Festa Junina continues with the celebration of São João (Saint John the Baptist) on June 24 all the way until June 29 with the celebration of São Pedro (Saint Peter). It is a state holiday throughout Bahia and, typically, baianos travel to the rural small towns for festivities as it is a celebration of the […]
Bembê do Mercado and the Abolition of Slavery
On May 13, 1888, the Lei Áurea (Golden Law) was signed by Princess Isabela of Brazil which finally abolished slavery in Brazil, making Brazil the last nation in the western hemisphere to free its enslaved people. In Santo Amaro, a Bahian Recôncavo town, Bembê do Mercado is a festival that commemorates this event every May […]
Samba de Roda
Samba de Roda, which involves festive music, dance and singing, was developed in the state of Bahia, in the region of the Recôncavo during the 17th century. It evolved from the dances, rhythms, and cultural traditions from different regions in Africa where enslaved Africans brought to Brazil were from. One of the defining characteristics of […]