Current Time in Petrópolis
Brazilian culture regarding time
Brazilian culture regarding time
"Brazilian time" is tolerant of appointment times
In Brazil, being a little late is common, and being 10 to 30 minutes late tends not to be considered a problem. It is said that it is rare to arrive "on time", especially for private gatherings.
Relaxed lunch time
It is common to take more than an hour to have lunch slowly, and there is a culture of taking a good rest even during work. Restaurants are crowded during this time, and the city may be temporarily quiet.
Late dinner time
Many people have dinner after 8 p.m., and spend the time after the meal leisurely. For this reason, evening television programs and events are also scheduled to start later.
Brazilian values regarding time
Time usage that emphasizes connections with people
In Brazil, "maintaining human relationships" is emphasized more than "efficiency", and people tend to spend a lot of time talking and interacting. Relationships with others tend to be more important than punctuality.
Taking your time and not being hasty is the basic attitude
There is a culture in which "not rushing" is considered a virtue in all aspects of life. Forcing yourself to hurry can be considered rude, so time flows calmly overall.
There is a clear division between work and private time
People work hard during working hours, but outside of work, they are conscious of securing their private life well, and rarely bring work home with them.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or moving to Brazil
It is safe to think of appointment times as "guidelines"
In Brazil, delays of a few minutes are not uncommon even in business situations. It is wise to schedule meetings and visits with some leeway.
Buses and trains often do not run on schedule
Except in urban areas, it is better to think of transportation timetables as a guideline, and delays to departures and arrivals are commonplace. It is important to plan your travel time with plenty of time.
Store opening and closing times vary by region
Business hours of commercial facilities vary greatly depending on the region and day of the week. Please note that business hours are often shortened especially on Sundays and holidays.
Interesting trivia about time in Brazil
Weddings and parties are assumed to start later than planned
Even if the invitation says "start at 7pm", it is common for the actual start to be after 8pm, which is also a symbol of "Brazilian time".
Daylight saving time has been abolished
Daylight saving time was once introduced in Brazil, but it was abolished in 2019 and the domestic time system has been unified throughout the year.
Multiple time zones exist within the same country
Because Brazil has a vast land area, there are four time zones within the country. Since there are time differences depending on the region, caution is required even for domestic business trips and domestic travel.