in the mid 1960s the last thursday of november was selected to coincide with the date celebrated in most other countries.

it is one of the biggest holidays with all family members and even neighbors and friends invited to partake of the feasts, consisting of turkey and other traditional foods - also known as the day of grace, most brazilians attend masses and offer prayers of thanks for the harvests received throughout the year.

december 21st - first day of summer (início do verão) is the longest day of sunlight in the summer hemisphere and the official start of summer when the students are off from school and many families take off from work - every day after the 21st after continues to be progressively shorter until the equinox in march.