This is essentially a traditional celebration – especially among Catholics – honoring and remembering John the Baptist’s birth (24th June) and the apostles Peter and Paul.
Every Brazilian knows what July means. Party! Festa Junina aka June Festival is a time of country-wide (especially in the North) numerous events and fun events.
Brazilians adopted the tradition during the colonization period (1500 – 1822), when the Portuguese ruled these lands.
Farmers (Caipras) were the first to celebrate Festa Junina. Since then it has become a good reason to relax, socialize, eat and drink.
Festa Junina at Xaverians
Like in every Brazil’s city and almost every parish, our missionaries organized a party for their parishioners, as well.
In front of the mission, there’s a covered space available for such events. Parish’s youths began the preparations in the morning. They decorated the venue, prepared food, tables, and chairs and erected the stage for the band and obligatory bingo.
Bingo is one of the ways to raise money. Money is then used for charity or building the church (which was the purpose of our bingo).
Traditional Quadrille
Bingo is one of Festa Junina’s highlights. Another one is quadrille (quadrilha). Men put on farming clothes and big straw hats, while women braid their hair, draw freckles on their faces, sometimes color a tooth or two black, and put on red and white clothes.
Couples dance around the “groom” and “bride” at their mock wedding. This symbolizes the fertility of the soil.
Couples rotate and switch figures on conductor’s command. They’re accompanied by Forró music, which is a traditional genre based on accordion and triangle, representing the life and suffering of Caipiras.
Football, football, football
There’s one more thing marking the month of June in Brazil. Can you guess what it is? Football world cup, of course!
It’s impossible to not write anything about football. Friar Giovanni jested that football is to Brazilians what wine is to Italians. It’s a part of this nation’s culture and mentality. It is by far the most important sport in Brazil. You’ll have a hard time finding someone who’s not interested in football, including women.
Big Expectations
Brazil is a true football superpower; they already won the world championship five times. Every four years when Brazil participates, the expectation rises so high it presents a serious challenge for the national team.
Being under immense pressure, a slip-up is sometimes inevitable, for example four years ago when Germany defeated them 7:1 on Brazil’s home turf.
Best in the World?
Everyone’s first question is whether we follow football. Second question is who we support. There’s only one obvious answer to such delicate question. Brazil, of course! We instantly click.
‘Brazil is the best, isn’t it?’ they ask.
‘Yes, but… well, Germany… four years ago…’ I try to balance things. Excitement dies down a bit, but not for long.
Football Euphoria
When Brazil plays, people don’t go to work, but stay at home in front of the TV. Naturally, they must make up for the free time.
When we walk down the street, people wearing Brazil’s colors – green and yellow – are everywhere. People put flags on their houses and car hoods, while local buses have boards with results attached on the back.
Main topic of conversation is football (besides food, of course). They know the players well, maybe even better than the players themselves. If they play well, they are heroes. If not, they get criticized and ridiculed.
Neymar – the Falling Footballer
At the forefront is Neymar – one of national team’s key players.
Known not only for his pace, passes and goal-scoring, but also for the time spent rolling around on the pitch. From time to time, someone actually commits a foul against Neymar, but most of the time it’s purely theatrical. At least that’s what people here say.
They often joke at Neymar’s expense and know plenty of jokes about the subject. Radio presenter once said: ‘I wish gas prices dropped as frequently as Neymar.’
Here’s the newest one: “Quadrille has a new figure. When the leader shouts ‘Neymar’, everyone must fall to the ground.“
Journey Continues at the end of July
We’ll remain in Brazil until the end of July, and will depart thereafter. Our destination is most likely Paraguay, where we have arrangements with a local missionary. More about this in one of the future articles.
Operando – God works right now!
Nace Volčič