June
and July are festive months in Brazil. Throughout the country, festivals are
made to celebrate saints and new plantation seasons, following a tradition that
started in Europe even before Brazil was discovered.
Background
Festas Juninas, or June
Festivals, are Catholic traditions that were brought to Brazil in the 16th
century, when the country was a colony of Portugal. These festivals were made to celebrate
the days of four saints: Saint Anthony, on June 13; Saint John, on June
24; Saint Peter and Saint Paul, on June 29. Festas Juninas were called joaninas due
to the name of the only saint celebrated, originally: São João (Saint
John).
More
than that, the festivals happened to celebrate the rituals of the people who
already lived in the continent before the colonizers arrived. The celebrations
were made for the preparation of the new plantations and harvests. Many places
in Brazil face drought from June to September, so this period is used to clear
the grounds, fertilize them, and then start planting in them.