Festas de Sao Joao

The festival of Saint John is how it translates is actually on June 24th.  Here is Salvador is seems to be celebrated all month long.  The celebration is bigger here than Christmas.  I have received many explanations of this celebration from a harvest festival, to Saint John performing a wedding, to a bandit that stole from the rich and helped the poor. The purpose in the festival seems to have gotten a little lost to this outsider. 

Even though no one gives me the same answer of why they are celebrating, the festivities are very fun.  At the beginning of June many streets, stores, and houses were decorated with strings of little colorful flags and kites.  Fireworks stands started popping like mushrooms, as well, as places selling firewood stacks for bonfires.  So far we have attended 3 parties.  At the parties everyone dresses up like country people in plaid shirts, tattered pants with patches, and straw hats.  There are usually at least one band that plays the Brazilian very of country music.  We eat corn on the cob, boiled peanuts, a cake made of corn meal, and grilled meat on sticks.

This year we were around for the first 2 weeks of Sao Joao, so we only got to catch the beginning of the excitement before we flew home for winter break.  Next year, it might be worth staying in town to experience the festival.