LARGOS, CORETOS E PRAÇAS DE BELÉM - Monumenta
LARGOS, CORETOS E PRAÇAS DE BELÉM - Monumenta
LARGOS, CORETOS E PRAÇAS DE BELÉM - Monumenta
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Largos de Festas, Suplícios e Execuções<br />
54<br />
Largos for Festivals, Floggings and Executions<br />
As festas<br />
O poder<br />
clerical,<br />
incontestável e de<br />
adesão compulsória,<br />
mantinha a população<br />
coesa pela força religiosa, e<br />
promovia com freqüência as<br />
tão aguardadas festas profanas<br />
em honra dos santos<br />
milagreiros. Historicamente,<br />
elas cumpriram papel<br />
essencial na cultura<br />
amazônica.<br />
No período colonial,<br />
essas festas foram<br />
importantes na construção da<br />
sociabilidade. Por intermédio<br />
das múltiplas leituras dos<br />
símbolos que nela eram<br />
inseridos, facilitaram a<br />
integração não apenas entre<br />
portugueses e índios, como<br />
mais tarde com os negros e<br />
outros grupos, estabelecendo<br />
o que se pode chamar de<br />
pacto cultural. Os jesuítas<br />
usavam o interesse dos índios<br />
pelas festas religiosas para<br />
atraí-los e estabelecer<br />
contato com objetivo de<br />
catequese.<br />
Vivendo num ambiente<br />
desconhecido e de constante<br />
luta contra adversidades, os<br />
The festivals<br />
The ecclesiastical<br />
power, incontestable<br />
and compulsory, used<br />
religion to maintain<br />
cohesion among the<br />
population, and often<br />
promoted the fervently<br />
awaited profane celebrations<br />
in honor of miracle-working<br />
saints. Historically, these<br />
festivities have played a crucial<br />
role in the Amazonian culture.<br />
During colonial times, they<br />
were important for the<br />
promotion of sociability. Due<br />
to the many possible readings<br />
of the symbols they contained,<br />
they allowed for the<br />
integration not only between<br />
the Portuguese and the<br />
natives, but also, later on, with<br />
the blacks and other groups,<br />
establishing what may be<br />
called a cultural pact. The<br />
Jesuits took advantage of the<br />
Indians’ interest in the religious<br />
festivities to lure them into<br />
establishing contact, with a<br />
view to catechizing them.<br />
Living in an unknown<br />
environment, and facing a<br />
constant struggle against<br />
adversities, the new<br />
inhabitants of Pará saw these