Patricia is telling Zach about Brazil's second largest festivity after the Carnival of Rio. |
| Patricia, do you have any holiday plans? |
| Yes, actually, I'm going to go back home to Brazil for a week or two. I want to be there for the June Festival, or Festa Junina, as we call it. |
| I don't think I've ever heard of it. And you know I’m an avid festival-goer! What kind of festival is it? |
| It was actually introduced by the Portuguese, in the 16th century. It wasn't observed in Brazil before that. Basically, on this day we celebrate rural life. We dress up like farmers, have a feast and dance to celebrate marriage. |
| Is there some special kind of dance? Like, a couples dance? |
| Yes, a set of couples dance around the bride and groom. It’s a mock wedding, actually. And before the dance, there’s a theatrical performance that explains the story of the ‘couple’. |
| Sounds interesting! So, this is a traditional, old style of dancing? |
| Yes, it’s a few centuries old. We also light fireworks and dance around bonfires, too. The name of the dance, Forró, comes from the word for “party” or “commotion”. |
| Nice! And how's the food? |
| It's so good! As June is the month when corn crops are harvested, there’s a wide variety of corn-based dishes: corn porridge, cakes, boiled or roasted corn, and so on. And traditionally, we drink mulled wine too. Oh, by the way, since this holiday coincides with the ending of the rainy season, we also celebrate the rain. |
| Here, the rainy season is just starting then. Luckily, now I know where to go if I want to escape it! |
| To us, the rain is a blessing, as we face very long periods of drought. Anyway, I'd be happy to have you as my guest if you ever decide to come! |
