The June party is one of the most popular and beloved celebrations in Brazil. Marked by delicious foods, prepared with traditional foods such as peanuts and corn, and traditional dances, such as the square dance, the festivity arose from pagan commemorations that took place on the European Continent to celebrate the harvest season, and to ward off plagues and evil spirits from the plantations.
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Origin of Festa Junina – History of Festa Junina
The tradition of the June festival came to Brazil at the time of the colonization of the Portuguese and has its origins in the pagan festivities held in Europe. These events took place during the transition from spring to summer, in the period called the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere which happens exactly in the month of June.
The festivals were a way to ward off evil spirits, and pests, that could attack the crops that began to be harvested in the period of the year.
From the moment that Christianity was consolidated as the main religion of the European Continent, the June festivals they also gained Catholic characteristics, and a celebration of pagan origin was incorporated into the festive calendar of the Catholicism.
To facilitate the conversion of different pagan peoples to Christianity, the Church acculturated festivities of these communities, adding them to the Catholic calendar and adding elements to them Christians.
The Christianization of the festival was related to commemorations of important figures of Catholicism that took place exactly in the period of pagan commemorations. These figures are Santo Antônio, who is honored on June 13th, São João, on the 24th, and São Pedro, on the 29th.
How did the June party arrive in Brazil?
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The June parties arrived in Brazil during the century XVI. They were popular traditions that took place in the Iberian Peninsula, a territory formed by Portugal and Spain.
And like other traditions, the festivity was brought to the country by the Portuguese during colonization.
At the beginning of the introduction of the Festa Junina in Brazil, the celebration was known as Festa Joanina, in reference to São João. However, over the years, it gained the name we know today, Festa Junina, in reference to the month of June.
At its beginning, the party had a much greater religious tone than it does today, andOver the years, festivity in Brazil came to be associated with typical symbols of rural areas.
Characteristics of the June Festival in Brazil
- In the Northeast of the country is where the festivity had its greatest growth, with the biggest parties in the country taking place in the region. The most famous is the June festival in the city of Campina Grande, in the state of Paraíba;
- During June festivals in the country, typical dances are performed, such as square dances;
- There is also the production of foods based on corn and peanuts, such as hominy, pamonha, peanuts, as well as beverages such as quentão;
- Another popular feature is the habit of dressing up as a hillbilly.
See too:
20 Festa Junina Decoration Ideas for School
10 Simple Decoration Ideas for Festa Junina
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