Boi Bumba- A Must-See Spectacle!
Boi Bumba is an exciting festival where there are two teams , each team wearing either red or blue. These groups then compete against one another to come up with the best costumes, dances, floats and more.
Parintins, State of Amazonas, Brazil Friday, March 3, 2017
The City
The small village of Parintins is in the center of many miles of rain forest in the Amazon. It is situated 420 km from Manaus. Regional boats are the most common used mode of transportation . Its population is just about 100,000 but it nearly doubles once a year with the beginning of the Parintins Folk Festival. This spectacular competition is akin to the Super Bowl in the United States or the World Soccer Cup competition. This celebration has its roots in the cattle ranching tradition of the area and an ancient competition between two families that began just prior to 1920s.
The Festival
It is the second largest festival in Brazil, and is only dwarfed by the Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro. Called the Festival do Boi Bumbá or Ox Bang Up. It takes place for three days at the end of June every year. The festival is a competition between two teams, the Garantido and the Caprichoso. They each try to put on the best three hour show possible telling the story of the legend of the “bride and the ox”. It is an art form and elaborate floats are constructed, intricate dances are choreographed and boisterous songs provides the background for the elaborate displays.
The CAPRICHOSO and GARANTIDO bumbás perform for six hours every night in an authentic Amazon ritual. The figures of Father Francisco, Mother Catarina, Tribal chieftains, Cunhã Poranga (pretty young girl), shamans and their countless tribes talk about, legends and indigenous rituals. People dance in cycles along with the sound of the chants and “palminha” instrument to the indigenous rhythm of cateretê, to the beat of carimbó (a hollow log drum) and to the marches.
The Show
For this one hour show exclusive for HAL Prinsendam passengers, we welcomed the 2016 Boi Bumba winner. The captivating story of two disputing families unfolded before us, a dispute that resulted in a competition of two man-made bulls, one black and one white. The resurrection of the ox is the central figure. A slave named Pai Francisco kills his owners prized ox at the request of his pregnant wife, Mae Catarina, who craves an ox tongue. Pai Francisco is captured but because the bull is resuscitated, he escapes punishment.
Just as the costumes and chants transmits the heritage of the Amazonians and their land, every step, every sway of the hips and every turn of the hands is purposeful.
Amazonian animals and colorful folkloric characters were depicted in a broad scope making it the most wonderful cultural presentation of Brazil. The floats, costumes music and dancing were all over the top. The velvet, hand beaded ox costume and massive beaded, feathered hats worn by the performers rival those in Carnival in Rio. It was definitely a feast for the eyes and the senses.
Overall, it was a unique tribal ritual, a fairy tale and a combination of folk art with an incredible musical and theatrical performance! It was intense and a mesmerizing spectacle not to be missed!