Festa Junina
Keylla Leal Sola
My favorite cultural celebration is Festas Junina in Brazil. The festival takes place in June. These festivals are traditional because they have lots of food, sweets, bonfires, music, dances, colorful decorations, colorful flags, games, friends, and family. They can be held at home or near churches, making them a great event. During this month, the Catholic Church celebrates three saints: Saint Anthony – known for being the matchmaker saint, Saint John – whose birthday is celebrated on June 24th, and Saint Peter – one of the 12 apostles of Jesus who was later considered the first pope of Catholicism. Last year in the U.S., I celebrated my birthday with this theme, and invited friends in my backyard with a big party, a bonfire, a lot of food and fun. My favorite sweet at these parties is “paçoca”, a sweet made with peanuts, or “curau”, a sweet made with corn. My favorite food is “green soup”, a soup prepared with potato, kale and bacon, or ” cuscuz”, prepared with corn flakes, cheese and jerky. The most traditional activity is Junina dancing around a bonfire and staging a funny wedding. Also, people wear colorful or plaid clothes, with lots of decorations and enjoy the party. Even though the party was at home last year, it felt special because of the lively atmosphere and the children having lots of fun. In conclusion, Festa Juninas are always full of joy and love and bring everyone together to remember this traditional Brazilian festival.