Iguassu Falls Day



Yes! December 11 is the Day of the Iguassu Falls. The Iguassu Falls Day (Dia das Cataratas) was created last month thanks to a city bill passed by Councilor Carlos Budel. It was too early for a big party this year. But Mr. Budel promisses that the city will surely do something for next year. Budel also said that he was alarmed after learning that 45% of the city population have never been to Iguassu Falls. A pity - he says. Authorities have organized a poetry or text contest among the city's first graders. The photograph shows the ceremony that honored the winners of the contest. Unfortunately I do not have the results for the test since I was not there. Budel is the man in a blue shirt standing first from right. The lady standing next to him is Foz do Iguaçu's Secretary of Education, Maria Bernardete Sidor and next to her is the Iguaçu National Park director Jorge Pegoraro. The "The Iguassu Falls' Day" will be officially included in the city's events calendar.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Candomblé and Umbanda Festivities and holidays

Image
Photo of artistical rendering of a Preto Velho - Old Negro Slave - taken from the Raiz Cultural (Cultural Roots) Blog The dates first:   January 20 - Oxóssi February 2 - Iemanjá Day Bahia / Iguaçu April 23 - Ogum May 13 - Pretos Velhos (Old Negroes) June 13 - Xangô July 26 - Oxum September 27 - Saints Cosmas and Damian October 12 - Erê Children's Fest November 02 - Omulú November 15 – Umbanda’s Foundation / Flag Day December 04 - Iansã (Yansan) December 12 - Iemanjá (Yemanja) 25/12 - Oxalá Now some words on the dates: These are not holydays in the sense that shops close, children do not go to school and offices normally do not have to open. These are more internal celebrations or festivities held in Umbanda and Candomblé ‘terreiros’ or centers. These special days are dedicated to one Orisha (Orixá). But two main dates above mark important events inside and outside umbanda. May 13 is the day when Brazilians celebrate Slavery Abolition Day. It is the day whe...
Read more

Umbanda and Candomblé Temples (Houses) in Foz do Iguaçu: address list

Image
  Mission accomplished. Members of the     Mãe Edna de Baru's (Mother Edna of Baru) house. An Afro-Brazilian Religious Space may be called "temple", "center" (centro) as in Centro de Umbanda (Umbanda Center), "terreiro" - a word derived from "terra (Earth) and simply "house".  A "terreiro" can be an area in the bush that is separated for the service, the undergrowth is cleared, the soil swept so that feet can tap and stump on the ground without the danger of snakes, insects that could somehow cause harm to the people in ceremony. "We do not need a cathedral. Men make cathedral. The little corner in the capoeira (second growth forest around the house) is god-made and all we need". Foz do Iguaçu is said to have 42 "houses". Each "house" is independent. There is no hierarchy. Houses do cooperate among them. Each house is presided over by a babalorisha (Babalorixá) or Yalorisha (Ialorixá). Bab...
Read more

Poor Niagara! Has Eleanor Roosevelt ever been to Iguassu Falls?

Image
Photo from the US Embassy Brazil's FLICKR Gallery showing Eleanor Roosevelt, with Natal's Bishop Marcolino Dantas and General Gomes (in uniform) possibly translating. Upon seeing Iguassu Falls, Eleanor Roosevelt is reported to have said: Poor Niagara! You will find that in Spanish, Portuguese, French and possibly other languages. Everyone, when trying to learn about Iguassu Falls, will hear this Poor Niagara – Iguassu Story. What is happening hear now is that I have launched a campaign, through several of my blogs trying to find out whether this is true or false and what is the context in which the first lady said that. US First lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Brazil in March 14-17 in 1944. She flew from the US over the Caribbean, made stops at some islands and for sure visited Trinidad and Tobago. From TT the First lady flew to Brazil entering the country through Belem – at the mouth of the Amazon River. Eleanor Roosevelt’s Belem visit has been well documented in Brazil. ...
Read more