Amazonas – which takes place every year on the last weekend of June
considered a tourist attraction in the city – is an open-air performance with the participation of several folk associations
The highlight of the festival is the competition between the two folkloric oxen: the Boi Garantido and the Boi Caprichoso
they explore regional themes such as legends
indigenous rituals and riverside customs through allegories and performances
has brought social contributions to the affirmation of a sense of regional identity that occurs through the reframing of the event
“This resignification replaces the archetype of death and rebirth with the so-called folkloric celebration
since the Boi-bumbá from Parintina today no longer dies and
concludes Rui Manuel Sénico Carvalho in a doctoral study defended at the Institute of Arts (IA )
part of this change is the exaltation of regional characters such as the Indian and the caboclo
who act as prototypes of speeches and give a new aesthetic configuration to the festival
Rui says that he chose this subject for its originality
since the Amazon is little studied in ethnomusicology
“I believe that research related to the region could instigate knowledge about a unique part of Brazil
He was also interested in the topic because he appreciated Amazonian culture and due to its proximity to the State of Amazonas [he lives in Manaus]
in addition to the fact that he was conductor of the Amazonas Band
a big band from the Department of Culture of the State of Amazonas
“I ended up having contact with boi-bumbá musicians
the boi-bumbá masters from Manauara and some key figures from the festival”
is part of a manifestation deeply rooted in the country's folklore
“It is currently classified as a popular cultural manifestation in Amazonas
the auto do ox goes back to the beginnings of Brazil and is present in several regions”
It is a performance that tells the story of the black woman Catirina who
wanted to eat the tongue of the ox most loved by the owner of the farm where she lived
killed his master's best animal and then fled
to the joy and celebration of everyone on the farm
Some scholars point to Portugal as the origin of the auto do boi
There are many similarities with a festival that existed around Lisbon until the 19th century
Others suggest Sub-Saharan Africa (the region of present-day Senegal) as the origin of the Brazilian bumba-meu-boi
a manifestation from which the current Parintinense boi-bumbá derives
The auto do boi in Brazil includes central characters from the colony
“There were three groups in constant cultural dialogue and
given the emergence of a new anthropological situation that was emerging in the country
auto do boi addresses the issue of cultural identity in Brazil”
supervised by IA professor José Roberto Zan
addresses a specific geographic time frame: it does not describe the geography of the ox and its mythological implications
“The emergence of the cult of the ox takes place in the same period in which it began to dominate the agrarian cycle in the Near East and the relationship of the animal's horn with the lunar crescent
as well as with the archetype of death and resurrection”
according to whom bumba-meu-boi became the first car with a national character
reconfigured and transformed inheritances from the different matrices of the ethnic mosaic of the Brazilian nation
“I can only suspect that the mythical complex of the ox
was already known by the contingents of African slave labor
as well as by the Portuguese who migrated here”
Rui carried out fieldwork in Parintins and Manaus
He attended two festivals on the island and witnessed Alvorada do Garantido
when the ox leaves in procession on the night of April 30th to May XNUMXst
inaugurating the annual ox season in Parintins
“I interviewed people involved in the process of preparing the ox
which was very enlightening and enriching for my research”
he interviewed boi-bumbá masters from the traditional aspect of self-representation and musicians who create the party's sounds
song composers and cultural mediators who construct the master narrative of the Parintins Folklore Festival
The doctoral student observed how the event was planned and how it captured popular participation
popular participation legitimized the folkloric aspect of the festival
between the invention of a tradition and the satisfaction of a felt need
consummated the enjoyment of small differences – the affirmative character of the sense of regional identity that manifests itself in the event
Reading previous works was enriching for Rui
even though there was no research in the field of ethnomusicology
But these works did not reveal a vital aspect for understanding the contemporary Parintinense boi-bumbá
which is the total obliteration of the ox's death and rebirth archetype
the musician noted that none of the works referred to the meaning and role of the folkloric celebration
which were included in the aesthetic reconfiguration of the festival from the 1980s onwards
it is worth highlighting the insertion of the figure invented expression of the “Indian” at the Festival
which aims to relate the festivities with a supposed “indigenous” ancestry
who prefigures the ancestry of the Amazonian
who is an urban symbolic construction of man who
by inserting aspects of the civilization brought by the European into his universe
concretizes the path between pre-civilized Indian and civilization
“These are the characters exalted in the festivities who intend to give a sense of identity to the event”
The tunes analyzed in fieldwork were obtained at the festival itself or from boi-bumbá masters
Other tunes of a more “traditional” nature
were transcribed from a CD by toadeiros from Parintins
Such compositions were selected by these toadeiros based on the popular oral tradition of Parintins and reworked for recording
Canto da Mata) were transcribed by me from recordings of live performances
and their analysis aims to compare the changes brought about in gender
as part of a process of identity affirmation”
by putting into perspective the different tunes
it is possible to identify some of the most significant changes that the genre has undergone.”
The research began in August 2006 with the collection of texts on the subject
The songs analyzed span more than half a century
“The study of aspects related to the ox took me to Prehistory”
Research in ethnomusicology is quite comprehensive
the researcher focused on the history of the North
of the Independence period and on aspects related to cultural anthropology
sociology and the history of Amazonas in particular
Rui states that this study seeks to help understand why the redefinition of the Parintins Folklore Festival aims to generate a sense of regional identity affirmation
The process brings together joint work between those who formulate the party
those who organize it and the participants
who give color and movement to the festivities
a topic that was unfolding on an island in the middle of the Amazon River
Without any intention of an essentialist nature
I realized that something resonated that took us back to a very distant past
Thesis: “Parintins: boi-bumbá and identity affirmation
representations and identity in contemporary Amazonas”Author Rui Manuel Sénico CarvalhoAdvisor: José Roberto ZanUnity: Institute of Arts (IA)
Small fragments of ancestral Amazonian culture are emerging from the ground in the backyards of homes in the rural and urban parts of Parintins
elaborately sculpted figures of human and nonhuman beings
decorative objects and burial urns — all made of pottery
Among these particles of time that include stone instruments as well
people and objects are intertwined amid diverse landscapes composing an ancient biocultural mosaic called a sustainable agroecological system in archaeology
In this municipality located on Tupinambarana Island
a “floating terrace” as researchers describe
the population of some 96,000 people are discovering remnants of what were at one time the pre-Columbian societies in the region
some 420 kilometers (260 miles) from the state capitol of Manaus
was given the name Tupinambarana by passing visitors who came into contact with the territory’s Indigenous people
the collective work of scientists and local communities is filling in gaps with pieces to the historical jigsaw puzzle of this region
This new understanding is opening new paths to the study of South America’s history
These fragments reveal important information about pre-Columbian occupation in the state and are commonly found by those living in Parintins
The city is also home to Brazil’s two most famous Boi
or sacred folkloric steer entities: the Caprichoso and the Garantido
The stage of a world-famous folkloric festival celebrating the Boi
Parintins is also becoming famous for the ancient remains driving an investigation that connects Amazonia’s past with its present
These archaeological sites offer a window into contexts involving food preparation like ancient gardens and kitchens
Inanimate testimonials of villages set in the past are generally found in so-called Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs)
soil concentrations filled with layers of meaningful evidence including remnants of charcoal fires
“ADEs are formed from the gradual accumulation of organic materials
Leftover food and utensils together with charcoal show that fire was used
there is always much archaeological material to study,” explains archaeologist Eduardo Góes Neves
who heads the University of São Paulo’s Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
some of these elements correlate with methods in use today
“Agricultural methods in Amazonia were probably similar to certain current practices
including growing plants in the backyard at home — sometimes in suspended gardens that were generally hung above abandoned canoes — for medicinal use or for seasoning food.”
In the land surrounding the sites like the one in Macurany
a community in a marshy area near Lake Parananema that lies 8 km (5 mi) from Parintins’ urban area
there is a concentration of trees including Brazil nut
This is evidence of anthropic forest management
this management altered landscapes and created markedly fertile soils
According to Professor Carlos “Tijolo” Augusto da Silva
an archaeologist at Amazonas Federal University
humanity’s role is to grow food together with the other creatures that share the environment
and its adapted use guarantees that some cultures prosper
This evidence reinforces the knowledge of original peoples that has been sustained until today: Managing natural resources promotes agro-biological diversification in Amazonia
“The Indigenous peoples developed farming techniques for many different plants
babassu palm [Attalea speciosa] and Brazil nuts [Bertholletia excelsa]
which are all still eaten today,” comments Tijolo
This archaeologist says he believes that original peoples were — and still are — the doctors of the rainforest
propagating knowledge that has been passed orally from generation to generation
“These are voices that must be heard by those living in urban areas
Ancient culture has suffered a secular massacre at the hands of Western society
It is fundamental to recognize [this culture] as a science of knowledge about the rainforest that helps the planet to breathe,” he states
The plurality of species found in these fields are evidence of the collective art of caring for the land
which is queen of the tables across all of Amazonia
People live near the farinha [cassava flour] mills
community meeting places maintained in the backyards of peoples’ homes
Elinair dos Santos Xavier lives in the community called Santa Rita de Cássia
Her family lives on the food they grow in their field
“We are still keeping the farinha mill at my mom’s house going
my mother and my daughter — producing flour
tucupi [a yellow sauce made from cassava root] and tapioca flour to sell at local businesses,” she says
The Santa Rita archaeological site is dense and extensive
occupying the top of a hill with lake access in an area full of plant species used for human consumption
fruits like tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) and inajá or maripa palm (Attalea maripa)
The recycling of organic material practiced by traditional populations feeds back into the rainforest
These people are agents of change and maintenance of Earth’s largest tropical rainforest
The more complex the archaeological context
the more varied the composition of plants in dynamic areas like backyards
Riverbank communities in Parintins live on top of archaeological sites where plants and pottery fragments offer a scenario for reading and understanding a multifaceted environment in constant transformation
these fragments make up a story of belonging that is carefully preserved by those who find them; they compose an ancestral inheritance
The people living here use them in their everyday activities like games in school
something that will be passed on to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren
because they are part of our history,” tells Elinair Xavier
The display she keeps on a bookcase in her living room is one of the largest household collections in the region
“I found many of them in my backyard and others were given to me for safekeeping,” she says
Xavier’s story is told among others on the pages of the book Fragments: archaeology, memories and stories from Parintins
The book is a path to expanding local knowledge and the memory preserved by the people who have deep contact with the artifacts
oftentimes kept in small rooms in their homes
Some keep them in drawers of bedside tables or shoeboxes
where they interact with snapshots and other treasured objects
Some prefer to place them under their pillow at bedtime to bring good luck
The riverbank communities participating in a project developed by researchers at Amazonas State University (UEA)
together with the Museum of the Amazon and the Emílio Goeldi Pará Museum
These collections changed the life of Clarice Bianchezzi
an undergraduate student asked my help in finishing her senior thesis
That was when I visited a community and we found many of what appeared to be ceramic urns
Bianchezzi has not only included Amazonian archaeology studies in the history curriculum
but she has also held workshops on pottery production so that students gain better understanding of the elements involved in this art
we aimed to make information available to the public as well as to look more closely at questions regarding the maintenance of these found remains in household museums inside the communities,” she says
Michel Carvalho Machado is a professor in the Pará Modular Indigenous Learning Organization System
His research directly influenced the conception of the project that became a book
He holds a master’s degree in sociocultural diversity from the Emilio Goeldi Museum and decided to study children’s relationships with these found pottery objects
Machado based his research on his personal family experience with these objects
“I remember my dad and grandfather talking about these fragments on the front porch when I was still very young
We have a family collection with some 300 objects that have been in my family for four generations,” he comments
He says all the pieces were catalogued and later registered at the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN)
“They may still become part of the collection at the Parintins Museum
which is expected to be inaugurated in 2024,” adds the researcher
who also happens to be the first person from his community to become an archaeologist
Machado explains that the artifacts hold important clues about the complex pottery production technology used by the original peoples
which date up to 3,000 years ago from the archaeological phase called Pocó-Açutuba and Konduri
show a connection between past populations and those still living in the region
“Many of the traits we see in the body painting used by Indigenous groups are evidence of those connections,” he points out
These clues allow us to conclude that the communities were part of a complex trade network
Macro-regional stylistic patterns emerged in the sociocultural relationships between peers in their production of objects — what we call tradition
There are 44 archaeological sites registered in the Parintins Archaeological Map
There are pottery pieces dating back to the Pocó-Açutuba
which were probably still manufactured at the time of the European invasion
Michel Machado points out that almost no one in the urban part of the city has contact with these archaeological artifacts but that because of the high concentration of dark earths in rural areas
Legacies from old ways of living come to life in the day-to-day of the people who use their inheritance in an intuitive manner
He says children are the biggest contributors to collections in rural communities
“They find fragments when they play and dig in the soil
Schools like Marcelino Henrique [located in Santa Rita de Cássia] also put together collections
holding contests to see who can find the most artifacts
This motivates kids to learn more about them,” he reflects
which was the first to look at ancient pottery from the region in a more plural context
which in turn generates better conservation of the artifacts
mostly because of Helena Lima’s research inside the communities
people have begun to understand that the artifacts belong where they are
they make replicas for selling to tourists instead of selling off the original pieces,” Machado explains
archaeology can offer many solutions to current conflicts
For the Emílio Goeldi Museum’s resident archaeologist Helena Lima
creating a new sort of relationship between museums and traditional empirical knowledge is the best way to preserve these and other pieces of historical evidence
Her life is dedicated to research in Amazonia
I was invited to Parintins for the first time by IPHAN
I remember an elderly person who didn’t want to allow me to do my work because of other archaeologists who had come through and taken away all the funeral urns they had found there
They completely took away the community’s access to the material
It was obvious to me that archaeology needed to change the way it related to communities.”
Lima has been carrying out a broad study in the Lago da Valéria region on the history of so-called “little faces,” in which she analyzes different aspects of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic representations (figures that resemble humans and animals) drawn on the pieces
“Pottery is a powerful tool for understanding social communication
revealing characteristics from which we can understand who these people were
Some are very similar even though they were found in geographically distant locations
This means there was contact between the groups
They also show us which techniques were particular to each group of people
which no one else knows how to make,” she explains
Silvana Zuse is an archaeology professor at Rondônia Federal University (UNIR) and studies pottery from the Madeira River
“Even though the Tupi-Guarani peoples originated in Rondônia
we have found technical differences and similarities
which is done in open fires in other parts of the country.”
UNIR’s technical collection has a number of collections from across the state of Rondônia
A good share of the artifacts were collected during periods of preventive archaeological studies because of roadway or transmission line construction or other works
“There is a wide variety of archaeological material ranging from the oldest
to the phases ranging from 3,500-500 years [BP]
The collection is strongly associated with the deep and continuing Indigenous presence in the region
with very culturally diverse stone and pottery materials
Some are related to the historical period when the Madeira-Marmoré Railway was built,” explains Zuse
The researcher also comments on archaeological sites like Teotônio
where the local population was affected by construction of the Santo Antonio Hydroelectric Plant
The people who lived there and cared for the territory were removed from the land
there is a large concentration of black earth mounds
The site has a great deal of botanical material and charcoal
The environmental impact [study] allowed for mining in the area and a lot of scientific evidence ended up being lost,” Zuse says
Archaeologist Thiago Kater is witness to the changes that happened in Teotônio
Curious about the history of populations that had no systems of writing
which lies near the capital city of Porto Velho
forms a sort of peninsula and a plateau where there is evidence of human occupation dating to approximately 9,000 years ago
A waterfall existed there until 2012 that had a long history of impressive numbers of fish populations
people could be seen catching fish with their hands there
was an essential element that organized life around it; its flooding interrupted a process that had been going on for thousands of years,” the researcher stresses
The intense traffic of people attracted by the abundance of fish there means these two sites are rich in pottery fragments from nearly all the pre-Columbian Amazonian periods
“Teotônio can be considered a microcosm of the region
the entire sequence of Amazonian pottery technology can be seen
including the Pocó-Açutuba and Jatuarana subtraditions
which belong to the Polícroma da Amazônia tradition — both are pan-Amazonian
meaning they are found in regions outside the boundaries of the Legal Amazon
This abundance of historical elements makes Teotônio a school-site because extensive research can be carried out in just one location
is coordinated by archaeologist Eduardo Góes Neves together with Professor Fernando Almeida from Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ)
Amazonia’s best continuous records of Dark Earth formations have been found in Rondônia
“The site is immense and we still don’t know how large an area was occupied
What is most important is that we can use this material for many years of study,” Neves states
The research is part of a study in the region titled “Indigenous Peoples and the Environment in Ancient Amazonia (PIMA)”
also led by Neves together with Professor Francis Mayle from Reading University in the U.K
The people living in the New Teotônio Villa take part in the digs
“We make it a point to work with them when we are excavating
The residents of the villa also help us with logistics; some participate in the digs
two Tupi-Guarani peoples from this region,” Neves says
Fieldwork at the site brings together professors and students from different universities
which has some 2,000 pieces from the site in its collection
sites like those in Rondônia and Parintins are at risk not only because of urban sprawl and infrastructure works
but also because of the climate changes affecting Amazonia
executive secretary of the Climate Observatory
comments on the fact that we have not slowed global warming and continue cutting down trees
Astrini says he believes we must see the forest as a single living organism — a body whose organs are not functioning so well anymore
the accumulation of these small malfunctions will cause the body to stop working
“You don’t just wake up one day out of the blue with everything sideways
These changes worsen progressively until they become dramatic
that’s what we are seeing in the Amazon today.”
This reality is placing the existence of Amazonian Dark Earths and the ecosystem services that they offer at risk
“there are still concrete solutions for Amazonia
and understanding the past can help plan for a sustainable future there.”
This report is part of the “Amazon: Fire Against Fire” project and was produced with funding from the Rainforest Journalism Fund together with the Pulitzer Center
Journalist Gabriela Di Bella collaborated on this report
Banner image: a piece from a private collection in Santa Rita de Cássia
This story was reported by Mongabay’s Brazil team and first published here on our Brazil site on Apr
The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa
as protected areas become battlegrounds over history
and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss
Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins
and trying to forge a path forward […]
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December 23, 2020JPEG
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photograph of the lower Amazon River in Brazil
The 190-kilometer (120-mile) span of river pictured here is in the vicinity of Parintins
Annual flooding covers much of the wide floodplain that flanks the river. During these flooding events, the main channel of the Amazon delivers muddy water to adjacent lakes, such as Lago Grande Urucurituba, Lago do Madabá Grande, and Lago Tureré. Astronaut photographs of the same area, such as this sunglint image
show that the lakes expand to cover areas three or four times larger during peak flooding
Smaller rivers—such as the Andirá (lower left) and Nhamundá (top right) contain dark, nearly sediment-free water
these rivers drain the forests (not the Andes Mountains) and carry almost no sediment
View this area in EO Explorer
The mighty Amazon River carries a huge amount of sediment and occasionally delivers muddy water to nearby lakes
Storms brought flooding to Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in November 2023
continuing a trend of wet weather in the region
forms from the confluence of the Solimões (the upper Amazon River) and the Negro at the Brazilian city of Manaus in central Amazonas
tan-colored waters of the Solimões meet the “black” water of the Negro River
The unique mixing zone where the waters meet extends downstream through the rainforest for hundreds of kilometers
and is a famous attraction for tourists from all over the world
The tourism contributes to substantial growth in the city of Manaus
Twenty years ago the large park near the city center (center) lay on the eastern outskirts of Manaus
The Menindee Lakes in New South Wales are facing extremely low water levels
Two rivers meet near the port city of Santarém in the interior of Brazil
If Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval is the greatest party in the world
then Boi Bumbá (beat the bull) is a close second
thousands of Brazilians flock to the small Amazonian river town of Parintins
Amazonas—halfway between Santarém and Manaus—to celebrate Brazil’s second-largest annual festival
Boi Bumbá pits the city’s two samba schools—the Garantido and the Caprichoso—against each other over three nights of dazzling theatrical competition
Both schools reenact a local legend about the resurrection of a favorite ox that was slaughtered to satisfy the cravings of a ranch hand’s pregnant wife
Although the origins of the Boi Bumbá story are widely disputed
the legend is said to have been introduced to the region by a family of rubber traders who migrated from northeastern Brazil in 1913
the festival—which is best accessed by boat—has evolved into a fusion of Indigenous
African and contemporary Brazilian popular cultures
The competition is played out at the bull-shaped
before an audience that regularly tops 35,000 spectators
three-hour-long interpretation of the legend each night
and choreographing dances to booming rhythm sections
But there are no impartial observers at this celebration
Fans split in support of the two teams—each led by an ox—and play an integral part in the show by dancing
singing and waving handkerchiefs and candles when their team is performing
the judges choose a winner based on 22 categories
But it’s on the fourth day that the fun really starts
with the winning team leading a street parade and a city-wide party
Garantido will defend its crown at the festival’s 50th anniversary
Zachary Bleckner is a contributing blogger to AQ Online
Americas Quarterly (AQ) is the premier publication on politics
We are an independent publication of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas
PUBLISHED BY AMERICAS SOCIETY/ COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS
this annual festival is a non-stop three-day annual party and one of the largest in the world – yet hardly anyone outside of Amazonas knows about it
Here are 10 things to know about the legendary Festival do Boi Bumba
It has several names In addition to Festival do Boi Bumba
it’s also known as Parintins Folklore Festival or Bumba Meu Boi
it’s often referred to as simply ‘festival’
The performance by Garantido, the red team in Festival do Bumba Boi | © Bianca Paiva/Agência Brasil / WikiCommons
It’s located near the Amazon rainforest The festival takes place in a municipality called Parintins in the Amazonas state of Brazil. Surrounding the municipality is the Amazon rainforest and the region is made up of dense vegetation
The Festival do Boi Bumba is one of the largest festivals in Brazil, second only to Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. It attracts more participants than Carnival does in Sao Paulo, Recife, and Belo Horizonte
some of Brazil’s largest and most populous cities
Caprichoso is one of the two teams that perform and blue is its colors | © Ministério da Cultura / WikiCommons
It takes place over three days The festival is a non-stop party over three days and takes place at the end of June
the Festival do Boi Bumba will begin on Friday June 29th until Sunday July 1st
Although the story has uncountable versions
the whole festival is based on the story of an ox who died and was later resurrected
and how he came back to life is totally open to interpretation – and it’s this storytelling that is the whole point of the festival as two teams attempt to win with their own version of what happened
The Festival do Bumba Boi is based on the story of a resurrected ox | © Yesydrodriguez / WikiCommons
There are two teams that compete to win The Festival do Bumba Boi has two teams – Garantido (whose fans dress in red) and Caprichoso (whose fans dress in blue) – and they compete to tell their version of the story of the resurrected ox
and giant floats to present their story to a panel of judges during the parades
Each team has to give six performances over the three days and the judges will decide who had the most exciting and most concise act
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The elaborate props used in the performances at Festival do Bumba Boi | © Ministério da Cultura / WikiCommons
Each performance lasts two and a half hours Each team has two and a half hours to present their performance to the judges
then they face time penalties and precious points will be deducted from their overall score
The Carnival parades in Rio de Janeiro take place in the Sambodromo; yet in Parintins
a wide avenue with spectator stands on either side
The whole parade stadium can fit 35,000 people and parties take place outside as well
The parades take place in the Bumdodromo | © Bianca Paiva/Agência Brasil / WikiCommons
Buy tickets in advance To watch the parades in the Bumbodromo
There are several choices of tickets from VIP stands (known as ‘camarotes‘) to standard seating and a space for standing
Prices vary accordingly and it’s best to purchase tickets in advance to avoid any disappointment
it’s easy to get lost in everything that’s going on
The best way to make the most of Festival do Bumba Boi is to prepare in advance by deciding which team you’re going to support and reading about their performances to be able to follow the story of the parades better
simply enjoy the festivities and electric vibe of the street parties outside
Sarah is a British freelance journalist and writer based in Rio de Janeiro
Her favourite travel experiences so far include swimming with whale sharks in Mexico
trekking through Rio's urban forest and enjoying the city life in Madrid
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Rio’s Carnival is world-famous. But every year, far from Rio, there’s another spectacular show in Brazil’s Amazon region. It is called the “Boi-Bumba”. It takes place in the remote island city of Parintins.
CCTV America’s Stephen Gibbs discovered an event from Parintins that forces people to take sides for all year long.
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As far up the Amazon River as an ocean-going cruise ship can get
the city itself has only a few cultural attractions
less ideal for independent wandering ashore
The dock is connected to the shore by a covered bridge
high-end (and delightfully air-conditioned) shopping center
Stern and other upscale retailers are well represented; there's also a bar and an Internet/phone center
But a quick exit brings passengers immediately onto the streets of the city
The city has no real differentiation between seasons; it is either rainy season or not
Wear loose clothing (shorts and T-shirts are fine) and a hat
And a related warning: Cultural buildings are either not air-conditioned or only minimally so
All of the main sights are within walking distance of the dock
ATM's are usually found in bank lobbies
especially along the Rua 24 de Maio; there are none in the market areas
Many ATM's take only cards with credit card logos
Unless you plan on spending a lot of cash in restaurants or shops
you can survive with a small supply of U.S
Most cultural sights take both reals and dollars
someone is always eager to exchange dollars for the local currency
The official language is Brazilian Portuguese
There always seems to be someone nearby in the markets to translate as needed
Ships dock at the Porto Flutuante (floating docks)
an ingenious structure that rises and falls with the greatly fluctuating river level
A stone retaining wall at the end of the bridge from the dock indicates the high water marks from 1902
Check out the number and sizes of riverboats that are docked with your ship; Manaus is the market center for the entire Amazon region
and river dwellers travel up to five days to buy supplies there
Amazing part of the world The Amazon River
Viking Sea Adventure from Puerto Rico up the Brazilian Amazon and Return
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An actor of Caprichoso team performs during the Parintins Folklore Festival in Parintins
a popular annual celebration held in the Brazilian city of Parintins
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and maybe Carnival in Rio de Janeiro comes to mind
possibly even more spectacular show is put on in the country’s Amazon region
It’s called the Boi-Bumba and it takes place on the remote
Stephen Gibbs takes us to this unusual location in Latin America
It has a population of only 80,000 and can only be reached by boat or airplane
While Boi-Bumba may look like a celebratory spectacle
it’s actually an annual event based on years of community rivalry
It exists between the Garantidos and the Caprichosos
They distinguish themselves with the colors red and blue
and even mark their territory in Parintins by painting objects and buildings in red and blue
Boi-Bumba is a dazzling and dramatic display of the competition between the two sides
dancers and performers convey mythical stories steeped in tradition
The growing number of visitors to the festival as well as a large stream of corporate sponsors have put pressure on the town to innovate Boi-Bumba while keeping true to the tradition
Follow Boi-Bumba in Parintins on This Website
Date
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