Lithuanians in Brazil
Encyclopedia
Lithuanian-Brazilian, is a Brazilian
person of full, partial, or predominantly Lithuanian ancestry, or a Lithuanian-born person residing in Brazil
.
The first Lithuanian
to set foot on Brazil
ian soil, according to a record dated in 1866, was a certain colonel Andrius Višteliauskas. His mission was to aid the Brazilian armed forces in the War of the Triple Alliance
that was going on at that time. His experience in Brazil
must have influenced people in his homeland, perhaps by his writings or perhaps after he traveled home. Therefore, a few years later a group of Lithuanian immigrants and their families
arrived in Brazil. In 1890, twenty-five Lithuanian families entered the land of Brazil. Their destination was the newly established colony of Ijuí
, situated on the red and fertile soil of the northwestern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul
.
Today the city of Ijuí
is a prosperous town, based on Brazilian standards. From early on Ijuí was settled by peoples of different ethno-linguistic backgrounds, unlike some other towns in the region. For example, the town of Guaraní das Missões was settled mostly by Polish immigrants. On the other hand, Germans
, who came from the old German colonies
(the Altkolonie) located in the eastern part of the state, went on to settle the municipality
of Cerro Largo (formerly known as Serro Azul
) and to make it into the small town that it is today.
One can still meet descendants from that first group of Lithuania
n immigrants that settled in the Ijuí area. In 1926, around thirty thousand Lithuania
n immigrants arrived in Brazil. They went to work in the many coffee plantations (fazenda
s) throughout the State of São Paulo. Other groups of immigrants also were lured into the country at the time to fulfill labor shortages. São Paulo may have been the destination of most Lithuanians but they also went to settle in other states such as Rio de Janeiro
and Paraná
. The town of Castro, in Paraná
, a state south of São Paulo, boasts that amongst Japanese
, Russians and other ethnic groups their town was also founded by Lithuanian immigrants.
The slaves of Brazil had been freed in 1888. More and more in the following decades the coffee barons of the land tried to obtain laborers from other sources, mostly from "White
" Europe
an sources.
It is very much doubtful that the Lithuanian immigrants settled in São Paulo ever had any contact with their compatriots who had established themselves further south in the state of Rio Grande do Sul a few decades earlier. However, in São Paulo Lithuanians developed strong social ties around church congregations. Most were Catholic
but many also participated in Lutheran church services.
In 1930, the núcleo (small colony) of Barão de Antonina
, was established in Itaporanga
, São Paulo. The center of Lithuanian life in Brazil is Vila Zelina
, a district in one of the biggest megalopolies
of the world – the city of São Paulo. Everything seems to revolve around the Saint Joseph Catholic Church (São José). One can still taste some of the culinary of the Old World
in this part of town. Easter egg
s are still celebrated in the traditional way.
In 2001, a documentary Eldorado: Lithuanians in Brazil or (Portuguese
title: Eldorado: Lituanos no Brasil), by Fabiano Canosa and Julius Ziz was released about the story of Lithuanians in Brazil.
Demographics of Brazil
Brazils population is very diverse, comprising many races and ethnic groups. In general, Brazilians trace their origins from four sources: Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians....
person of full, partial, or predominantly Lithuanian ancestry, or a Lithuanian-born person residing in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
The first Lithuanian
Lithuanians
Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,765,600 people. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Their native language...
to set foot on Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian soil, according to a record dated in 1866, was a certain colonel Andrius Višteliauskas. His mission was to aid the Brazilian armed forces in the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
that was going on at that time. His experience in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
must have influenced people in his homeland, perhaps by his writings or perhaps after he traveled home. Therefore, a few years later a group of Lithuanian immigrants and their families
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
arrived in Brazil. In 1890, twenty-five Lithuanian families entered the land of Brazil. Their destination was the newly established colony of Ijuí
Ijuí
Ijuí is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.With 79,412 inhabitants.- Famous natives :Ijuí is where the Brazilian national soccer team ex-coach, Dunga, was born.-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
, situated on the red and fertile soil of the northwestern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
.
Today the city of Ijuí
Ijuí
Ijuí is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.With 79,412 inhabitants.- Famous natives :Ijuí is where the Brazilian national soccer team ex-coach, Dunga, was born.-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
is a prosperous town, based on Brazilian standards. From early on Ijuí was settled by peoples of different ethno-linguistic backgrounds, unlike some other towns in the region. For example, the town of Guaraní das Missões was settled mostly by Polish immigrants. On the other hand, Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, who came from the old German colonies
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
(the Altkolonie) located in the eastern part of the state, went on to settle the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Cerro Largo (formerly known as Serro Azul
Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul
Cerro Largo is a municipality in the northwestern part of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. It occupies an area of 174.64 km² at 28º09'0" south 54º45'0" west, at an altitude of 211 m above sealevel. Its population was 12,350 inhabitants...
) and to make it into the small town that it is today.
One can still meet descendants from that first group of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n immigrants that settled in the Ijuí area. In 1926, around thirty thousand Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n immigrants arrived in Brazil. They went to work in the many coffee plantations (fazenda
Fazenda
Fazendas were coffee plantations that spread into the interior of Brazil between 1840 and 1896. They created major export commodities for Brazilian trade, but also led to intensification of slavery in Brazil.- Creation of fazendas :...
s) throughout the State of São Paulo. Other groups of immigrants also were lured into the country at the time to fulfill labor shortages. São Paulo may have been the destination of most Lithuanians but they also went to settle in other states such as Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
and Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
. The town of Castro, in Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
, a state south of São Paulo, boasts that amongst Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
, Russians and other ethnic groups their town was also founded by Lithuanian immigrants.
The slaves of Brazil had been freed in 1888. More and more in the following decades the coffee barons of the land tried to obtain laborers from other sources, mostly from "White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
" Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an sources.
It is very much doubtful that the Lithuanian immigrants settled in São Paulo ever had any contact with their compatriots who had established themselves further south in the state of Rio Grande do Sul a few decades earlier. However, in São Paulo Lithuanians developed strong social ties around church congregations. Most were Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
but many also participated in Lutheran church services.
In 1930, the núcleo (small colony) of Barão de Antonina
Barão de Antonina
Barão de Antonina is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2003 is 2,674 and the area is 155.26 km². The elevation is 559 m....
, was established in Itaporanga
Itaporanga, São Paulo
Itaporanga is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 is 14,324 and the area is 508.19 km². The elevation is 589 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language: Ita=pedra , Poranga=bonita ....
, São Paulo. The center of Lithuanian life in Brazil is Vila Zelina
Vila Zelina, São Paulo, Brazil
Vila Zelina is a neighborhood located in São Paulo, Brazil, best known for the great number of Lithuanian immigrants that have settled there in the early twentieth century, being the second greatest colony outside Lithuania and the sole neighborhood in the city to perform masses in Lithuanian at...
, a district in one of the biggest megalopolies
Megalopolis (city type)
A megalopolis is typically defined as a chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas. The term was used by Oswald Spengler in his 1918 book, The Decline of the West, and Lewis Mumford in his 1938 book, The Culture of Cities, which described it as the first stage in urban overdevelopment and...
of the world – the city of São Paulo. Everything seems to revolve around the Saint Joseph Catholic Church (São José). One can still taste some of the culinary of the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
in this part of town. Easter egg
Easter egg
Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans...
s are still celebrated in the traditional way.
In 2001, a documentary Eldorado: Lithuanians in Brazil or (Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
title: Eldorado: Lituanos no Brasil), by Fabiano Canosa and Julius Ziz was released about the story of Lithuanians in Brazil.
Notable Lithuanian Brazilians
- Angélica Ksyvickis, presenter, actress and singer.
- Lasar SegallLasar SegallThe artist Lasar Segall was a Brazilian Jewish painter, engraver and sculptor born in Lithuania. Segall's work is derived from impressionism, expressionism and modernism...
, painter, engraver and sculptor. - Beatriz Segall, actress.
- Waldemar Blatkaukas,former professional basketball player.
- Mindaugas Petras Gorauskas, former professional basketball player.
- Radvilas Kasimiras Gorauskas, former professional basketball player.
- Borisas Cimbleris, cientist.
- Rita Lisauskas, journalist.
External links
- Lithuanians in São Paulo: City Hall, city of São Paulo, state of São Paulo. Site in Portuguese. Accessed again on November 3, 2005.
- Lithuanians in Brazil and Lithuanians back to the Old Country. A BBC Report. Site in Portuguese. Accessed again on November 3, 2005.
- Eldorado: Lithuanians in Brazil. In Portuguese: Eldorado: Lithuanos no Brasil. A movie by Julius Ziz & Fabiano Canosa, Brazil, 2001. Site accessed again on November 3, 2005.