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Brazilian Folklore

The oldest origin of Halloween dates back to the Celts, a people who inhabited areas of Ireland, Scotland and Northern France. They celebrated the festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Samhain was a celebration to welcome the spirits of the dead back to Earth. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the spirits of the past year's dead returned to Earth to visit their former homes and loved ones. In addition to the spirits of the dead, other supernatural beings, including evil spirits, were believed to roam the Earth as the barriers between the real and supernatural worlds were weakened. People lit fires and wore scary clothes to scare away malevolent spirits. People also disguised themselves by wearing masks to avoid being recognized by malevolent spirits. Additionally, one way to ward off evil spirits was to carve scary faces into turnips.

The Pink Dolphin is a legend of Brazilian folklore. The legend is particularly popular in the Amazon region of Brazil. Legend often narrates that, during festive nights, especially during the São João festivities, dolphins emerge from the rivers and transform into young, attractive men. They wear white clothes and hats to hide the tops of their heads, which remain pink. These disguised dolphins attend parties, dance and seduce women. The legend includes many accounts of pregnant women who claim to have been seduced by these male-transformed porpoises. In some versions of the legend, these women marry the dolphins and only discover the truth when the pink dolphin returns to the river. Hence the custom of saying, when a woman has a child from an unknown father, that he is "son of the dolphin".

Cuca is an important figure in Brazilian folklore, known as a witch who can take the form of an old woman or a sorceress with the head of an alligator. She lives in dark places, like swamps or rivers, and comes out at night to capture children who don't obey their parents or misbehave. The legend of Cuca was popularized in Brazil by the book "O Saci" by Monteiro Lobato, where Cuca is described as a witch with frightening characteristics. In his book "Geografia dos Mitos Brasileiros", Luís da Câmara Cascudo (1898-1986) says that Cuca is a myth of Portuguese origin related to Santa Coca, a figure who appeared in processions in the province of Minho, in Portugal.

The legend of the werewolf arose in Greece, which said that the werewolf was a king called Lycaon, who became infamous for his cruelty, murdering all travelers who sought shelter in his home. Zeus disguised himself as a traveler and visited the palace to verify the stories. During dinner, Zeus noticed that Lycaon tried to serve him human flesh, which enraged him. In retaliation, Zeus destroyed Lycaon's palace, cursed him, and turned him into a wolf. According to Brazilian legend, when a mother has 7 daughters and finally a son, this will be a werewolf. Once transformed into a werewolf on the night of the full moon, he goes out looking for victims. In the North, the werewolf would be a man who has poor health with anemia and, once transformed, feeds on the blood of other humans. In the South, the fact that turns a man into a werewolf would be incest. Popular culture has spread that he can only be killed by sharp objects or a bullet made of silver.

The legend of the Headless Mule is a story from Brazilian folklore, also known as "priest's donkey." The Headless Mule is a supernatural creature, a type of horse or mule with fire coming out of its neck instead of a head. She recounts the transformation of a woman into a mule with flames for a head, as punishment for intimate involvement with Church priests. The curse occurs on a night from Thursday to Friday, and the Headless Mule remains in that state until the rooster crows. During the transformation, the mule takes on a terrifying form, attacking anyone who crosses its path with powerful kicks. There are variations to the story, but in general, the legend highlights the punishment and terror associated with breaking religious vows and illicit involvement.

Iara is a beautiful mermaid who lives in the waters of the Amazon, especially the rivers in the region. She is described as a young, seductive woman with long black hair. Iara has the power to hypnotize men with her charming singing and irresistible appearance. According to legend, she was a warrior who received much praise from her shaman father, and ended up arousing the envy of her brothers. One night, when she was sleeping, she heard her brothers entering her cabin with the intention of killing her. She defended herself by killing her brothers. Then she fled to the woods in fear of her father, who found her and as punishment threw her into the black river and Solimões. The fish brought Iara's body to the surface and then, under the reflection of the full moon, she transformed into a mermaid. She is seen as an ambiguous figure, sometimes seductive, sometimes deadly. The legend is used to warn men about the dangers of the waters.

The legend of the Minhocão is a story that is part of Brazilian folklore, especially in the Amazon region. The Minhocão is described as a legendary creature, a giant serpent that inhabits the depths of the earth and is associated with rivers and waterways. The legend of the Minhocão involves the idea that this creature lives below ground, digging immense underground tunnels. It is known to cause earthquakes and land subsidence as it moves beneath the surface. In some versions of the legend, the creature is seen as a threat, destroying homes and causing natural disasters. In other versions, the Minhocão is more neutral and is considered part of the mythical ecosystem of the Amazon region. This legend is often told in communities in the Amazon region.

The legend of the Blue Gralha is a popular story in the southern region of Brazil, especially in Paraná. She highlights the importance of the Blue Jackdaw in protecting forests, acting as sentinels against invaders during conflicts between indigenous people and Europeans. It is said that a rook received a pine nut from Mother Nature to satisfy his hunger. The bird, which was very happy and satisfied with the food, ate half of the pine nut and buried the other to feed on later, but forgot where it had hidden the rest of the fruit. In this way, he planted a forest of araucaria while hiding pine nuts. As a reward, the bird that was previously a brown bird was transformed into the beautiful Blue Crow. Legend attributes luck to those who see this bird, considering them protected by the forests.

The legend of Curupira is an important part of Brazilian folklore and is a mythical character who protects forests and wildlife. The Curupira is often represented as a small being, with red hair and feet facing backwards, which makes it difficult to track in the forest. His peculiar physical features are a defining feature of the legend. Curupira's main role is to protect the forest and its inhabitants, especially the animals. He is known for being a guardian of the forests and usually punishes hunters and loggers who disrespect nature. Curupira is considered a benign figure, but his antics can be dangerous. He is known for creating illusions to confuse hunters and make them get lost in the forest.

The legend of Saci-Pererê is an important part of Brazilian folklore, with roots in indigenous, African and Portuguese cultures. Saci-Pererê is a mythological character, represented as a mischievous boy with one leg who wears a red hat, which grants him magical powers. He is known for his pranks, such as messing up horses' manes, playing pranks on people, and making objects disappear. The Saci creates whirlpools when it passes quickly and, according to legend, can be caught by throwing a sieve into the whirlpool, removing its cap and placing it in a bottle to trap it. The legend of Saci is used to teach moral lessons and reflects Brazil's cultural diversity. Saci Day, celebrated on October 31st, is an alternative to Halloween and pays homage to this iconic character.

Brazilian folk songs are popular compositions, often of unknown origin, originating in the interior regions of Brazil and transmitted from generation to generation over time. They play a significant role in popular culture, being used for recreational purposes, such as games and games, as well as for simple fun. These songs are characterized by simple and highly repetitive lyrics, which makes memorization easier. They generally address everyday themes, such as love, dating, marriage and relationships, with some of them incorporating characters from Brazilian folklore. Most Brazilian folk music is accompanied by the sound of a caipira viola or a guitar.

The Parintins Folklore Festival , held annually in the city of Parintins, Amazonas, is famous for its bois-bumbás performances. On the last weekend of June, there is a competition between two rival oxen, the Boi Garantido (red and white) and the Boi Caprichoso (blue and white), who perform in their own "bumbódromos". The performances, elaborate and involving hundreds of participants, include dancers, singers, musicians and artisans, narrating folk stories from the region through theatrical performances, dances and traditional music. A jury evaluates each presentation based on criteria such as creativity, originality and musical harmony. In addition to the presentations of the bois-bumbás, the event features float parades, craft fairs, regional dances and musical shows.