By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Today is Father’s Day in Brazil and while many countries throughout the world honor fathers, stepfathers and father figures every year on the third Sunday of June, Brazil commemorates the day, known as Dia dos Pais in Portuguese, on the second Sunday of August.
Although the date may be different, the celebrations do share similarities with those held in the United States and other countries, as Brazil also loves to honor its dads with a day full of gifts, food, family and relaxation.
Brazilian father of three and current São Paulo resident, Roberto Coelho told The Rio Times that a perfect Dias dos Pais for him would include “a nice piece of picanha (a popular cut of meat, rump cap), my kids around and of course, some caipirinha.”
Many Brazilians may celebrate the day by gathering the family together and going out to a churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) or one of many restaurants around town with Father’s Day specials.
Among them, The Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort, located in Rio’s Zona Sul (South Zone) neighborhood of Leblon, will offer families two special options for lunch on Dia dos Pais.
First, beginning at 12PM, their Casa da Cachaça invites families with three generations (grandson, father and grandfather) to attend a special lunch that includes a free pizza for grandfather. While at 12:30PM, their Restaurante Casarão will offer a buffet with a complimentary beer for parents for R$69 (+10 percent gratuity) per person.
In terms of presents for dad, some of the most sought-after items this year reportedly included: clothes, shoes, watches and cologne. According to G1, this year many families left gift shopping for dad until the last minute as malls filled with shoppers on the afternoon of Saturday, August 10th. One store clerk said that for menswear stores, it was almost a second Christmas in terms of sales.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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