Stories of Paraná - unforgettable congadas

Stories of Paraná - unforgettable congadas

Unforgettable congadas
Benedicto Bueno

Salutary movement exploding home on the small screen, trying to reinvigorate the folklore so ingrained to popular taste by these Brazils.
In Lapa, ancient and legendary among many amusements that were the delight of lapeano erstwhile undoubtedly surmounted the role of enthusiastic representation of congadas always fabulous.
Event date to better impossible.
December 26, commemorative of St. Benedict, just the day after Christmas.
Early on, the fireworks and the ringing of bells denounced the opening of the festivities.
Gradually, the people, to the best of their fatiotas Sunday best, was focusing around the courtyard of the cruise chapel dedicated to St. Benedict and Our Lady of the Rosary, the same place where today stands the imposing shrine of St. Benedict.
There, in the makeshift altar, wore on the celebration of a solemn mass.
When the priest commanded:-Go, the Mass ended - the liturgy gave way to recreation as most expected.
Auctions here, stalls there. The wheels of fortune and unfailing miraculous catches.
In front of the chapel, the raising of the mast, on whose top a banner with the effigy of the saint, the wind, facultava honored to see the city in its minutiae.
Down the road someone announced: - The dance of the Congos will start ... Jokes and tidbits were forgotten, postponed the auction. The crowd wanted to know the congadas, crowding around those mighty combatants that clothes militia and arms upraised, attended to remember, with songs and dances, warlike deeds of their ancestors.
The sound of war drums carried with the procession of the Congos. And penetrated through the crowd, a majestic open-wards Nho Jordan, King of Congos (as King of all), followed by numerous court.
With developments and gestures translate endless respect for the monarch, there were Prince Antônio Rocha,
Secretary José Manoel da Silva, Ze-bearer of "Nha" Marica, the nobles of John Noah, Severiano Augusto José Pedro Maximilian, Benedito Lizard and many other great Congos and others both conguinhos.
Started impersonation, Congos were facing Ambassador (João Manoel da Silva) Queen Zimba, accompanied by the chief (Oliver Sabino) and followers. There is confusion, conflict ... but in the end the prevailing peace and reconciliation to celebrate St. Benedict and the Virgin of the Rosary.
All this history wore on between drumroll, lively dances, colorful and the 10th of the first magnitude.
At the end, the show is transmuted into apotheosis of friendship between two people, who united thanked the Holy Rosary and Saint Benedict, celebrating it with beautiful and simple verses like these:
"Vamo Hi folks, Vamo a way bunito d'
Hi venerate our saint, who is called Benedict. "
From beginning to end, the performances were applauded with delight by the people in innate recognition to those artists.
Inda today, our elders, when they remember the deeds of our Congos, seem to declare: - "Ah ... I miss the congadas I have in my life ..."

Benedicto Bueno, retired notary in Lapa


Source: Stories of Paraná, Brasil.