Negrinho do Pastoreio is a character of Brazilian folklore well known in the southern region of the country. Of African and Christian origin, the legend of the shepherd boy probably emerged in the 19th century.
Legend has it that, even in the time of slavery in the country, this character was a small slave who suffered a lot from the mistreatment of a farmer.
On a certain day, the master asked him to take care of some horses, but one of them ended up running away.
When he returned, his owner missed the bay horse and, with that, decided to punish the little black boy.
After leaving in search of the lost horse, the black boy finds him, however, he was unable to capture him.
In this way, you decide to punish the boy with many lashes and, in addition, throw him into an anthill. Near death, the farmer decides to leave the boy there in the anthill, certain that he was already dead.
However, the next day, the farmer himself comes across the boy and is perplexed, as the child had no wounds on his body.
Also, he was riding the lost horse, and beside him was the Virgin Mary, patroness of the orphan boy.
Very repentant, the farmer decides to ask for forgiveness, however, the black boy leaves galloping happy and free on the bay horse.
In another version of the legend, the farmer was told by his sadistic son that the black boy, responsible for taking care of 30 horses, let one of them run away. That's because he was very tired and decided to sleep.
Upon waking up, the little slave missed the horse, however, the farmer already knew what had happened and decided to punish the little black boy.
The Legend Today
Currently, in the southern region of the country, it is believed that if any object is lost, Negrinho do Pastoreio can help find it. All you have to do is light a candle near an anthill and ask with great faith which object will reappear.
Do you want to know the story of other Brazilian folklore legends? Check out!
- Acutipupu
- head
- Iara
- Saci-Pererê
- Caipora
- Curupira
- Boitatá
- Headless mule
- pink dolphin
- bogeyman
- Werewolf
- Redhead beard
- alamoa
Movie O Negrinho do Pastoreio
The film "O Negrinho do Pastoreio” (1973), directed by Antônio Augusto da Silva Fagundes, is a drama based on the work “Lendas do Sul” by Simões Lopes Neto.
You may also be interested in:
- Folklore Legends
- Unmissable Legends of the South Region
- Northeast Region Legends You'll Love
- Legends of the North Region that you need to know
- Fantastic legends from the Midwest region
- Legends of the Southeast that you can't miss
- The exciting story of the açaí legend
