How Southern Brazil Became ‘Little Germany’

When most people think of Brazil, lederhosen and Oktoberfest are not exactly the first things that spring to mind. But what seems unlikely is often true – such is the case with southern Brazil and its German influences. The food, music, architecture, language and cultural traditions of Germany are evident throughout this region thanks to massive waves of immigration.
The first wave of immigration came in the mid 1800s, when failed revolutions in German states prompted millions to flee Europe. Of those leaving their homeland, a small number settled in southern Brazil, primarily in the state of Santa Catarina. A second wave of emigration began in 1878 and lasted for years. Many Germans emigrated to the United States, but some choose to settle in South America, and in southern Brazil. So how did such a relatively small number of immigrants create such a strong culture?
The Germans had been emigrating to Brazil as early as 1824, and though their numbers were behind the other immigrant populations of Portugal, Spain, Italy and Japan, their habits and cultures persisted. The Germans emigrated before many Italians, Spaniards and Japanese, so their roots were older. Additionally, the Germans had a high birth rate, with a German woman giving birth to eight children on average between 1826 and 1828. The next generation produced even more — up to 10 children, which grew their subculture population faster than any other immigrant culture.