Festa junina

Popular Culture -The charm and joy of “Festa Junina”

The Festa Junina are festivities that take place in June in Brazil and are extremely popular throughout the country and among all social classes. Originally called joanina from São João, they celebrate the Catholic Saints:Santo Antônio –Saint Anthony – 13th JuneSão João – Saint John – 24th JuneSão Pedro – Saint Peter – 29th JuneFestivities in the month of June are part of the rich and beautiful Brazilian culture .June is one of the most special months of the year. It is at this time that Brazilians enjoy typical country food and drink, such as corn-based sweets and savory dishes, and drinks such as quentão. During this month people celebrate the three June saints: Saint Antonio, Saint John and Saint Peter. All over the country, schools, churches, companies, entities and city halls organize their own events. For the festival to be good, it has to recall the country culture and be held in a space known as an “arraial” or “arraiá”. In this place tents are put up where typical country food and drink are sold. The “arraiá” can also have bonfires, greased poles (pau-de-sebo) and a lot of people dressed in country outfits.The tradition from the Northeast :In many places in the country, mainly the Northeastern cities, the Festa Junina is more popular than carnival. The festivals held in Campina Grande (Paraíba) and Caruaru (Pernambuco) are the most famous and attract tourists from all over the country.The three June Saints : The 24th is one of the most celebrated days in June. On this date Saint John’s day is celebrated, who is thought to be the most fun-loving saint. The date best remembered by single women is the 13th, when Saint Antonio’s day is celebrated, the “marriage saint”. The official date for the ending of the June festivals is 29th June, Saint Peter’s day, who is known as the guardian of the gates to heaven and the protector of widows. The church fair, usually with a charity bazaar, is called a quermesse. The festivities also celebrate rural life and feature typical dress, food and dance. They usually take place in a large open space outdoors called an arraial and people dress up as farmers, or country folk (caipira) with straw hats and checked shirts or dresses. São João celebrates marriage, so couples dance a kind of square dance called a quadrilha which features a mock wedding with the bride and groom. June is the time of the corn harvest, so special dishes are prepared made with corn. Canjica is made from grated corn and coconut, boiled with water, milk, sugar and cinnamon. Pamonha is a sweet concoction of corn paste which is rolled and baked in fresh cornhusks.Peneault –Amendoim.  Pinhão, an edible pine seed is also very popular. A typical drink is the quentão. As the name suggests, this is a hot alcoholic drink with ginger and usually cachaça – a kind of rum made from sugar cane and commonly known as pinga. Bonfires and firework displays are also important features of these colourful two-week celebrations.

Vocabulary

1 joy – alegria

2 enjoy – desfrutar

3 corn-based sweets and savory dishes – pratos doces e salgados, à base de milho

4 entity – entidade          5 City Hall – prefeitura6 to be held – ser realizado

7 tents are put up – barracas são armadas

8 bonfire – fogueira

9 country outfits – trajes caipiras