Brazilian Portuguese the last decades of the 20th century, due to the popularity of Brazilian music and Brazilian soap operas. Since Brazil joined Mercosul, the South American free trade zone, Portuguese has been increasingly studied as a foreign language in Spanish-speaking partner countries. Many words of Brazilian origin (also used in other Portuguese-speaking countries) have also entered into English: samba, bossa nova, cruzeiro, milreis and capoeira. While originally Angolan, the word "samba" only became famous worldwide because of its popularity in Brazil. After independence in 1822, Brazilian idioms with African and Amerindian influences were brought to Portugal by returning Portuguese Brazilians ("luso-brasileiros"
Brazilian heraldry Brazilian heraldry The Brazilian heraldry was established in 1822, when Brazil became independent as an Empire, under the reign of the House of Braganza. Being formerly a part of the Portuguese Empire and being reigned by the same Royal House that reigned in Portugal, Brazilian heraldry followed the tradition of the Portuguese heraldry. The family heraldry refers to the coat of arms used by the Brazilian nobility. This included Brazilians that were members of Portuguese noble lineages and Brazilian citizens ennobled during the period of the Brazilian Monarchy (1822-1889). In most cases, the concession of new arms was associated to