At June parties they are traditional celebrations that are very fun and expected throughout the country. This is due, in part, to the typical treats and also to the games and characterization that the celebration involves.
Scholars claim that the Festa Junina arrived in Brazil around the XVII century, being of European origin. Over time, it was influenced by the Catholic religion and was associated with some saints. Later, other elements belonging to Brazilian culture were inserted.
See some curiosities and origins of the items present at Festas Juninas!
gang and clothing
Between the items juninos, there are two that are seen as the main ones: the dance, better known by the name of gang, and the typical dress. In the past, because they were parties promoted by the courts, women had to wear voluptuous and swirly dresses. Hence the origin of gang dresses, which, in our country, ended up being made with more colorful and flashy fabrics, mainly with calico.
Quadrilhas are highly valued in the Northeast region of the country, such as in Campina Grande, Paraíba, where one of the biggest competitions in this modality is held. Still about the dance, it is possible to notice that some of the names of its famous steps have French origin, such as
"anarriê", "ampass" and "tour". These are used because of the origin of the dance, as it is inherited from the feasts of the French aristocracy.bonfires
the traditional bonfires The Festas Juninas are inherited from the Greco-Roman and Celtic cultures. These peoples worshiped bonfires as a way of thanking the gods for good harvests. This practice was also adhered to in Brazil, making this item become another strong symbol of the festivity. In our country, many believe that the bonfire is a form of purification and protection against bad fluids, as well as a symbol of the gathering of family and friends during the festival.
pennants
The flags are a tribute to the patrons of Festa Junina
Known as the main decorative ornament of June festivities, the pennants they emerged as a form of homage to the three saints known as “patrons” of the Festas Juninas: Santo Antônio, São Pedro and São João. Images of the saints were nailed to colored banners and immersed in water, a rite known as the washing of the saints. According to popular belief, water purifies all those who get wet with it. Time passed, the little flags decreasing in size, but they continue to this day with the same symbology: to purify the atmosphere of the party.
Wedding
The “hillbilly wedding” is one of the funniest parts of the Festa Junina
Still about the saints, Santo Antônio became known as the matchmaker saint. This “fame”, according to some religious, came from requests made by girls to the saint in search of a bridegroom and husband. One of the ways to achieve this is to put the image of Santo Antônio as punishment in some way. One of the best known ways is to dip it upside down in a bowl of water.
Still on matrimonial traditions, the famous hillbilly wedding emerged as a form of mockery to classic weddings, as it escapes from the "traditional standards". The bride appears pregnant and the father forces the groom to marry with a shotgun pointed at his head, with the support of the city delegate, who is a friend of the bride's family. The wedding theater is even bigger, as the groom, who is intoxicated, tries to escape without success. The rustic wedding ends with the newlyweds, then married, leading to the beginning of the gang.
by Erica Caetano
Brazil School Team
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/detalhes-festa-junina/curiosidades-festa-junina.htm