Saci, headless mule, caipora, bumbá ox and much more. Brazilian folklore is vast, and deserves its own date. The 22nd of August is, since 1965, Folklore Day here in Brazil. It was on that day, more than 200 years earlier (in 1846, to be precise) that the English term “folk-lore” was first published, in a text by the English archaeologist William Thoms.
Mosaico Cultural, a podcast by Brasil de Fato, told the stories of some of the characters that make up national folklore. While some are known across the country, others, no less fascinating, are better known in certain parts of the country. Hear some of these stories:
Parintins Folk Festival represents the tradition of the peoples of Brazil – Few rivalries in Brazil are as fierce as the dispute between Caprichoso and Garantido, which takes place every year between the months of June and July in Parintins (AM). The folk festival has become one of the hallmarks of Brazilian culture, and Mosaico Cultural provided some details.
Velho Chico: the river that is a sea of legends, traditions and stories – A river of enormous economic, tourist, historical and geographic importance, the São Francisco is also a river full of culture and folklore. Click to listen to the episode that talks about the enchanted universe of “Velho Chico”.
The rhythms and colors of the boi-bumbá: folkloric festival is a Brazilian heritage – A legend present in several regions of Brazil, the boi bumbá (or bumba meu boi, boi Pintadinho, boi de papaya…) is part of the imagination and folklore from the country. Learn more about the character’s origin.
October 31st: Saci or Halloween? – One of the best known and beloved figures of national folklore, Saci became a symbol of resistance. The 31st of October, which in recent decades has seen the growth of Halloween, a party “imported” from the United States, was also instituted as the day of Saci. Listen to the program and find out more.
Festa da Lavadeira holds stories of diversity and resistance in Pernambuco – Ciranda, maracatu, bumba meu boi and pastoral / The Festa da Lavadeira is Brazilian folklore. The verses give a taste of the festivities held every year, since 1987, always on May 1st. Check the details by clicking on the link.
Meet the legend of Ratambufe, the Boi de Conchas from Ubatuba (SP) – One of the “youngest” of Brazilian folklore, Ratambufe was created in 2003 by the now extinct Movimento Cultural Pirão Geral. The cultural manifestation talks about an imaginary animal that would have disappeared on the beach of Iperoig, in Ubatuba.
Editing: Rodrigo Durão Coelho
