This past week was celebrated in Bahia, the celebration of the Lord of Goodends. Starting from the Archidiosese of Salvador, the devouts walked towards the church of Senhor do Bonfim where they gathered to do the pertaining celebrations.
The Soteroplitanos (how Salvadorans - from the city not the country) pay homage to the patron saint - Nosso Senhor do Bonfim; at the same time, followers of Candomblé celebrate to Oxalá, the Candomblé god of gods. Though the celebration is supossed to be Catholic, the syncretism with which Brazil is filled shows that the celebration is in reality a mix of both Candomblé and Catholicism.
This celebration starts two days after the Day of Three Kings (of which you can watch 2010 pictures here ) the mothers and daughters of Oxalá pay homage to him with flowers and other offerings. At the same time they venerate Nosso Senhor do Bonfim through the washing of the steps of the Igreja do Bonfim, where the eight kilometer procession (about 5 miles) of tons of people dressed in white ends. This procession starts at the Basílica da Conceição da Praia and ends at the Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, where the Lavagem (washing) happens.
Though the first video is a news account of the event, it is interesting to see, how the current governor of Bahia, Jacques Wagner, originally from Rio de Janeiro, changes his sotaque (accent) from the beginning of the interview until the end of it, where his R's change from the usual Rio sound to the dissappearing R of Bahia. Who's trying to get re-elected I wonder?
In the second video, you will find the main song sung during the procession... You can tag along with the lyrics! (thanks to my friend Ana for the links).
soon to come... a little of the story of Oxalá and more about syncretism in O Brasil!
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