What is “decorar o caderno” in Brazilian school culture?

Brazilian schoolchildren, especially girls, take notebook decoration seriously. Decorar o caderno is the ritual of covering the front and inside pages of a school notebook with stickers, glitter, washi tape, magazine clippings, photos, and hand-drawn lettering. Brazilian YouTube has a whole subgenre called decoração de caderno, with tutorials racking up millions of views. The custom turns a plain school supply into a personal statement; teachers occasionally complain that students spend more time decorating than studying.

This clip is a side-by-side gag about boys and girls at school. “Decorando o caderno: meninas” (“Decorating the notebook: girls”). The boys' notebooks stay blank. The contrast is exaggerated, but every Brazilian who has been in elementary school recognizes the ritual.