory of independence of Brazil, and on this day we have a parade and BBQ. I miss meeting with my friends because I’ve been away from Brazil for so many years. This year I don’t have any plans because I have to train, but I will have a BBQ with my family and some friends.”
One of those friends is Phuket United’s all time leading scorer, Francisco Jackson dos Santos Alves, or as fans know him “Action” Jackson Santos, who shared his thoughts about the holiday.
“I’ve been away from Brazil during September 7 for many years but I have good memories of back home. I remember the last time I was there, studying in a local school. On that day there would be class, the students were going to walk the streets and sing the Brazilian national anthem to the tune of a military band.
“My family loved to be waiting for me on the street at the parade to take pictures and attend the parade. I also recall that in the late afternoon we sat on a bench on the sidewalk to watch a squadron of airplanes that gave a show in the sky. A feast followed, and we spent the day watching images of the parades and events nationwide, telling the story of our Brazil.”
Jackson, who’s lived in Thailand almost nine years, says he still enjoys living here, but dearly misses his family and mum’s food at times. After this month, when the futsal season concludes, he’ll get to go back to sample mum’s cooking once more, but in the mean time, he and teammate Edson “Gugu” Silva will just have to see what Zhino and Andrea have got on their grill.