The culture of the Northeast has its own characteristics inherited from the interaction of the culture of Portuguese colonists, blacks and Indians.
It is important to note that culture represents a complex web. It includes knowledge, customs, arts, beliefs, religious cults, popular literature, dances and habits of a certain group.
The culture of the Brazilian Northeast (which comprises the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia) has developed its own habits in relation to the world and cultural manifestations. These habits were passed down from generation to generation.
Cultural Manifestations of the Northeast
The cultural manifestations that stand out the most in the northeastern region of Brazil are: festa juninas, Reisado, popular poetry, handicrafts, capoeira, frevo, culinary and Afro-Brazilian religions.
June parties
The June festivals, the main festivals representing the culture of the Northeast, are celebrated in the month of June.
They are celebrated with typical dances such as the quadrilha and forró, flags, balloons and fireworks. The June festivals pay homage to the following Catholic saints: Santo Antônio (06/13), São João (06/24) and São Pedro (06/29).
Corn and coconut foods are typical of the season. Among them the hominy, the mush, the corn cake and the broccoli prepared with cassava dough, roasted corn, boiled corn, quentão etc.
The city of Caruaru, state of Pernambuco, is considered the capital of forró. The city of Campina Grande, in Paraíba, is recognized for making the largest São João in the world.
Reisado:
Reisado is a Catholic festival that celebrates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus . This party is part of the culture of the Northeast, being celebrated in some states, among them Alagoas and Piauí.
Reisado or Folia dos Reis brings together a group of revelers dressed in typical clothes adorned with ribbons and mirrors. They visit the homes of hospitable people, dancing and singing the typical songs of the party.
Popular Poetry
Popular poetry is represented by string literature, recited or published in leaflets. This type of poetry reports the customs and beliefs of the people, in which the characters can be real or fictional.
The repentistas are the singers who divulge the popular poetry of the culture of the Northeast.
Crafts:
The handicrafts of the Northeast Region are quite diverse. The region produces decorative and utilitarian works made in ceramics, wood, shells, lace, among other materials.
The art of lace was brought by the Portuguese, where the lacemaker woman is a typical character of the culture of the Northeast.
Capoeira
Capoeira, originally from Africa, brought by the slaves, is a rhythmic struggle, with acrobatics, played to the sound of the berimbau, tambourine and palms.
It is very widespread in Bahia, a state with a large number of African descendants.
Frevo:
The frevo is a typical dance of the Pernambuco carnival. It was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This dance is characterized by its fast pace, where passers perform acrobatic steps, taking in one hand the typical colorful umbrella of the frevo.
Cooking
Northeastern cuisine was developed under the influence of Portuguese, African and indigenous food.
The consumption of roots, the preparation of spicy and spicy foods, the foods of corn and coconut, couscous, mush and hominy are legacies that have been adapted in each state.
Examples of roots are: manioc, yam, sweet potatoes. As for well-seasoned foods, we can mention: acarajé, vatapá, shrimp bobó, fish stew, sururu.
Afro-Brazilian Religions:
Among the African cults brought by slaves, and rooted in the culture of the Northeast, candomblé and umbanda stand out. Their rituals, hierarchies and ceremonies revere their deities.