as with other roman catholic countries, rio de janeiro and brazil also follow the belief of abstention from the consumption of meat during the entire period and the consumption of only seafood on fridays.

the day is also a national holiday in brazil until the early afternoon (14:00) and allows people to recover and go to church.

march 8th - international women's day (dia internacional da mulher) is a day of celebration of women that has its roots back to the early 1900's, and the various women's movements for equality which included the right to vote, better working conditions, and equal pay for equal work.