JUNE FESTIVAL

FESTAS JUNINAS/Junina parties






The June Festivities in Brazil are held to celebrate Saint Anthony on June 13, Saint John on June 23 and Saint Peter on 29. Since they are religious events, they take place near churches and are organized by church community members or church goers. Schools and other institutions as well as residential condos also organize some social activities for students and the local community usually both as a fund raising and entertainment event.
Preparations include, besides setting up stalls for selling food and drink, designating who is gonna play the part of the groom and the bride in the typical folkloric dance, the so called “quadrilha” (square dance).On the actual “quermesse” days, people will eat pop corn, corn on the cob, coconut sweet, “canjica” (sweet made of corn), “paçoca” (sweet made of peanuts), "arroz doce" (sweet made of rice), “bolo de fubá” (corn meal cake), sweet potato, and also ordinary food like spaghetti, cod dumpling or pizza. Hot wine and “quentão”, made of pinga (brandy) and ginger are typical drinks. The dancers, usually kids, will wear a costume: floral patterned dresses with laces and ribbons for girls, a plaided shirt with ripped and patched trousers for boys, and a straw hat for both.
People say Brazilian people are festive and happy people, that every occasion is opportunity for having fun, is that so?



Comprehension exercise



Match the words on the left column with the corresponding ones on the right.


1 quermesse ( ) food

2 quadrilha ( ) drink

3 canjica ( ) dance

4 quentão ( ) party