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Festivals for Iabás

Iyabá, meaning “Queen Mother” in Yoruba, is a term given to all feminine orixás in Candomblé, such as Iansã (Oyá), Oxúm, and Yemanjá. During the first and second week of December these deities, along with their Catholic counterparts are celebrated.

Every December 4, thousands of Bahians attend mass and make carurus (a typical Bahian dish, of African origin, made with okra, dried shrimp, and spices) in honor of Saint Barbara and Iansã, considered to be among the most highly revered divinities in Bahia. She is the protector of firemen and the patron saint of the markets. In Candomblé, Iansã is a warrior woman who brings sudden changes and transformation. She fights with Xangô (orixá of thunder), and represented in nature as lightning, wind, and storms. Nowadays, the celebrations last 3 days and begin with the mass in the Church Nossa Senhor do Rosário dos Pretos, in Pelourinho, where the image of St. Barbara is displayed. From there, a procession is led throughout the streets of the center, passing in front of the firemen headquarters. At the end of the religious festival, the traditional caruru is given out and the celebration continues to the rhythms of samba and capoeira.

On December 8, Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia (Our Lady of Conception) is the patron saint of Bahia and celebrated at the beach. Both Oxúm (the orixá of love, prosperity, sweetness, and represented by the river and waterfalls) and Yemanjá (the orixá of motherhood, rebirth, creation, and represented in nature by the beach and the sea) are associated with the celebrations. On November 30, devotees pray for nine consecutive evenings at the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and close  their prayers with a mass and procession. At the vicinity of the Mercado Modelo (Model Market) the party continues with typical Bahian food and music.

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National Day of the Samba

On December 2, National Samba Day celebrates one of most significant musical rhythms for Brazilian culture and is commemorated with public shows of famous musicians in the historical center of Salvador. The National Day of Samba came about as the initiative of one councilman from Bahia, Luis Monteiro da Costa, to pay tribute to the Brazilian composer Ary Barroso.  Barroso had already composed his first hit called Na Baixa do Sapateiro, an ode to the city of Salvador even though he had never set foot in Bahia at the time.  December 2nd was the date he visited Salvador for the first time and the party was spread throughout Brazil and became a national samba celebration.

Brazilian Popular Music – also known by its acronym MBP, has several musical genres, like marcha, canção, baião, xaxado, embolada, frevo, etc…The most remarkable, although, and which became the mark for singing and dancing in Brazil is the Samba.  Samba resulted from the first African samba de rodas in Bahia in the end of 16th century and the beginning of 17th and was later combined with lundu, polka, habanera, tango, and maxixe. Furthermore, throughout centuries, Afro-Brazilians in Bahia would have dancing parties that were also called samba.  From 1538 to 1888, enslaved Africans came from different nations and tribes, in which cultures were different one from each other.  Therefore, their various habits and customs had influence in Brazilian art and culture becoming part of the Brazilian Popular Music and Carnaval.

Bahia’s “old aunties” (such as Tia Ciata), who moved to Rio de Janeiro, planted the seed of the samba in the neighborhoods near the center of the city. Moreover, in the 20th century, by mixing profane and religious festivals with song and dance for both pleasure and for faith, the “aunties” started the development of samba players who grew in number and popularity through the 1920’s and beyond.

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Santos Cosme e Damião (and Caruru!)

The festa of São Cosme and São Damião (Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian) occurs on the 27th of September. It’s a day when everybody eats carurú, a kind of vegetable stew made from quiabo (okra), dried shrimp, dendê oil, and ground cashews. However, whenever someone says they are having a carurú, they mean that guests are served a traditional plate that includes this food (plus vatapá, among other things). It’s one of many traditional Bahian holidays celebrated by people coming together in family, food, and friendship. Since the two saints were twin brothers, Cosme and Damião are syncretized with the orixá of twin children called Ibeji.

RECIPE – CARURU

2 lbs. okra, trimmed and cut into small rounds

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger

1 lb. dried small smoked shrimp (found in African or International markets), ground in food processor

1/2 lb. roasted, unsalted, cashews, ground in food processor

3/4 cup dendê oil

juice of one lime

hot water

Heat the dendê oil in a large heavy saucepan, add the onion and garlic and fry until soft. Add the ginger and cook for an additional minute or two. Add the okra, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the okra is soft. Add the ground shrimp and cashews, and cook for an additional five minutes. Add water just to cover. Continue to cook at low temperature, checking consistency. If the dish becomes very thick and slippery, add the lime juice. Let cook until the okra seeds change color from white to rosy-pink, about 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Source: http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com/2009/10/recipe-caruru.html

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Obaluayê

August 16 is generally when many celebrate the feast for Omolu/Obaluayê (who is associated with St. Lazarus and St. Roche).

Obaluayê (oh-baloo-ai-YAY) is the praise name meaning “King of the Earth” and is strongly associated with infectious disease and healing, as well as the earth itself. Legend has it that Obaluayê was born to Nanã Buruku who abandoned him as a baby as he had wounds all over his body. Yemanjá found him and covered him in straw and took care of him as her own. Because of that, he became the orixá of diseases and the healing of them. Also referred to as Omolu, meaning “son of the Lord of Heaven”, the orixá’s face is thought to be so scarred by disease and so terrifying that he appears covered with a raffia/straw masquerade that covers his whole body. “Atotô” is said to greet this orixa, and grains and popcorn are common offerings.

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Batalá Washington celebrates Black History Month Batalá Washington celebrates Black History Month and joins in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. We honor the roots of the music we play as well as our Black artists and musicians. Did you know that Samba-reggae arose in the context of the Black Pride Movement that occurred in the city of Salvador de Bahia, around the year 1969, and it still carries connotations of ethnic identity and pride for Afro-Brazilians today? #blackhistorymonth #blacklivesmatter #batalahey #sambareggaemusic #musicofresistance
Every year on February Second, some million or mor Every year on February Second, some million or more people in the Brazilian city of Salvador, Bahia, walk in procession through the streets of the Rio Vermelho district of that city, all dressed in white, making their way down to the seashore and the small house that's said to be the home of Yemanjá, a powerful goddess (Orixá) in the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé. Yemanjá is the essence of motherhood, the protector of children, fishermen and sailors, and most importantly, she is the sea itself. When the celebrants reach the shore Yemanjá's they pass their baskets laden with gifts for the goddess to fishermen to take out to sea and leave them on the waters as offerings to the Orixá. Gifts for Yemanjá often include images of the goddess, flowers and objects of female vanity (perfume, jewelry, combs, lipsticks, mirrors). Later in the day, the festival of Yemanjá becomes a massive street party which carries on into the night.

In the synchristic tradition that blends the Orixás who traveled to Brazil with African slaves with the saints and holy figures of Christianity who arrived with the Portuguese,  Yemanjá is identified with certain aspects of the Virgin Mary, and February Second in the Roman Catholic calendar is the day of Our Lady of Navigators (Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes). The celebrants at Salvador's festival honor one divinity in two personages, the African Yemanjá and the Christian Our Lady, without thoughts of separation or difference between the two.

Gifts for Yemanjá
As with all the gods and goddess of the Candomblé tradition, Yemanjá is associated with certain foods, and these foods are offered to her on her special day as well as eaten by her devotees at the street festival that follows the ceremonical activities of the day. Yemanjá's colors, like the Virgin Mary's, are white and blue - obvious choices for a Rainha do Mar (Queen of the Sea). An Orixá's favorite foods are often visually connected with his or her image and chosen colors, Yemanjá's special food are white, or very light in color (there are very few foods that are truly blue). Yemanjá prefers sweet foods, making such dishes as honeyed rice and sweet corn puddings.
We couldn’t help but to join in the Bernie fun! We couldn’t help but to join in the Bernie fun! Thanks to our drummer gal @jcon2313 for the photo edit! 😅🙌🏽🎉 #batalahey #berniesanders #berniesmittens
Wishing you all, our friends and family, a wonderf Wishing you all, our friends and family, a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! We hope we get to perform for you in person in 2021! #batalahey #oneloveonedrum 🎉💪🏽🎶🥁
Memories of last year (2019) when we added music a Memories of last year (2019) when we added music and percussion background sounds to the “Un Violador En Tu Camino” manifestation supporting all the survivors of sexual assault, violence and harrassment. #elvioladorerestú #lastesis #saynotoviolenceagainstwomen
We SOO miss playing at this great yearly event! ❤️😩 But all the love to our friends at @krampusnachtdc for the awesome video 👌🏽🎉❤️ #batalahey #oneloveonedrum❤️🥁
Happy “I can’t, I have practice” day to all Happy “I can’t, I have practice” day to all our fellow musicians of the world! #internationalmusiciansday #batalahey #oneloveonedrum❤️🥁
#Repost @batala_atenas Our music has its roots in #Repost @batala_atenas
Our music has its roots in Salvador in Bahia, and is filled with a big dose of brazilian samba...last year some of us were lucky enough to visit our home of inspiration and play with @batala_brasilia, alongside our Batala friends from across the world. It was such an amazing experience...truly unforgettable! #OneLoveOneDrum ❤️🥁

#Athens #Greece #expression_greece #batala #batalamundo #batalaatenas #sambareggae #samba #brazilianmusic #brazil #brazilian #brazilianmusic #takemebacktobrazil #brazil🇧🇷
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