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The best way to describe Boi Bumba is as a celebration of a traditional story via the medium of song, music, dance and theatre - featuring giant puppets. It is an extremely lively series of performances from two different teams of Bois (which means ox), who compete through their performances over three nights.

Each night the performance tells the story of a farmer who cuts out the tongue of an ox to satisfy his pregnant wifes cravings, but the elaborate dances, costumes and rituals that accompany the story have continued to develop in their energy and complexity every year since it began in its present form in 1913.

The whole town of Parintins gets involved with the festival and there are huge parades and after performance parties where the audience has a chance to mimic the production. People have very strong affiliations to one Boi or the other and the competition is fierce.

More than 35,000 people attend each nights performance. A master of ceremonies gives a commentary of the action, but don’t worry the legend ends happily with the ox being resurrected.

Though Boi Bumba celebrations are held all over Brazil the biggest and most traditional is held in Parintins in June.

Official Boi Bumba Website.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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