O Brazilian folklore it is the set of popular cultural expressions that encompass aspects of national identity.
Examples are myths, legends, games, dances, parties, typical foods and other customs that are transmitted from generation to generation.
Brazilian folklore is very diverse and has attributes of Portuguese, African and indigenous cultures.
Despite this wealth, folklore only began to appear in official narratives from the 19th century onwards.
With Mário de Andrade and the creation of the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Service (SPHAN), folklore takes on a more academic aspect.
Main Brazilian Legends
Below are the main characters of Brazilian folk legends:
Iara
Iara, also known as Mãe D'Água, is a mermaid, that is, she has the torso of a woman and the tail of a fish. As in other mermaid legends, she is very beautiful and her singing attracts men in order to murder them.
Curupira
Curupira is a relentless protector of the fauna and flora that chases and kills all who attack it. She appears in the form of a red-haired boy with his feet turned backwards.
Headless mule
The headless mule is a woman who was cursed after having an affair with a priest. As a result, she was transformed into a mindless quadruped that gallops on fire.
Werewolf
The Werewolf is a man who, after being bitten by a wolf, turns into this animal every night of the full moon.
Boitatá
The Boitatá represents a fire snake, considered the guardian of fauna and flora, relentless in hunting those who disrespect nature.
boto
The pink dolphin or boto is one of the folkloric characters that emerges from the rivers in the form of a handsome young man. His goal is to seduce women to get them pregnant.
Saci-pererê
Saci-pererê is always with his pipe and a red cap. He appears as a black boy who has only one leg and is up to mischief.
Don't stop here! Have more articles very useful for you:
- Legend and history of Saci-pererê
- what is folklore
- Legends and characters from Brazilian folklore
- indigenous legends
- Legends of the North Region that you need to know
- Northeast Region Legends You'll Love
- Unmissable Legends of the South Region
- Southeast legends you can't miss
- Fantastic Legends of the Midwest Region
Folk and Popular Games in Brazil
The most popular folk game in Brazil is flying kites. Made of bamboo sticks and colored tissue paper, kites can be directed to perform acrobatic maneuvers in the sky.
Another fun is the slingshot. Made from forked branches and rubber bands that shoot rocks, or any small object such as grain.
At the tag, the person who is touched starts running after the other players. O hide and seek it's similar, but the goal is to hide and not be found by the child you're looking for.
Another popular toy is the marbles. Colored and made of glass, they are usually rolled on a dirt floor to hit the competitor's ball.
There is also the top, a wooden toy that is rotated on the floor using a string wrapped around its base and then pulled.
We are sure you will like the articles we have prepared for you.:
- Folk Plays: Traditional Toys and Popular Games
- Very popular June games
- 15 Popular Games That Teach and Kids Love
Brazilian Popular Beliefs
- Eat grapes and pomegranates in the New Year for luck and fortune during the course of the new year.
- Horseshoe behind the door to ward off the evil eye.
- The one who takes the bride's bouquet will be the next to get married.
- When the pregnant woman feels like it, the child is born injured or with a mania for what was denied to the pregnant woman.
- Breaking a mirror is seven years of bad luck.
- Pointing at the “Três Marias” (stars) causes warts to grow on the index finger.
- Crossing a black cat is bad luck, as is crossing under a ladder.
- Four-leaf clover brings luck, as does the rabbit's foot.
- Friday the 13th is a day of strange happenings and misfortunes.
- Hitting wood three times keeps bad things away.
Folk and Popular Dances of Brazil
At folk dances Brazilians are linked to sacred aspects, legends, historical facts, typical parties and games, enjoyed to the sound of lively music.
The main ones are the Samba de Roda, where you dance in a roda to the sound of sambas, accompanied by clapping and singing.
At the Maracatu, the dancers represent historical characters. already in the Frevo, an accelerated marchinha is danced played by a band in the style of carnival blocks.
Another musical rhythm from the northeast region is the baião, a dance in pairs similar to forró.
In the South and Southeast region, we have the Catira, characterized by the tapping of feet and palms of the dancers.
THE Gang it is a typical dance from June festivals, where one of the speakers proclaims phrases that determine the movements of the dance.
Be sure to read other articles related to this topic.:
- History of Samba
- Afoxé: rhythm, instruments, origin and characteristics
- Congada: origin, dance and party
- June party food
Folk and Popular Songs from Brazil
At folk songs they are popular songs. They have no defined authorship and have themes of love and are almost always accompanied by a country guitar or guitar.
Note that they are common in the interior of the country, where they originate. The main ones of these manifestations are the circle songs and the lullabies.
You may also be interested in a more childlike approach.: 31 Wheel songs to play with children.
Brazilian Folklore Parties
In the main festivals of Brazilian folklore we find several folkloric expressions gathered together. Of these, the main ones are:
- Carnival: party that dates back to the 17th century, but which became official culture in the 1930s.
- Congo: emerged during the 18th century in Minas Gerais, when black slaves sought a form of expression that would be accepted within the Catholic brotherhoods.
- Kings' Folia: groups of singers and instrumentalists accompany characters such as the standard-bearer, the madman, the judge. They walk the streets begging.
- June parties: party that celebrates the harvests. For this reason, it is synonymous with a plentiful table.
For you to know more about parties: Popular festivals that are part of Brazilian folklore.
Popular Literature in Brazil
The main folk language is the Literature of twine, which consists of a poetry booklet, sometimes illustrated, written in informal language.
Originally from the northeast region, these works are called "cordel" because they are displayed on a cord for appreciation.
Another common form of popular literature is the guessing, that is, questions with ambiguous content. You proverbs are sayings that contain teachings (often religious).
jokes or anecdotes they are short narratives with funny endings.
You lock languages they are phrases, usually rhymed, which are difficult to pronounce; while the parlendas or parlengas are popular nursery rhymes.
Did you know?
O Folklore Day is celebrated on the 22nd of August and the Saci's Day on October 31st.
