Archive for July, 2010

Brazilian Baby Names – Discover a Beautiful Name For Your Baby!

Brazilian baby names are often known as Portuguese names, though there are some differences. In a Brazilian name, the child carries the last name of the father and the last name of the mother – the mother’s surname comes first, and the father’s surname comes last. In the law, however, it says only one surname is necessary, as well as one given name.
The history of Brazilian surnames is interesting. In ancient times, it was common for a girl to receive her mother’s surname and for a boy to receive his father’s surname. During these days it might be a bit unusual, but you can still find families in which the surname of the boys is different than the surname of the girls!

Ultimately, a child can be given two first names, followed by two surnames – or even more, depending on the family’s preference. They can go back to names from ancestors and use those as well. So it is possible that a child could be born with two given names and up to four surnames. That’s quite a mouthful to put on a birth certificate, isn’t it? When you see a list of names, it often has the surname listed first. In Brazil, however, it’s common to list the given name first, and alphabetize a list according to that order. This makes the choice of a first name even more important, because many parents want to see their child turn up at the beginning of lists, rather than the end.

Interestingly enough, most Portuguese names are lost on their Brazilian bearers. Most Brazilians don’t recognize the origins of their names because they are unfamiliar with the country in which the language originated! Therefore, if you ask a Brazilian what his or her name means, it will be rare that they can tell you the history of it. Many surnames in Brazil originated from tribal words, such as Tamoio or Guarany. Other names come from the earth, such as Palmeira, Pitanga, or Araripe.

What Brazilian baby names might be good for your child? Consider what you want the name to mean, but more importantly, consider where it comes from. Naming your child after the beautiful mountains you love so much is a sure bet that your child will have a personal meaning to carry along with that name. Popular given names include derivatives of the more common English names, such as Joana, Isabel or Teresa for women, and Antonio, Manuel or Francisco for men. Also very common are widely used surnames as substitutes for given names, such as Mozart, Jensen, Kennedy or Lenin.

When you look into Brazilian baby names for your child, you are looking into a rich, complicated culture that displays not only the melodic Portuguese language, but also the vast history of a land that has evolved greatly over hundreds and thousands of years. Your choice of a name should reflect the things that attract you to beautiful Brazil. Your child will thank you for it!

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Dating Customs Around the World

In the early ages, there was no dating or courtship. Men actually captured their wives! They would raid villages and take the women they wanted for their own. A lot of our dating traditions were born in the medieval times from the concept of chivalry. This is where we got out notion that the male should pay for dinner and that a male should hold the door open for a lady. Women were actually given the right to propose marriage in 1228!

Between 1830 and 1900, romantic love was considered important to relationships. The rules for dating were strict and steadfast. Men and women had cards with their names imprinted on them which were left for each other in an elaborate courtship ritual. It was commonplace for chaperones to accompany couples on dates.

Today things have changed, but still there are special customs depending on where you live.

In Australia, girls often ask boys out on dates and pay for everything.

In European countries, teenagers often go out on group dates.

Dating is actually forbidden in Iran. Boys and girls are kept separate until they are ready to be married and then their parents do the introductions.

Dating is also very rare in Afghanistan, as most marriages are arranged.

Japanese and Korean individuals usually do not begin dating until they are in college.

In Brazil, group dates are not common at all. People tend to date much longer before they get married.

In China, dating usually does not begin until an individual is in their twenties. Chinese singles usually only date one or two people before they get married. There are also still instances of arranged marriages.

In most Asian countries it is customary for young people to remain at home until they are married and often a newlywed couple will live with one set of parents for awhile after they are married.

In Kiev, women do not like to shake hands. They think that it is not feminine. A woman will hold onto a man’s arm when they are out on a date instead of holding his hand.

Relationships and marriage are important in all cultures, but the actual act of dating varies greatly depending on where you live.

By: Ron Zvagelsky

About the Author:

Ron Zvagelsky has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2006. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of PlanJam – where you can find unique date ideas and romantic date ideas.

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Fitness Regime For Girls – For That Perfect Figure

In the recent past, fitness regime and girls are two topics that do not seem to get along at all. Recent surveys have shown that girls tend to turn their backs on fitness programs and thereby invite a lot of health hazards. Several surveys have been conducted in this regard and they all seem to point to the above given statement. Parents however, fail to realize this until their daughters embark on the threshold of adolescence. It is at this point that her fitness seems to make a difference.

Keeping oneself fit and fine is a life time endeavor and to get going with this project will mean that the person will have to start working on it from childhood itself. It should not seem like something new that is introduced at a certain stage in your daughter’s life. Rather she should be used to the fitness regime from a very tender age. It is all a matter of how she is brought up.

It is a universally accepted fact that boys are more sports oriented as compared to girls and that girls lose their interest in such activities after attaining puberty. Girls are then associated with feminine tasks like cooking and less physique intensive tasks, there by making them lose their interest in fitness oriented programs.

Judy Notay, an eminent consultant on fitness education said that girls often tend to lose their enthusiasm in sports and other fitness activities after reaching an age of 12 or 13. There is a relative disinterest in team events as well.

KEEPING YOUR DAUGHTERS INTERESTED:

The only logical solution to keep your daughters interested in fitness programs is to enroll them in schools that are able to design fitness programs that cater to your daughters’ tastes. These fitness regimes should not seem as a burden to the students and on the other hand, should be interesting and attention captivating. Role modeling can be an answer to these demands.

THE FINAL SOLUTION:

According to the understanding of Rick Bella, Physical Education professor in University of Victoria, the disinterest in girl students for fitness programs only reflect the situation that exists in their respective schools. In his opinion, modern education curriculum has not been designed according to the needs and interests of the students. Moreover, it is being imposed on these pupils to a very large extent. Dancing is the only logical solution that has been realized so far.
Nowadays, a large number of schools and institutions offer training in a large variety of dance forms ranging from jazz to modern or even classical.

Outdoor activities and even aerobics can be attention captivating to a few and they also serve as major fitness programs. These programs keep the girls active to a large extent.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A REGIME:

Even though boys are said to have an upper hand in physical activities, girls are said to be very skillful. Thus Notay feels that the parents should search for fitness programs that are exclusive for girls. This will help in developing the in born skills in each and every girl. The leader of the program should be well aware of the basic needs of girls according to different age levels and should manage their programs in an effective manner.

All these instructions might be giving a headache to parents who have girl children. Don’t worry! The very fact that you have realized the importance of fitness programs for your girl child is a blessing. Physical fitness keeps your children healthy, fine and high spirited. It helps them to deal with stress and enables them to deal with everyday affairs with a wide smile. Physical fitness programs are also platforms for your daughters to interact with other girls thereby boosting their social advancement as well.

By: Abhishek Agarwal

About the Author:

Abhishek is a Health And Fitness expert and he has got some great Fitness Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 111 Page Ebook, “Complete Body Fitness” from his website http://www.Fitness-Magic.com/71/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.