Birthday Parties
Birthday parties are a family affair in Brazil, for all ages to mingle, from babies to grandmas. So, remember to invite your children's friends AND their families. One would not have a party just for children, like in the US. I remember my daughter's first birthday party when we moved to the US. I was very sad, because the only adults were my husband and me. After that, if we didn't take the kids out, I would invite other parents to join us.
Brazilian birthday sweets.Foods served are usually small savory pasties and appetizers called "salgadinhos" and small sweets called "docinhos." Oh, and cake, of course, with candles and all that. Very often, there'll be creamy coconut candy wrapped in colorful papers decorating the table. These are just about the yummiest birthday sweets you'll ever eat. You can order all these goodies from specialty stores called "doceiras." In Rio, we have an absolute favorite in the neighborhood of Leblon, called Petits Fours. If you live in a small city, there are women who make docinhos and salgadinhos for parties.
Brazilian doceira or sweetshop.The birthday song is ParabΘns a vocΩ, a version of Happy Birthday to You, which was introduced to Brazilians by American tourists. The Portuguese words came from a national competition among the listeners of Rßdio Nacional in Rio de Janeiro in 1941. The winner was a young pharmacist from Sπo Paulo named Berta. This story is told by SΘrgio Cabral in his book No tempo de Almirante. Would you like to know the Brazilian words? Here they are: ParabΘns a vocΩ/nesta data querida/muitas felicidades/muitos anos de vida.
