Brazil’s celebrations are renowned worldwide, but what do Brazilians themselves think about their festivals and traditions?
In January 2025, we conducted a comprehensive survey across Brazil, asking a simple yet revealing question:
“What is your favorite Brazilian celebration, and why?”
With 504 respondents sharing their preferences and personal stories, this article reveals which celebrations matter most to Brazilians and why they hold such special meaning.
What Makes Brazilian Holidays Special
With over 200 million inhabitants spread across its vast landscape, Brazil represents remarkable demographic diversity. Living in bustling cities, quiet towns, and throughout the Amazon rainforest. Their celebrations reflect this diversity.
As we will see religion shapes many traditions. About 80% of Brazilians are Christian—half Catholic, a third Protestant. But Brazilian holidays go deeper than faith alone.
The country thrives on cultural mixity. Indigenous traditions blend with African rhythms and European customs. This creates something uniquely Brazilian. You see it everywhere—from Carnival’s dazzling parades to the countryside charm of Festa Junina.
Family remains at the heart of it all. Brazilians celebrate together. They share meals, stories, and dances. Whether in crowded street parties or intimate gatherings, these celebrations strengthen bonds that cross generations. Here are the celebrations Brazilians love most:
Top 7 Holidays and Celebrations Loved by Brazilians
1. Christmas (Natal)
Brazil’s most beloved celebration brings together faith and family.
Date: December 25 – National public holiday
Christmas in Brazil beautifully weaves together religious devotion and family tradition. This celebration marks the birth of Jesus Christ while serving as the year’s most significant family gathering, bringing together generations in homes across the country.
The holiday is embedded in Brazilian culture, where it represents more than just its religious origins. It creates an atmosphere of peace and renewal throughout the country.
Like in most countries, families gather on December 24th for a festive feast to exchange gifts and messages, highlighting the warmth of the Brazilian holiday experience.
What do Brazilians really think about Christmas?
Our survey reveals Christmas as the most popular celebration in Brazil, with a remarkable number of respondents choosing it as their favorite holiday. The reasons reflect a clear pattern: family unity stands as the primary motivation, followed by religious significance, while others emphasize the season’s atmosphere of peace and reflection.
Those who cherish Christmas emphasized two primary aspects: family togetherness and spiritual meaning. This combination suggests that for Brazilians, Christmas serves as both a spiritual anchor and a crucial time for strengthening family bonds.
Quotes from Respondents:
“Because it is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and where families come together. Everything is in peace.”
“Because Christmas means spending another year with your family, all in good health.”
2. Easter (Páscoa)
A time of spiritual reflection sweetened by chocolate traditions.
Date: March/April (based on the lunar calendar)
Easter in Brazil combines religious observance with joyful family traditions. This celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, culminating on Easter Sunday as the concluding day of Semana Santa (Holy Week), holds a spiritual significance while incorporating cultural elements, particularly the sharing of chocolate eggs and family gatherings.
What do Brazilians really think about Easter?
Our survey shows Easter is the second most popular celebration in Brazil. People value it for both religious reasons and family traditions.
While Christmas focuses heavily on family gatherings, Easter balances spiritual meaning with celebration. Brazilians appreciate both reflecting on its religious significance and enjoying special moments—and chocolate treats—with loved ones.
Quotes from Respondents:
“Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. It is one of the most important dates in Christianity, because it reminds us of God’s unconditional love for us”
“Because I always spent this holiday with my family. And now that I have my daughter and family, it’s great to be able to spend this moment with them too.”
“Family reunions and chocolate treats”
3. Our Lady of Aparecida Day (Dia de Nossa Senhora Aparecida)
Brazil’s patron saint celebration unites faith and national identity.
Date: October 12 – National public holiday
This national holiday honors Brazil’s patron saint, Nossa Senhora Aparecida. It stands as one of the country’s most significant religious celebrations, deeply rooted in Catholic tradition while holding official recognition as a national holiday.
What do Brazilians really think about Nossa Senhora Aparecida Day?
Our survey shows this holiday remains primarily religious for Brazilians. Many expressed deep personal connection to Our Lady Aparecida, especially among Catholics.
Unlike holidays that mix fun and faith, this day keeps its spiritual focus. For Catholic Brazilians, it’s both a religious observance and a symbol of national identity.
On this day, many Brazilians attend special church services or make pilgrimages to the Basilica of Nossa Senhora Aparecida in São Paulo state. Some families gather for meals, while others watch the televised celebrations from the national shrine.
Quotes from Respondents:
“The patron saint of Brazil is essential for us Catholic Brazilians”
“Our Lady is everything in my life”
“Because it renews my hopes and strengthens my faith”
4. Carnival (Carnaval)
Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is one of the most iconic celebrations in the world.
Date: February/March (47 days before Easter)
Brazil’s Carnival is the biggest carnival in the world and the country’s most famous festival. It’s a global symbol of joy and culture. Known for its vibrant parades, samba music, and street parties, it’s celebrated nationwide, with Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and São Paulo hosting the largest events. The festival marks the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of Lent in the Christian calendar.
The Rio Carnival attracts over 5 million people annually, including 2 million tourists from across the globe, generating billions of reais for Brazil’s economy each year.
What do Brazilians really think about Carnival?
Despite its international acclaim, Carnival ranked only fourth in overall popularity among Brazilian celebrations, with just 13.9% of respondents naming it their favorite. Perhaps more unexpectedly, around 7% of respondents actively expressed their dislike for the festival.
Those who cherish Carnival highlighted two main aspects: the welcome break from routine and the festive atmosphere. Interestingly, respondents emphasized these personal benefits over the festival’s cultural significance, suggesting that for many Brazilians, Carnival serves primarily as a period of relaxation and emotional release.
Quotes from Respondents:
“I love the contagious joy of Carnival.”
“For the time off and time to be with family.”
“Brazilian culture in our country brings tourists to Carnival.”
5. New Year’s Eve (Réveillon)
A celebration of hope and new beginnings.
Date: December 31/January 1
Réveillon in Brazil is more than just a calendar transition—it’s a celebration filled with traditions, from wearing white for good luck to offering flowers to Iemanjá. Cities across the country host spectacular fireworks displays, with Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach celebration being among the world’s most famous.
What do Brazilians really think about Réveillon?
Our survey shows that Brazilians view Réveillon as a moment of renewal and possibility. Unlike other celebrations that honor past events or religious significance, New Year’s Eve focuses on future hopes and fresh starts.
While family gatherings remain important, the dominant theme is optimism for the future, combining celebration with anticipation for better times ahead.
Quotes from Respondents:
“As the saying goes ‘new year, new life’ brings me hope for better days”
“Surviving the 12 months of the year is a reason to be grateful to God”
“A feeling of hope, renewal and the future”
6. June Festival (Festa Junina)
Where rural traditions meet modern celebrations.
Date: Throughout June
Festa Junina transforms Brazil into a celebration of rural heritage, complete with traditional foods, quadrilha dance, and playful countryside-inspired fashion. These festivals, originally honoring Catholic saints (St. Anthony, St. John, and St. Peter), have evolved into one of Brazil’s most cherished cultural celebrations. Regional customs significantly influence the celebrations during the June Festival, with each region showcasing unique traditions, local dance forms, music, and folk tales that reflect the cultural diversity found across the country.
What do Brazilians really think about Festa Junina?
Our survey shows that Brazilians embrace this festival for its rich combination of gastronomy and cultural heritage. The celebration stands out for its ability to preserve rural traditions while providing pure entertainment, with traditional foods like quentão (mulled wine) and corn-based dishes taking center stage.
The festival creates a unique atmosphere where cultural preservation meets festive enjoyment, allowing Brazilians to connect with their country’s rural roots through food, dance, and community celebration.
Quotes from Respondents:
“Because it reminds me of simple things in the countryside, the simplicity of rural people, the countryside, the typical foods that I enjoy so much”
“For tradition, culture and gastronomy”
“It has a happy and festive atmosphere with lots of activities”
7. Independence Day (Dia da Independência)
Commemorating Brazil’s journey to nationhood.
Date: September 7
Brazil’s Independence Day marks the historic moment in 1822 when Dom Pedro I declared Brazil’s independence from Portugal. Today, the holiday is marked by civic parades, patriotic celebrations, and reflections on national identity.
What do Brazilians really think about Independence Day?
Our survey reveals that while Independence Day attracts fewer passionate followers than other celebrations, those who choose it as their favorite emphasize its profound historical significance. Brazilians view this day primarily as a symbol of freedom and national sovereignty, with an important educational component.
Unlike more festive holidays, Independence Day prompts reflection on Brazil’s history and national identity, serving as both a patriotic reminder and a learning opportunity.
Quotes from Respondents:
“It is a milestone of Brazil’s independence!”
“Because it represents our freedom as a nation”
“It’s important to remember our history”
8. Other Notable Celebrations
Beyond the major festivities, Brazilians also cherish several other traditional celebrations. The Festa de Iemanjá, honoring the goddess of the sea, holds particular significance in Salvador and Rio’s Afro-Brazilian communities. The June festivities extend beyond Festa Junina to include São João celebrations, while civic commemorations like Proclamação da República (November 15) and regional events such as the Amazon’s Festival Folclórico de Parintins maintain their cultural importance.
While these celebrations received fewer mentions in our survey, they remain important, each contributing to the nation’s diverse celebratory traditions throughout the year.
Want to learn more about Brazilian preferences?
Explore our 2025 consumer report in Brazil to learn more about their preferences, expectations for 2025, and more, or start by surveying the Brazilian population yourself, starting from USD 3 per respondent.
