Festa Junina

One of the most important and popular traditional festivals in Brazil. Derived from the Portuguese Saint John's Day (Sao Joao), this festival has been given a unique style by the Brazilians. Juneteenth is usually held in June each year and lasts for a month, with colorful celebrations held all over the country.

People use flags, scarecrows, etc., to decorate the road, everyone wears clothes with lattice elements, dress up in rural style, and straw hats are a very common "equipment". What if I don't have a straw hat? Ask a passer-by to borrow one!

The centerpiece of Juneteenth is the "Quadrilha," in which participants wear traditional peasant attire: plaid shirts and jeans for men, and brightly colored dresses and straw hats for women. Phalanx dance is a group dance with simple and interesting steps, accompanied by cheerful folk music, full of interaction and joy.

Before the start of the activity, the staff will hang several POTS on the tree, which is filled with candy, participants need to cover their eyes, turn around a few times, take a long stick, under the guidance of people around (interference), find the POTS and break them.

A broken pot, inside the candy will be scattered all over the ground, the children around, grab the candy on the ground, I also went to gather a lively, but old, eyes are not good, a did not see, grab but, grab but. Finally, a friend picked one up and gave it to me.

The game also saw a familiar scene - musical stool, did not expect musical stool is still a global game. In the end, the battle was too intense, and he directly grabbed the ground.

Unconsciously, as night falls, I experienced a Brazilian 🇧🇷 version of the fairy stick and small goldfish, which is much louder than the domestic small goldfish. Can it be said that this is when in Rome? The little goldfish are getting warm here.

The scene atmosphere is very hi, everyone singing and dancing, laughing, very lively, people unconsciously want to dance with the music.

The decorations are also rustic. Flags, scarecrows and decorative farm tools filled the celebration site, and streets and squares were decorated with colors to create a strong festive atmosphere.

Food is an integral part of Juneteenth. A variety of traditional snacks and drinks are prepared, such as pamonha (tortillas), milho assado (grilled corn), canjica (coconut milk pudding), and quentao (mulled wine) Mingau (pronounced and tasting like the Chinese "rice cake"), a mash made of corn kernels and eaten with cinnamon powder. It's not bad 😋), and the last one is Arroz com galinha (very much like egg fried rice, much more delicious than I expected, it's rare to get good rice in Brazil 😭, sometimes I just don't feel too happy).

These dishes are not only delicious, but also reflect Brazil's produce and food culture. At the festival market, various vendors sell these delicacies, attracting a large number of tourists and local residents to taste.

In Sao Paulo, one of the most famous events during Juneteenth is the Quermesse do Calvario. The festival, which takes place in the Calvario Church in Sao Paulo, is one of the most anticipated festive events for local residents and visitors.

Quermesse do Calvario offers not only a wealth of traditional cuisine, but also game stalls, a craft market and wonderful live performances. The atmosphere here is warm and friendly, filled with the warmth of family and community, and is the best place to experience Brazilian culture and Junefest traditions.

Juneteenth also incorporates religious and cultural elements, with celebrations associated with Catholic saints' days such as Saint Antonio's Day, Saint John's Day, and Saint Peter's Day, Saint Pedro's Day. These religious activities include processions, mass, etc., adding to the sacred atmosphere of the festival.

Overall, Juneteenth is a festival full of joy, color and food, with both traditional religious ceremonies and modern entertainments. It showcases Brazil's cultural diversity and rich folk traditions and provides an opportunity for people to come together and share their joy.