O Bumba mme BHey is a popular festival, predominantly in the North and Northeast regions, which originated in Brazilian folklore. the festivity isIntangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
See too: Curupira – Brazilian folklore character responsible for protecting the forest
Origin of bumba my ox
Bumba my ox appeared in Northeast region, in the eighteenth century, a time when livestock was of extreme importance in the local economy. In addition, the ox is an animal with different symbologies throughout history, which contributed to its protagonism in the folklore regional.
The ox parties, as celebrations such as bumba meu boi are called, are inspired by the ox car, one tale popular passed by generations that brings the following plot:
Mãe Catirina and Pai Francisco are an enslaved couple who live on a farm in the hinterland. Pregnant, Catirina feels the desire to eat the most beautiful ox's tongue of the owner of the farm. To satisfy his wife's desire, Pai Francisco steals the farm owner's favorite ox,
he kills the animal and removes the tongue so his wife can handleIs it over there.The cowboy finds out about the ox's theft and death and tells his boss. Enraged, the landowner swears revenge and sets off in search of the couple. At the end of the auto, the characters manage to resurrect the ox, and, as a thank you, the owner of the farm promotes a party.
The ox auto portrays the different views on the ox and its magnificence. For the enslaved and rural workers, the animal was a work companion and synonymous with strength. For farm owners, secure investment and a source of income.
Repression and prejudice against bumba meu boi parties
The first official records of bumba meu boi, in the Maranhão, show that the festivity was prevalent among blacks, which generated discontent in the elitist society of the time. In 1861, the cultural event was banned, suffering a stoppage of seven years.
During the period in which the ox was stationary, the St. Louis Posture Code, by the Provincial Law, on July 4, 1866. Its article 4 “prohibited the performance of drumming outside the places allowed by the competent authorities”.
Even with the return of the fun, those responsible for the bumba meu boi had to ask, by request, the authorization of the police so that they could rehearse and go out to perform on the holidays Juninas. The bureaucracy lasted from 1876 to 1913.
See too: Iara – mermaid of Brazilian folklore known as “mother of water”
Names of bumba meu boi in different states
Bumba meu boi is the name adopted in Maranhão, a state in which the party is a fundamental part of the culture of your people. However, the cultural manifestation changes its name in different parts of the country, see:
Boi-bumbá: Amazons, Amapá, For, Rondônia and Roraima. Party in June, just like the bumba meu boi.
kings ox: Ceará, at the Christmas.
St. John's Ox: Ceará, in June celebration.
calemba: Paraíba, Pernambuco and large northern river.
little ox: Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, at the Carnival.
jaca ox: Sao Paulo.
spotted ox: Rio de Janeiro.
papaya ox: Santa Catarina and Paraná, at Christmas.
How is the bumba meu boi party?
The bumba meu boi from Maranhão has a great influence of Catholicism, being St. John considered its main patron. However, revelers also share their devotion with São Pedro and São Marçal.
Despite the predominance of Christian symbolism, syncretism is present when mixing the saints of June, the orixás and magical beings. Some versions of the revelry feature Afro-Brazilian cults, such as the mine drum and terecô.
In bumba meu boi, the different styles of the groups that stage the auto do boi are called accents. What sets them apart are the musical rhythms, instruments and clothing.
The main accents of Maranhão are: lowland, rattle, zabumba, back hand and orchestra.
Bumba My Boi Characters
Traditionally, the staging of the auto do boi during the bumba meu boi party has some fixed characters.
Toys: despite not being a character, the audience is a fundamental part of bumba meu boi. Anyone who follows the festivities, interacting or not with the characters, is called a player.
Ox: is the main character of the party, and the plot revolves around him. The person who drives the doll and stays inside it during the festive cycle is called crumb.
Couple: Pai Francisco and Mãe Catirina represent the enslaved (in some versions, rural workers). Pai Francisco steals the farmer's most beautiful ox, kills the animal and cuts off its tongue so that Mãe Catirina can eat it and put an end to her desire. It is common for Mãe Catirina to be represented by a man dressed as a woman during the ox festivities.
Farm owner: is the owner of the ox. He is responsible for hunting the couple that caused the animal's death.
Cowboy, Indians and Caboclos: secondary characters in the story, they are present during the search for the ox and the pursuit of the couple.
Musicians: the characters are accompanied by bands of different rhythms. Maranhão, for example, has the tradition of the so-called accents, folklore groups of different musical styles.
When does the bumba meu boi happen?
The festive cycle of bumba meu boi has its peak in june, during the Festas Juninas do Nordeste. In fact, the revelry has a day of its own: June 30th. However, it is possible to find ox parties at other times of the year, in other parts of Brazil.
The festive cycle of the ox is composed of the rehearsal, baptism of the ox, presentations and death.
Rehearsal: is the preparation of revelers for the revelry of the year.
Baptism of the Ox: that's when the patron of the feast blesses the ox.
Presentations: it is the height of the ox feast. The presentations, or games, are usually held in June. It is common for the performances to take place at Festas Juninas, but they can also be done in other environments.
Death: it is the end of the festive cycle, being more common at the end of July.
Boi-bumbá from Parintins
The Parintins boi-bumbá is the Amazonian version of the bumba meu boi. The celebration was taken to Amazonas by Maranhenses who migrated to the state to work with rubber extraction in the 20th century.
in 1964, the city of Parintins hosted the first official festival of boi-bumbá, event called at the time of Toada Amazônica, name of indigenous influence. In fact, the theme of the party is predominantly focused on the indigenous culture, for the people who made and are making history in the Amazon region, such as Chico Mendes, and for the legends and mystical beings of Northern Brazilian culture.
The festival is held at the end of June at the Centro Cultural de Parintins, better known as bumbódromo. On the occasion, the Caprichoso and Garantido bulls compete for the title. Unlike the accents of Maranhão, the boi-bumbá has the marujada of Caprichoso and the drumming of Garantido.
The Festival of Parintins is a party that has more than 38 thousand spectators per year, generating approximately five thousand jobs, stimulating tourism, heating the economy and propagating culture.
Image credit
[1] Erica Catarina Pontes / Shutterstock
By Lorraine Vilela
Journalist
