Festa Junina vs the 4th of July

I know Festa Junina and the 4th of July are different holidays, but there are some definite similarities. Here's how Festa Junina quenched my cravings for a 4th of July.

1. Crap food. There's a lot of crap food at Festa Juninas. They even have a huge sausage (very hot dog like) on a stick. Given it feels a bit more x-rated to eat than a hot dog but that just adds to the humor of it all.

2. Fireworks. No, not the ones in the sky. Festa Junina opens the doors for obnoxious kids to light things like black cats in any available corner or trash can. Felt like my childhood all over again, minus my brothers blowing up the heads of my barbies.

3. Annoying clothes. While it's not red, white, and blue everywhere it is plaid as far as the eye can see. Festa Junina replaces the overly patriotic shirts and hats with square-dancing gear. I have to say, I think Festa Junina wins out in the costume competition.

4. Beer. This category is kind of weak seeing that beer flows in Rio de Janeiro like water in the rest of the world. Festa Junina is no different, beer is very much included, even at my kids' school party.

5. Fun. Both are a blast if you go to the right party. This years Festa Junina was great. My kids even did a little dance with their classmates. And while we missed the 4th, we did get to dress like country folk and have a good old-fashioned time playing old school carnival games and eating treats.

Wordless Wednesday: Festa Junina

Thank you for the photos: http://chocantess.blogspot.com/, http://www.trekearth.com/members/rico/, http://www.thingsofbrazil.com/, http://laarihbelezoti.blogspot.com/

June, the month of Balloons and Fire

A big tissue paper balloon filled with oil and set on fire.  That just sounds like a great idea!

The police found another one of these illegal balloons the other day in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro.

The lighting and flying of these traditional Festa Junina balloons is illegal and one of the things police try to focus on in the month of June.  The balão is filled with air and has a little basket filled with oil. The oil is then set on fire to make the balloon glow. It's then released into the sky.  I imagine it's beautiful to watch.  What I can't imagine are people not realizing that what goes up, must come down.  And in this case, it comes down on fire. 

Fans of the balloons are trying to get the law overturned. They feel they can not have Festa Junina without them.  'This law goes against our national traditions and is an act of aggression against Brazilian culture and identity,'' said Humberto Pinto, director of the Society of Friends of the Balloon, which is lobbying to have the law revoked. ''You can't have the Festas Juninas without balloons in the skies: it is like trying to have Carnival without the samba or the parade floats.''

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with Mr. Humberto Dumbass Pinto.  There are so many aspects to Festa Junina that I think you can forgo sending a big ball of fire into the sky. It's like playing Russian Balloon roulette.  Who's getting taken out this time? A house, a plane, the forest, or all of the above?

It's hard to have your traditions taken away.  That I get.  On the other hand, we're hopefully getting smart with time and this is one tradition that has to go.

Here's a link to videos of the last fire said to be caused by these balloons: Dos Cabritos hill fire
And check out this NY times article on the subject: Rio Journal

Festa Junina Baby!

Festa Junina is around the corner and I couldn't be more excited!  Festa Junina means June party. It's a party mocking the country folk of Brazil. Ok, that's not really what it is but that's what it is in my eyes.  Let's break this down.  Brazilians dress up in ridiculous outfits, paint freckles on their faces, and sometimes even black out teeth. I really don't think they are honoring them.

Regardless, it's a hell of a good time. There are parties all over the city, in the way only Brazilians can do it. There's live music, games for kids, lots of drinks, dancing, and really really good bad-for-you food. It's one of my favorite festivals. I get to dress myself and my kids up like hicks.  There's also the old school fun games like fishing for toys and such. 

Here's the real lowdown on Festa Junina:

Festa Junina is a month long celebration in Brazil for Saint John (São João) , Peter and Anthony.

It was introduced to the country by the Portuguese during the colonial period: Who says the Portuguese never did anything good for Brazil.

São João celebrates marital union. The "quadrilha" features couple formations around a mock wedding whose bride and groom are the central attraction of the dancing.

Quadrilha is a dance like square dancing.

In my region you'll eat Canjica (a corn style pudding with large chunks of corn and made with coconut milk), Popcorn, Peanut brittle, milk fudge, candied fruits, Cajuzinho (candy made with peanuts),  Brazilian tapioca (it's white and looks like a pancake. You can put anything and everything on it but most eat it with dolce de leite or butter), among other things.

And then there's quentao. It's a crazy drink made of hot cachaça, cinnamon, ginger, lemon, orange, and pieces of apple. 

Take it or leave it people, I'm going to party like a hillbilly.