Since 1965, the people of Manaus have staged the legend of the boi-bumbá in the Amazon during the Parintins Folklore Festival. One of the most popular events in northern Brazil, it attracts nearly 100,000 people, both locals and tourists, to celebrate regional culture. The festivities always take place on the last weekend of June and reflect a blend of the customs of indigenous peoples and quilombolas (escaped slaves and their descendants who fled to safe havens called quilombos), both integral parts of Brazilian culture.
The Event
The festival takes place at the Amazonino Mendes Cultural and Sports Center (better known as Bumbódromo), on an island in the middle of the Amazon rainforest called Parintins, which also gives its name to the festival. During three days of celebrations, the parade passes through the Bumbódromo, a large avenue, with floats representing Garantido and Caprichoso. The two groups (called bois, literally “oxen”) face off in an arena through dance and music performances, while boi toadas are used to portray indigenous rituals and riverside customs. Each presentation lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes and is judged by 10 jurors in 21 different categories.
The entire city is taken over by the competition and dresses in the colors of its favorite boi: blue for Caprichoso, red for Garantido. At the Bumbódromo, the fans of each group gather on opposite sides of the arena.
In 2018, more than R$ 50 million were injected into the local economy thanks to the event, which generated five thousand direct and indirect jobs between June and July.
History
The legend that gave rise to the festival tells the story of Mãe Catirina, who, while pregnant, had a craving for ox tongue. However, she did not want just any tongue, but rather that of her husband’s boss’s favorite ox, who was a farmer. Pai Francisco, her husband, fulfills her request, kills the ox, but is imprisoned by the farmer, who discovered everything. To resurrect the ox, the farmer calls for a priest. During the festival, the priest is represented by a pajé (shamanic figure from Brazilian tribes), who brings the ox back to life, and the festivities celebrate his feat.
The story is staged in acts throughout the festival by representatives of the two groups, each in their own way. The acts also tell the story of the creation of the Amazon, addressing the many myths about the origin of the forest and themes related to the preservation of the biome.
Source: Brazil Agency