In Brazil the national football team's World Cup match days
are treated as an unofficial holiday. What happens in other
countries?
It is World Cup season, a very special moment in Brazil.
Football becomes the major topic of interest and social
interaction, including for those who are only interested every four
years. We spend a ridiculous amount of money with stickers,
jerseys, and souvenirs. We make betting pools among family,
friends. and co-workers. We take time off and we have holidays,
right? Well, not exactly but it certainly has special
'jabuticaba' status and employers need to take this into
account.
Brazilians say that something is a 'jabuticaba' to designate a unique feature
of our culture and lifestyle, which may often appear absurd to
foreigners or to defy logical criticism. Another example is the
FGTS, the severance fund employer pay into on employees'
behalf, which is managed by the government.
