Brazilian Mythology and Folklore

Brazilian mythology is the subset of Brazilian folklore with

cultural elements of diverse origin found in Brazil, comprising

folk tales, traditions, characters and beliefs regarding places,

peoples, and entities.

The category was originally restricted to indigenous elements,

but has been extended to include:

- Medieval iberic traditions brought by the Portuguese settlers,

some of which are forgotten or very disminished in Portugal

itself, as well as other European nations folklore, such as

Italy, Germany and Poland.

- African traditions brought by Africans to Brazil as slaves

during the colonial times, including their religious beliefs.

- Lives of Saints and other devotional elements propagated by

the Catholic Church which were appropriated by the folklore.

- Elements originated in Brazil by the contact of the three

different traditions.

- Contemporary elements that are re-elaborations of old

traditions.

Because Brazil is a melting pot of cultures, many elements of

Brazilian mythology are shared by the traditions of other

countries, especially its South American neighbors and Portugal.