Updated on May 5, 2011.
May Weather
Sunny weather in Brazil in May has a unique kind of beauty, with luminous, azure skies and breathtaking sunsets. Lower temperatures all over the country encourage outdoor activities and crisp nights are great for dressing up in sharp-looking fall clothes or enjoying a fireplace.
Fog is common in Brazil in May, affecting drivers and air travel. In hill country, fog can be very dense in the morning and gradually disperse to reveal the brightest sunshine.
But it might occur any time of day or night and travelers must be extra cautious when driving.
In May, Brazil is also subject to polar fronts which may cause sudden temperature drops and rain. As an example, this is how a polar front affected the weather in Brazil on May 1, 2008, according to Clima Tempo (www.climatempo.com.br):
Once a cold front is over, temperatures could jump up all of a sudden, so a few summer clothes should go into your packing.
May Holidays
Labor Day (May 1) - In Brazil, holidays are always observed on the exact day, but even when May 1 is on a Thursday or Tuesday, a substantial number of Brazilians manage to extend the holiday and leave town.
Another school and work holiday that affects May travel is Corpus Christi (see below).
May Events
There are many festivals and events worth attending in Brazil in May, including major Catholic celebrations. These are some of the highlights:
Festa do Divino – The Festival of the Holy Ghost, or Pentecost, is a traditional Catholic celebration that takes place 50 days after Easter and can therefore be in May or June. The best-known Festa do Divino is in Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro State, but the holiday is celebrated in style in many other cities, such as Pirenópolis, in Goiás, and São Luís do Paraitinga, in São Paulo State. Festivities involve devotional practices such as Masses and processions, folkloric music and regional food.
Corpus Christi - The celebration of the Sacrament of the Holy Communion takes place in May or June. One of the most beautiful Corpus Christi traditions in many Brazilian towns is the community-created carpets that decorate streets for the procession, when wood shavings, flowers and other materials turn the pavement into brightly colored artworks using religious symbols.
Casaluce Festival - Brás, a São Paulo neighborhood with a history in Italian immigration, hosts a festival honoring Our Lady of Casaluce, a devotion brought to Brazil from the Naples region. The festival is the oldest Italian celebration in town.
St. Vito Festival – Also in Brás, the Italian community in São Paulo celebrates St. Vito, an Italian Christian martyr and Catholic Saint, with a huge festival that extends from May to July. The festival has been celebrated in São Paulo since 1918.
Opera Festival in Manaus – Dates vary every year, but the festival usually happens during part of April and all of May. The main venue is Teatro Amazonas, the Manaus Opera House.
Mountain Travel
Brazilians take to the hills in May, especially during extended Corpus Christi holidays. Some of the favorite destinations are cities with fall foliage such as Campos do Jordão, in São Paulo, Gramado and Canela, in Rio Grande do Sul. However, May is also a wonderful time to go to the beach in Brazil, especially for travelers who would like to enjoy sunshine at milder temperatures and visit top destinations in a more sedate overall atmosphere.
May Weather
Sunny weather in Brazil in May has a unique kind of beauty, with luminous, azure skies and breathtaking sunsets. Lower temperatures all over the country encourage outdoor activities and crisp nights are great for dressing up in sharp-looking fall clothes or enjoying a fireplace.
Fog is common in Brazil in May, affecting drivers and air travel. In hill country, fog can be very dense in the morning and gradually disperse to reveal the brightest sunshine.
But it might occur any time of day or night and travelers must be extra cautious when driving.
In May, Brazil is also subject to polar fronts which may cause sudden temperature drops and rain. As an example, this is how a polar front affected the weather in Brazil on May 1, 2008, according to Clima Tempo (www.climatempo.com.br):
- Temperatures in the 40s in Porto Alegre, the southernmost state capital in Brazil.
- Clouds and rain in Rio, with early morning temperatures around the mid-60s.
- Dense fog in Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul, in the Central-West region, with temperatures in the 60s.
- In Rio Branco, capital of Acre, in northern Brazil - an equatorial climate zone - the temperature in the first hours of May 1 was in the low 60s, a record low for the year.
Once a cold front is over, temperatures could jump up all of a sudden, so a few summer clothes should go into your packing.
May Holidays
Labor Day (May 1) - In Brazil, holidays are always observed on the exact day, but even when May 1 is on a Thursday or Tuesday, a substantial number of Brazilians manage to extend the holiday and leave town.
Another school and work holiday that affects May travel is Corpus Christi (see below).
May Events
There are many festivals and events worth attending in Brazil in May, including major Catholic celebrations. These are some of the highlights:
Festa do Divino – The Festival of the Holy Ghost, or Pentecost, is a traditional Catholic celebration that takes place 50 days after Easter and can therefore be in May or June. The best-known Festa do Divino is in Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro State, but the holiday is celebrated in style in many other cities, such as Pirenópolis, in Goiás, and São Luís do Paraitinga, in São Paulo State. Festivities involve devotional practices such as Masses and processions, folkloric music and regional food.
Corpus Christi - The celebration of the Sacrament of the Holy Communion takes place in May or June. One of the most beautiful Corpus Christi traditions in many Brazilian towns is the community-created carpets that decorate streets for the procession, when wood shavings, flowers and other materials turn the pavement into brightly colored artworks using religious symbols.
Casaluce Festival - Brás, a São Paulo neighborhood with a history in Italian immigration, hosts a festival honoring Our Lady of Casaluce, a devotion brought to Brazil from the Naples region. The festival is the oldest Italian celebration in town.
St. Vito Festival – Also in Brás, the Italian community in São Paulo celebrates St. Vito, an Italian Christian martyr and Catholic Saint, with a huge festival that extends from May to July. The festival has been celebrated in São Paulo since 1918.
Opera Festival in Manaus – Dates vary every year, but the festival usually happens during part of April and all of May. The main venue is Teatro Amazonas, the Manaus Opera House.
Mountain Travel
Brazilians take to the hills in May, especially during extended Corpus Christi holidays. Some of the favorite destinations are cities with fall foliage such as Campos do Jordão, in São Paulo, Gramado and Canela, in Rio Grande do Sul. However, May is also a wonderful time to go to the beach in Brazil, especially for travelers who would like to enjoy sunshine at milder temperatures and visit top destinations in a more sedate overall atmosphere.
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