Popular festivals are marked by culinary traditions, dances, music, processions and games.
Discover the most popular festivals in Brazil, which bring together cultural aspects of each of the Brazilian regions.
1. June parties
At June parties they take place throughout the month of June, the month of popular saints - Santo Antônio, São João and São Pedro.
This is a party full of various types of traditions, from cooking, to the typical square dance and games - fishing, elegant mail and the clown's mouth, for example.
In cooking, there is no lack of dishes that have corn as the main ingredient, such as cornmeal cake, popcorn and mush.
This is because before assuming the religious character, the festival was pagan and paid homage to the gods of nature and fertility. It was at this time that the people were grateful for the success of the harvests, and corn was one of the most produced agricultural products at the time.
Despite being held in all Brazilian regions, Campina Grande, in Paraíba, is the stage for the biggest June party in Brazil.
2. Boom my ox
Typical of the north and northeast regions, the festival of Boom my ox includes lots of dancing, parades and theatrical performances of the legend, which counts as the resurrection of one of the Oxen preferred by the boss of Mãe Catirina and Pai Francisco gave rise to this traditional celebration Brazilian. The festival takes place between the months of June and July.
In Maranhão, its commemoration dates back to the 18th century, where several groups of bumba meu boi perform in various arraiás. Bumba meu boi Maranhense carries the titles of Cultural Heritage of Brazil and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In the northern region, where the Parintins Folk Festival takes place, the festival has been held since 1965. There, thousands of spectators watch at the Bumbódromo the dispute between the folklore associations.
The associations - Boi Garantido and Boi Caprichoso - present themselves and are evaluated by the judges according to certain criteria, among which: tonal lifter, standard bearer, boi-bumbá (evolution), choreography and ensemble organization folkloric.
3. Carnival
O Carnival is one of the best known Brazilian parties in the world. Of pagan origin, since the beginning, carnival captivated people, who could have fun hiding the their identity and changing social roles through the use of masks - a tradition that emerged in Venice.
Celebrated across the country between February and March, each region has its own particularities.
The Southeast is known for the parades of samba schools, whose recreational guilds have the mission of disseminating culture through the plots chosen each year.
In the Northeast, the party is popular for the street carnival, where the electric trios of Salvador are highlighted, and the Bonecos de Olinda are the joy of revelers.
4. Kings' Folia
Of Catholic tradition, the revelry of kings is a folklore festival also known as Reisado or Festa de Santos Reis. Celebrated between the 24th of December and the 6th of January, it celebrates the occasion when, according to history, the Three Kings met the Child Jesus.
The party is marked by the presence of: a master, a foreman, the wise men, revelers and clowns. All dress up in character and go out into the streets singing the created verses and playing instruments such as accordions, violas, tambourines and accordions.
In their homes, people prepare snacks and treats to offer to those who take part in the procession in the streets, which usually takes place in cities in the interior of the country.
5. congada
No date remains, the congada it is a cultural and religious manifestation that is usually celebrated in May and October - as these are the months dedicated to Our Lady - or December.
Celebrated in several regions of Brazil, this is a party of African origin that mixes the processions performed in honor of the kings of Congo with their devotion to the saints who, in Brazil, were considered the protectors of the slaves. They are the blacks Santa Efigênia and São Benedito, and Nossa Senhora do Rosário.
The party consists of a parade, which includes a reenactment of the coronation of a Congolese king and many songs marked by the rhythm of drums.
6. Feast of the Divine
Held on the day of Pentecost, the origin of Feast of the Divine is Portuguese.
This religious festival commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit 50 days after Easter Sunday, and has its high point in a procession featuring the figure of an emperor - chosen by lot or chosen by the Bishop. The emperor is responsible for organizing the feast.
In addition to the emperor's coronation, included in popular traditions, there is also the raising of the Divine flag on the mast - one of the main symbols of the festival - and the burning of fireworks.
7. Nazare's Cirio
O Nazare's Cirio is the biggest religious festival in Brazil, registered since 2004 as Cultural Heritage of Intangible Nature.
It takes place in Belém do Pará, on the second Sunday of October. On this occasion, devotees accompany the image of Our Lady of Nazareth, taken from the Basilica to the Sanctuary of Nazareth Square, where it remains for a week.
According to tradition, the festival consists of the transfer of the image of Our Lady in a car, from her Basilica to the parish church, where she spends the night with the faithful who are watching. The next day, the transfer continues, but this time it is accompanied by ambulances and police and fire engines.
The image follows by boat, being accompanied by other boats, canoes, yachts and jet skis. Then there is a pilgrimage, in which the image is accompanied by motorcycles honking through the streets.
Finally, the image continues its journey on foot, the night before the Círio itself, which is the most awaited moment of this celebration.
8. Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is one of the most popular parties in southern Brazil, the best known of which is held in Blumenau, Santa Catarina. With a German tradition, Oktoberfest was born in Munich, in the celebration of the wedding of the Bavarian King Louis I, in 1810.
In Santa Catarina, which has strong traces of German colonization, the first party dates from 1984. There, it was created with the objective of recovering the economy of the city of Blumenau, where the flood of the Itajaí-Açu river in 1983 caused a lot of damage.
This is not just a beer festival that attracts thousands of tourists. It preserves the German cultural richness through cuisine, dances and music, including parades of folklore groups, which display typical costumes and lively bands.
9. Barretos Peon Party
The Peão de Boiadeiro de Barretos Festival, known throughout the world, is the biggest country party in Brazil.
Very traditional in the southeast region, the Festa do Peão de Boiadeiro de Barretos takes place in August and is organized by the Fundação de “Os Independentes”.
The party poster is composed of many folk elements, such as:
gaudy contest, in which the competitors are evaluated by five touches given in the instrument symbol of the sertanejo;
tallow stick, in which participants are challenged to pick up a flag at the top of a pole, climbing 9 meters wrapped in ox tallow;
burning garlic, as the party's menu is called, consisting of rice cartons, grilled meat, beans and paçoca de carne;
Rose Abrão guitar player, a country music festival.
10. Cavalcades
Of Portuguese origin, the most popular Cavalhada in the country takes place in the Midwest, more precisely in Goiás, for about 200 years.
Lasting three days, the party consists of horse parades to the sound of great music. Wearing typical costumes - velvet, very colorful and bright - the participants stage battles between Christians (dressed in blue) and Moors (dressed in red).
The staging represents the battles that took place between the 9th and 15th centuries during the occupation of Portugal and Spain by the Moors.
11. Bonfim Wash
The Lavagem da Escadaria do Bonfim is one of the most popular parties in Bahia. It takes place on the second Thursday of the year, bringing together religious syncretism, cuisine, music and the typical Bahian revelry.
From the Church of Conceição da Praia, participants walk 8 km to the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. The route is accompanied by Bahians dressed in typical costumes and the remaining participants dressed in white.
At the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, the women from Bahia wash the stairs using the vases of scented water they carry along the way.
This tradition emerged in 1773 with the cleaning of the interior of the church by slaves, in preparation for the feast of Senhor do Bonfim. Today, the doors of the church are closed, and access is restricted to the stairs and churchyard.
12. bonfire
Fogaréu is another traditional party in Goiás. It is a Catholic procession, accompanied by a band, which takes place on the Thursday of Holy Week through the streets of the city of Goiás, departing from the church/museum of Boa Morte.
In the procession, 40 men participate representing the soldiers who arrested Jesus - the so-called farricocos. His attire consists of a long-sleeved tunic and a white sash at the waist. only 1 - the person responsible for carrying the standard with the face of Christ - wears a white tunic and sash red.
The lights are all turned off and the streets are lit by torches carried by the participants, who walk from Boa Morte, crossing the bridge over the Red River, where they stop at the Igreja do Rosário. From there, they walk to the Igreja de São Francisco, where there is a ceremony, and then return to the starting point.
13. Pilgrimage of the Dead in Juazeiro do Norte
The Pilgrimage of the Dead in Juazeiro do Norte is a tribute to Father Cícero. The pilgrimage brings together thousands of devotees who visit the tomb of the charismatic priest affectionately known as Padim Ciço.
The event was created by Father Cicero, who encouraged people to visit the graves of their loved ones.
With his death in 1934, the popularity of the pilgrimage grew a lot. With the presence of thousands of people, they visit the tomb of Father Cícero, deceased and buried in Juazeiro do Norte.
See too: Cultural diversity in Brazil and what is folklore
