Portuguese explorers discovered Brazil on April 22 in the year 1500.

Brazil occupies a great share of South America: it's the largest country on the continent!

Brazil has the eighth largest economy in the world with a population of 200 million people.

Brasilia has been the capital of Brazil since 1960.

Brazil is the only country in Latin America where Spanish is not spoken.

Portuguese is the official language and the official religion is Catholicism.

Its official money is the Real

HOLIDAYS IN BRAZIL
The following is a list of public holidays:

• New year’s day - January 1st
  
  
• St. Sebastian (patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro - January 20
  
  
• Carnaval: varies (usually February or early March)
  
  
• Good Friday: varies.
  
  
• Tiradentes (Independence Martyr) - April 21
  
  
• Labor Day: May 1st
  
  
• Corpus Christ: varies
  
  
• Independence day - September 7
  
  
• Our Lady Aparecida (Patron of Brazil) - October 12
  
  
• All Soul’s day - November 02
  
  
• Proclamation of Republic - November 15
  
  
• Christmas Day - December 25