"Now Brazil is home to about half a million Ukrainian. In the state of Parana, which has a population of 10 million, 400 thousand. Originating in Ukraine. We have a city of 50 thousand. People, where 75% - a Ukrainian and their descendants. They are engaged in a wide variety of professions. In our community there are people who are known in their fields of activity: science, art, medicine.
     Brazil - a country of multi tokulturna and multicultural. And everyone here is not only respect the culture of his countryman and worried her. I mean, Easter egg, which comes from the Ukraine, was part of Brazilian culture. In the state of Mato Grosso, we found an Indian tribe that does something like eggs.
     We need to establish a Ukrainian-Brazilian cultural relations: to bring specialists that could open a school of samba and take advantage of the creative possibilities that exist in Ukraine. "
(President of the Ukrainian Association of Brazil Vittorio Syrotyuk)
      Ukrainian History of Brazil - the theme was designed especially felt on the background research about Ukrainian immigration to North America. Proceedings of Brazilian Ukrainian can be counted on the fingers, although the history of Ukrainian immigration to Brazil has more than 100 years. In those days when Ukrainian Dnepr in large numbers moved to sparsely populated land east of Empire, of in Eastern Galicia, Northern Bukovina and Transcarpathia emigre flow spryamuvavsya the Americas - the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. Ukrainian surnames Badelyak, Wozniak, Kind, Doroshenko, Semashko and others found in various documents in South America in XVII-XVIII centuries.
     The first documented Ukrainian, who set foot on Earth Brazil can be considered Lysyansky George, who, as an organizer and participant marine expedition around the world in 1803-1804 gg., Was in this South American country, which is described in detail in his diary, later was published in two languages: Ukrainian and English. But the beginning of a more or less Ukrainian mass emigration to Brazil accounted for at the end of the XIX century. When, during the so-called "Brazilian fever" (1895-1899) shipping company, under an agreement with the Brazilian government undertook to carry thousands of immigrants to the country.
     In 1888, after the abolition of slavery in Brazil, the need for labor. Someone with a Brazilian court of Emperor Pedro II came to mind as possible relatively cheap to develop vast country - namely, to encourage immigration from Austria-Hungary, especially among Ukrainian and Polish. And then in Galicia flew thousands of letters Recruitment Ukrainian (allegedly signed personally by Emperor Pedro II) with an invitation to move to permanent residence in Brazil. Poor people, landless farmers or malozemelni believed such promises, sincerely believing that "the emperor can not cheat." The first settlers were lured to Brazil promises "heavenly life" in a country where flowing "rivers of milk" gold bars "roll under each palm," and all the hard work is done "monkey hand". Naturally, the reality was quite different.
    Comic incident occurred in 1895, when the port city Paranahua (state of Parana) both came five thousand Ukrainian. The men in sheepskin coats in smushevyh hats, women in headscarves and long skirts seemed Brazilians come from another, fantastic world. So just in case the authorities decided to christen the new arrivals.
   By the time agents of Italian steamship lines brought to Brazil about 15 thousand. Galicians. The Brazilian Government was interested even pay for the trip and promised to provide workers on-site food and clothing in order to increase the number of Europeans among the population and improve its economic situation. Settlers were granted the ownership of land (25-50 acres or more) with a ten-year postponement of their payment. But often it turned out that these areas are in the dense virgin forests.
   If the Ukrainian went rentals, the planters for food and clothing demanded such high wages that the worker could never become economically independent. In addition, the planters treated almost as employees of slaves. Workers rebelled and fled, but for what they were punished. There were times when workers were locked at night in the old slave prison.
   However, in the 1897-1907 biennium. A second outbreak of the first wave of mass emigration. In these years, from Galicia to Brazil left more than a thousand families have their own money. Most immigrants late nineteenth century. oblashtuvalas near m.Prudentopolis and in the southeastern part of the state of Paran? and in northern neighboring state of Santa Catarina, founded the Ukrainian settlements Antonio Olinto, UNIA da Vitoria, Irasema, Marechal-Mallet, Dorizona.
Ukrainians trying to arrange his life, and educate the next generation in Shan and love for Ukraine. Beginning with the 1897-1898 biennium. They began to organize Ukrainian school in private homes. In 1898 m.Prudentopolis were established in the first two Ukrainian Saturday school.
    Another mass migration of Ukrainian first wave occurred in 1908-1914 gg., The cause of which was launched by the Government of Brazil's campaign to attract cheap foreign labor to the construction of the railway between the states of Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. Brazil then also came with a group of Ukrainian Dnieper and Western Volyn: during the 1892-1914 biennium. 120 immigrated families.
    Famine, plague and Indian hostility among Ukrainian settlers caused great mortality, some even returning to Ukraine. According to the census conducted by Ukrainian priests in 1913-1914 gg., Ukrainian immigrants in Brazil at that time there were 45 thousand. People.
    One of the first NGOs was the company "Enlightenment", founded in 1902. in m.Kuritiba. Subsequently, its activities expanded to other Ukrainian settlement. When cells "Enlightenment" worked choirs, drama groups, libraries. Society has existed in Brazil to 1940
    In 20-30-ies. XX century. account for the emergence of small private enterprises and cooperatives fraternities whose owners emphasize his Ukrainian origin and accordingly call their establishments. In the same period begins the process of association for Ukrainian professional affiliation. Continuing development of Ukrainian schools for communities. In 1935. Basilian in m.Prudentopolis opened permanent Ukrainian secondary school (Minor Seminary Sv.Yosypa) with Ukrainian and Portuguese studies.
    The third wave of Ukrainian immigration refers to the first post-war years. After the Second World War a large number of former Germany Ostarbeiteren captured, prisoners of war and political refugees arrived in Parana. Apart from Parana, Ukrainian immigrants of this period settled in the state of Sao Paulo, the state capital and the city. Cao-Caetano do Sul. All in 1947-1951rr. Brazil has attracted over 7 thousand. Ukrainian. This wave of immigrants consisted of technicians and workers, who were familiar with many of the latest technologies and materials, as were many intellectuals.
    Currently, most Ukrainian Parana - traditionalists and conservatives who read two newspapers, one of them - "Work" is the direction of the church, other "farmers" - secular. Both bilingual newspaper, go Ukrainian and Portuguese.
    Very few of the Ukrainian community of Brazil visited Ukraine, mainly because of lack of money. Most Ukrainian not so rich - pensions and salaries in Brazil are not so high (the minimum wage is 412 reals, or 3800 USD). Our compatriots mainly live off of agriculture: they grow watermelons, tobacco, corn, kept cows and pigs, which are called "Pachuca".
    The industry employs about 20% of Ukrainian, mainly in the timber industry and the furniture factories. They work well in trade, various private organizations, municipal and public institutions. Some of the owners of small shops, stores, small factories.
    Among Brazilian politicians and national officials, who have Ukrainian roots, observed: former governor of Paran? Jaime Lerner (now secretary general of the International Union of Architects), former president of the state oil company "Petrobras" Felipe Reyshtul, founder of the magazine "Channel" Adolph Block.
    In the field of culture and literature Ukrainians Brazil presented the work of the famous poetess Olena Kolodiy (m.Kuritiba), writer Vera Wolf and Peasants (Rio de Janeiro), which received the State Prize of Ukraine Taras Shevchenko in 2008 .; Oksana Borushenko research historians and Paul Gorbatyuka, linguists Miguel Wolf and Vladimir Kulczycki.
    Much attention is paid to the Brazilian Ukrainian conservation in their environment Ukrainian language. From 1985 to m.Kuritiba Language Center at the Federal University of Parana are practically the only ones in South America Courses of Ukrainian language and literature.
    Since 1991 Ukrainian as a foreign language is taught at several public schools m.Prudentopolis and educational institutions in areas where Ukrainian.
    In Brazil, all necessary conditions for learning the Ukrainian language and literature. From 1985 to m.Kurytiba, the Language Center of the Federal University of Parana, are common in South America Courses of Ukrainian language and literature.
    An effective incentive to promote Ukrainian language Ukrainian young generation of Brazilian may be giving them state scholarships to study in higher educational institutions of Ukraine, provided conclude an intergovernmental agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas.
    Ukrainian immigrants are making great efforts to preserve Ukrainian traditions, cultural characteristics of folk singing, dance, Easter egg painting and embroidery. To date there are associations of artists, folk dance, Bandura and others. In cooking, preserved dishes such as borscht, dumplings, stuffed cabbage, corned beef and pork sausages.
In m.Kuritiba is the area of ??Ukraine and Ukrainian Taras Shevchenko monument memorial, considered historical and cultural heritage of the municipality. Monument to Taras Shevchenko is also in the cities of Prudent?polis and Porto Alegre.
   It should be emphasized that the Ukrainian in Brazil one of the oldest ethnic groups. In the vast majority are settled, and still live compactly in the southeastern part of the country, sometimes called Brazilian Ukraine. The most attractive to immigrants become Parana state, which traditionally took Slavic immigrants. In addition, the Ukrainian community is represented in the cities of the states of S?o Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Hrandedo Sul, Mato Grosso, Hoyaz.