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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class - Holidays in Brazil Series at PortuguesePod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind holidays and observances in Brazil. I’m Becky, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 4 -Easter, or in Portuguese, Páscoa.
Easter is the sweetest time in Brazil. On Easter Sunday, children in Brazil eagerly await eggs from the Easter Bunny or in Portuguese, coelhinho da Páscoa! If you walk through any supermarkets in Brazil, you can easily find chocolate eggs or ovos de chocolate of all sizes and combinations!
In this lesson, you’ll learn how Brazilian people celebrate Easter.
Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you-
There is a game of exchanging Easter eggs through a lottery among friends in Brazil. Do you know the name of this game?
If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep listening!
Easter is a Christian holiday. The date changes every year, as it depends on the day of the first full moon after the spring equinox or equinócio de primavera.
Easter Sunday is the last day of Holy Week or Semana Santa, which celebrates the period of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s also considered to be one of the most important festivals in the Christian community. In Portuguese, Jesus Christ is Jesus Cristo, and Christians are called cristãos.
In Brazil, children put together a nest full of straw or paper. These nests are where the rabbit will put the egg on the morning of Easter. Some families also do the egg hunt or caça ao ovo. An egg hunt is a game where adults hide the eggs and the children have to find them.
Easter eggs are usually made of chocolate or in Portuguese, chocolate, but it comes in different types, for example, stuffed, homemade, mixed with fruit or nuts, or containing a surprise toy for children.
During Lent or quaresma, which is forty days before Easter, some Christians in Brazil refrain from eating red meat. But on Easter Sunday, they can eat everything without any restrictions.
Although not all families keep Lent, there is the tradition of preparing a great banquet or banquete on Easter Sunday and gathering all the family members.
Cod or bacalhau is one of the most consumed items. Lamb or cordeiro has also gained in popularity. For dessert, it’s common to have an Italian cake called Colomba Easter or Colomba Pascal and chocolate eggs.
Easter is probably the most profitable season for the Brazilian chocolate industry. In 2012, around 10,000 tons of chocolate were consumed.
Now it's time to answer our quiz question-
Do you know the name of the game in which people exchange Easter eggs through a lottery among friends in Brazil?
In Brazil, this game is called "Friend Chocolate " or amigo chocolate. If you are in Brazil around Easter, try this with your friends there.
How was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting?
Do you celebrate Easter in your country? Is it like the Brazilian Easter?
Leave your comments on the lesson page at PortuguesePod101.com
And I'll see you in the next lesson!

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