Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
"BRAZILIAN" CULTURE: IEMANJÁ
Hej c:
Today's post is about something that isn't really Brazilian, but is really present in our culture because of the beliefs of the African slaves and, in a in a predominantly Christian country, these beliefs are seen as "devilish" and a lot of people don't respect it.
Yemanja is an orisha, originally of the Yoruba religion, who has become prominent in many Afro-American religions. Africans from what is now called Yorubaland brought Yemaya/Yemoja and a host of other deities/energy forces in nature with them when they were brought to the shores of the America as captives. She is the ocean, the essence of motherhood, and a protector of children.
Because the Afro-American religions were transmitted as part of a long oral tradition, there are many regional variations on the goddess's name:
Africa: Yemoja, Ymoja, Yemowo, Mami Wata
Brazil: Yemanjá, Iemanjá, Janaína
Cuba: Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya
Haiti: La Sirène, LaSiren (in Vodou)
USA: Yemalla, Yemana, Yemoja
Uruguay: Iemanjá
Dominican Republic: Yemalla or La Diosa del mar (sea goddess)
Yemaja is said to be the mother of all orisha. She also is the spirit of water, and her favorite number is 7.
In Brazil, the goddess is known as Yemanjá, Iemanjá or Janaína in Brazilian Candomblé and Umbanda religions.
The Umbanda religion worships Iemanjá as one of the seven orixás of the African Pantheon. She is the Queen of the Ocean, the patron deity of the fishermen and the survivors of shipwrecks, the feminine principle of creation and the spirit of moonlight. A syncretism happens between the catholic Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes (Our Lady of the Seafaring) and the orixá Iemanjá of the African Mithology. Sometimes, a feast can honor both.
In Salvador, Bahia, Iemanjá is celebrated by Candomblé on the very same day consecrated by the Catholic Church to Our Lady of Seafaring (Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes).Every February 2, thousands of people line up at dawn to leave their offerings at her shrine in Rio Vermelho.
Gifts for Iemanjá usually include flowers and objects of female vanity (perfume, jewelry, combs, lipsticks, mirrors). These are gathered in large baskets and taken out to the sea by local fishermen. Afterwards a massive street party ensues.
Iemanjá is also celebrated every December 8 in Salvador. The Festa da Conceição da Praia (Feast to Our Lady of Conception of the church at the beach) is a city holiday dedicated to the Catholic saint and also to Iemanjá. Another feast occurs on this day in the Pedra Furada, Monte Serrat in Salvador, called the Gift to Iemanjá, when fishermen celebrate their devotion to the Queen of the Ocean.
Outside Bahia State, Iemanjá is celebrated mainly by followers of the Umbanda religion.
On New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro, millions of cariocas, of all religions, dressed in white gather on Copacabana beach to greet the New Year, watch fireworks, and throw (white) flowers and other offerings into the sea for the goddess in the hopes that she will grant them their requests for the coming year. Some send their gifts to Iemanjá in wooden toy boats. Paintings of Iemanjá are sold in Rio shops, next to paintings of Jesus and other Catholic saints. They portray her as a woman rising out of the sea. Small offerings of flowers and floating candles are left in the sea on many nights at Copacabana.
In São Paulo State, Iemanjá is celebrated in the two first weekends of December on the shores of Praia Grande city. During these days many vehicles garnished with Iemanjá icons and colors (white and blue) roam from the São Paulo mountains to the sea littoral, some of them traveling hundreds of miles. Thousands of people rally near Iemanjá's statue in Praia Grande beach.
In Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, on February 2, the image of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes is carried to the port of Pelotas. Before the closing of the catholic feast, the boats stop and host the Umbanda followers that carry the image of Iemanjá, in a syncretic meeting that is watched by thousand of people on the shore.
The Umbanda religion worships Iemanjá as one of the seven orixás of the African Pantheon. She is the Queen of the Ocean, the patron deity of the fishermen and the survivors of shipwrecks, the feminine principle of creation and the spirit of moonlight. A syncretism happens between the catholic Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes (Our Lady of the Seafaring) and the orixá Iemanjá of the African Mithology. Sometimes, a feast can honor both.
In Salvador, Bahia, Iemanjá is celebrated by Candomblé on the very same day consecrated by the Catholic Church to Our Lady of Seafaring (Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes).Every February 2, thousands of people line up at dawn to leave their offerings at her shrine in Rio Vermelho.
Gifts for Iemanjá usually include flowers and objects of female vanity (perfume, jewelry, combs, lipsticks, mirrors). These are gathered in large baskets and taken out to the sea by local fishermen. Afterwards a massive street party ensues.
Iemanjá is also celebrated every December 8 in Salvador. The Festa da Conceição da Praia (Feast to Our Lady of Conception of the church at the beach) is a city holiday dedicated to the Catholic saint and also to Iemanjá. Another feast occurs on this day in the Pedra Furada, Monte Serrat in Salvador, called the Gift to Iemanjá, when fishermen celebrate their devotion to the Queen of the Ocean.
Outside Bahia State, Iemanjá is celebrated mainly by followers of the Umbanda religion.
On New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro, millions of cariocas, of all religions, dressed in white gather on Copacabana beach to greet the New Year, watch fireworks, and throw (white) flowers and other offerings into the sea for the goddess in the hopes that she will grant them their requests for the coming year. Some send their gifts to Iemanjá in wooden toy boats. Paintings of Iemanjá are sold in Rio shops, next to paintings of Jesus and other Catholic saints. They portray her as a woman rising out of the sea. Small offerings of flowers and floating candles are left in the sea on many nights at Copacabana.
In São Paulo State, Iemanjá is celebrated in the two first weekends of December on the shores of Praia Grande city. During these days many vehicles garnished with Iemanjá icons and colors (white and blue) roam from the São Paulo mountains to the sea littoral, some of them traveling hundreds of miles. Thousands of people rally near Iemanjá's statue in Praia Grande beach.
In Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, on February 2, the image of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes is carried to the port of Pelotas. Before the closing of the catholic feast, the boats stop and host the Umbanda followers that carry the image of Iemanjá, in a syncretic meeting that is watched by thousand of people on the shore.
Source: wikipedia
For real, if you think the Devil made this, there's something really wrong with you. I know people who have a real problem with afro-brazilian religions, like "omg, devil blah blah blah". Coincidentally, this person says "not like this band because they made a pact with the devil".
But, yeah, that's it c:
Hej då
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
BRAZILIAN CULTURE: CORPO SECO
Oh hej
Guess what happened? No, I didn't forget. This time. I mean, I did, but I wasn't even at home, btw, so whatever. It's my last year of high school and yesterday we had all that beautiful ceremony and all. It was awesome, I've never thought that I would miss that school so much lol.
Oh well, let's go:
Corpo Seco is a man who spent his life beating and responding to his moder. When he died, he was rejected by God, the Devil and the earth, disgusted, repelled him. One day, he rose from his tomb, completely rotten and completely furious, decided to scare everyone who passed near his favorite road.
In São Paulo, there is a variant of this legend: it is said that when a person passes near the Corpo Seco he jumps and sucks all your blood (like a vampire).
There are also reports of Corpo Seco in the state of Paraná, Amazonas, Minas Gerais, in the Midwest region of Brazil and some African countries of Portuguese language, reported by Brazilian soldiers of the mission UNAVEM III.
In Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais, there is a variation of this legend, which tells that the Corpo Seco - after being repelled by the earth several times - is taken by firefighters to an apparent cave in a mountain range that lies south of the city. They say those who spend the night down the dirt road near to the place, you can hear his screams echoing from inside the cave.
Even today, there is a popular saying: "Whoever hits the mother stays with the withered hand."
Source: Brazilian wikipedia
Aaaaaaand that's it. I won't post anything tomorrow because I have my prom ball today and the ast assay for my flute recital my cousin's birthday party tomorrow and yeah, I think I won't have time. I'll try to post something, anyway.
Hej då
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
MYTHOLOGY: FREYJA
Hej :3
I'm sorry I forgot again. You can blame my brothr, it was because his birthday party u-u
Freja (Freyja, Freya) - Freya is one of the major Goddesses of Norse Mythology.
Equal in prowess to Thor, Freya is nearly the equal of Odin, the Allfather. The northern Europeans called their lusty Goddess Freya (pronounced fray'ya), which means, "mistress", and gave her name to the sixth day of the week, Friday. Freya – also Freyja or Freia – is the daughter of Niord and sister of Frey. She is one of the Vanir but came out of Vanaheim to live with the Aesir along with her father and brother. Her hall, Sessrumnir, is built in the field of Folkvang in Asgard, the realm of the Gods. She is the Goddess of Love and Beauty, one of the original fertility goddesses of the region. Patron of young lovers, Freya is viewed as a force for good in the world – protector of the weak, healer, granter of magic and source of love and peace. She listens to the prayers of men and women seeking love and helps them when she can.
Beautiful, blue-eyed, golden-haired – Freya generally appears as the most desirable woman in the Nine Realms. She always wears Brisingamen, a wonderful necklace made from gold and amber that she received from dwarves. Often appearing unclothed to her followers, she is always described as the most beautiful of women.
The goddess Freya's passions were abundant, vigorous, and unrestrained. Clothed or not, she is usually shown in sensual poses.
Freya didn't discriminate in her choice of lovers: All Gods were fair game. When Freya appeared draped in her feathered cloak and wearing nothing but her magic amber necklace, none could resist her.
She is often depicted riding her golden chariot through the skies, the chariot pulled by two large blue cats who were a gift from the Norse god Thor.
Freya was a spectacular beauty known for her appreciation of romantic music and stunning floral arrangements. That was her softer side; she was also known as the goddess of war and death.
Freya leads the Valkyrie, the Choosers of the Slain. These warrior maidens ride over battlefields on winged horses, taking the souls of noble warriors killed in battle to feast in Valhalla, Odin’s Hall. Freya claims half of the warriors for her own hall in Folkvang. This martial province makes Freya a more fully dimensioned goddess than most fertility deities.
Freya taught magic to the Aesir, Odin in particular. Freya's magic is termed Seidr - a type of trance magic whose fully realized forms include shape shifting and astral projection. Freya herself has a falcon cloak which allows any who wears it to become a bird.
Cats are particularly sacred to Freya. In addition to the two large cats who pull her chariot, other cats are generally associated with this kind and loving Goddess. Whether it's their grace, their beauty or their fierce nature when provoked, cats are the special darlings of Freya, often carrying messages for her. (Of course, sometimes they take a nap while enroute...)
The goddess Freya reminds us to explore and acknowledge all of our emotions, longings, and traits, even those we wish we didn't possess.
If you feel awed by the wonder of veins in leaves in the lush green trees and feel your knees go weak at the joy of being alive, the passionate goddess of love is working in you. Freja's gifts are those that make us overjoyed to be alive! Freja loves all things that give pleasure, she indulges in love, romance and lovemaking - always walking in harmony and beauty. Her power brings men and women together to create new life, and she is the gentle goddess who ends life in order to perpetuate the circle of life with love and trust. According to Nordic myth she was also the Warrior Goddess who was hostess to fallen war heroes in her great hall.
Freja (Freyja, Freya) - Freya is one of the major Goddesses of Norse Mythology.
Equal in prowess to Thor, Freya is nearly the equal of Odin, the Allfather. The northern Europeans called their lusty Goddess Freya (pronounced fray'ya), which means, "mistress", and gave her name to the sixth day of the week, Friday. Freya – also Freyja or Freia – is the daughter of Niord and sister of Frey. She is one of the Vanir but came out of Vanaheim to live with the Aesir along with her father and brother. Her hall, Sessrumnir, is built in the field of Folkvang in Asgard, the realm of the Gods. She is the Goddess of Love and Beauty, one of the original fertility goddesses of the region. Patron of young lovers, Freya is viewed as a force for good in the world – protector of the weak, healer, granter of magic and source of love and peace. She listens to the prayers of men and women seeking love and helps them when she can.
Beautiful, blue-eyed, golden-haired – Freya generally appears as the most desirable woman in the Nine Realms. She always wears Brisingamen, a wonderful necklace made from gold and amber that she received from dwarves. Often appearing unclothed to her followers, she is always described as the most beautiful of women.
The goddess Freya's passions were abundant, vigorous, and unrestrained. Clothed or not, she is usually shown in sensual poses.
Freya didn't discriminate in her choice of lovers: All Gods were fair game. When Freya appeared draped in her feathered cloak and wearing nothing but her magic amber necklace, none could resist her.
She is often depicted riding her golden chariot through the skies, the chariot pulled by two large blue cats who were a gift from the Norse god Thor.
Freya was a spectacular beauty known for her appreciation of romantic music and stunning floral arrangements. That was her softer side; she was also known as the goddess of war and death.
Freya leads the Valkyrie, the Choosers of the Slain. These warrior maidens ride over battlefields on winged horses, taking the souls of noble warriors killed in battle to feast in Valhalla, Odin’s Hall. Freya claims half of the warriors for her own hall in Folkvang. This martial province makes Freya a more fully dimensioned goddess than most fertility deities.
Freya taught magic to the Aesir, Odin in particular. Freya's magic is termed Seidr - a type of trance magic whose fully realized forms include shape shifting and astral projection. Freya herself has a falcon cloak which allows any who wears it to become a bird.
Cats are particularly sacred to Freya. In addition to the two large cats who pull her chariot, other cats are generally associated with this kind and loving Goddess. Whether it's their grace, their beauty or their fierce nature when provoked, cats are the special darlings of Freya, often carrying messages for her. (Of course, sometimes they take a nap while enroute...)
The goddess Freya reminds us to explore and acknowledge all of our emotions, longings, and traits, even those we wish we didn't possess.
If you feel awed by the wonder of veins in leaves in the lush green trees and feel your knees go weak at the joy of being alive, the passionate goddess of love is working in you. Freja's gifts are those that make us overjoyed to be alive! Freja loves all things that give pleasure, she indulges in love, romance and lovemaking - always walking in harmony and beauty. Her power brings men and women together to create new life, and she is the gentle goddess who ends life in order to perpetuate the circle of life with love and trust. According to Nordic myth she was also the Warrior Goddess who was hostess to fallen war heroes in her great hall.
That's it. See you next week :)
Hej då
Friday, November 16, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
BRAZILIAN CULTURE: CURUPIRA & CAIPORA
Hej :3
I forgot again lololol oh well, beter late than never, right?
Curupira's name comes from the Tupi language kuru'pir, meaning "covered in blisters". According to the cultural legends, this creature has bright red/orange hair, and resembles a man or a dwarf, but its feet are turned backwards. Curupira lives in the forests of Brazil and uses its backward feet to create footprints that lead to its starting point, thus making hunters and travelers confused. Besides that, he can also create illusions and produce a sound that's like a high pitched whistle, in order to scare and drive its victim to madness. It is common to portray a Curupira riding a Collared peccary, much like another Brazilian creature called Caipora. A Curupira will prey on poachers and hunters that take more than they need of the forest, and he also attacks people that hunt animals that were taking care of their offspring. There are many different versions of the legend, and so the creature's appearance and habits may vary from each region in Brazil. However, Curupira is considered a nationwide folkloric figure.
Curupira's name comes from the Tupi language kuru'pir, meaning "covered in blisters". According to the cultural legends, this creature has bright red/orange hair, and resembles a man or a dwarf, but its feet are turned backwards. Curupira lives in the forests of Brazil and uses its backward feet to create footprints that lead to its starting point, thus making hunters and travelers confused. Besides that, he can also create illusions and produce a sound that's like a high pitched whistle, in order to scare and drive its victim to madness. It is common to portray a Curupira riding a Collared peccary, much like another Brazilian creature called Caipora. A Curupira will prey on poachers and hunters that take more than they need of the forest, and he also attacks people that hunt animals that were taking care of their offspring. There are many different versions of the legend, and so the creature's appearance and habits may vary from each region in Brazil. However, Curupira is considered a nationwide folkloric figure.
Caipora is an entity of the Tupi-Guarani mythology in Brazil. It is represented as a dark-skinned, small Indian, naked with a very long black mane, smoking a cigar and very mischievous. Other depictions are as a stout hairy anthropomorphic being with the head of a fox. Sometimes it's said that he has his feet turned backwards, to deceive trackers, although this is mostly commonly said of the curupira instead. Some say it rides a great peccary. The Caipora also is said to help the people that are kind to the forest and hurt those who hurt it. It is known as a forest dweller, as a king of the animals of sorts and very vengeful of hunters who do not respect the rules of "fair-play" when hunting. It is told that it scares away prey and "hides" animal tracks or makes hunters lose their way in the jungle.
Source: wikipedia
And that's it :3
sorry again LOL
Hej då
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
why I'm not posting so much recently...
Hej guys
I didn't post about culture and mythology last week because I forgot. I'm really sorry. I had another big test, but it don't have anything to do with this, I guess. Or maybe I'm going crazy because of all this pressure and some other things. Do you understand why I need another person to use this blog? haha
No, seriously. I feel like there's a monster inside me and this motherfucker reminds me of its existence all the time. Have you ever feel like you have a monster inside you or something? If yes, tell me what you did about it. If you're feeling like it right now, let's talk about it and try to solve it together ヽ(•u•)ノ
I didn't post about culture and mythology last week because I forgot. I'm really sorry. I had another big test, but it don't have anything to do with this, I guess. Or maybe I'm going crazy because of all this pressure and some other things. Do you understand why I need another person to use this blog? haha
No, seriously. I feel like there's a monster inside me and this motherfucker reminds me of its existence all the time. Have you ever feel like you have a monster inside you or something? If yes, tell me what you did about it. If you're feeling like it right now, let's talk about it and try to solve it together ヽ(•u•)ノ
BTW, I promise I'll write normally this week (and probably write post for the next week too). I just wanted you guys to know why I'm so distracted these days.
And now I think I should play some flute because I have lessons tomorrow and yeah
Hej då
Friday, November 09, 2012
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Friday, November 02, 2012
Thursday, November 01, 2012
BRAZILIAN CULTURE: BOTO
Hej
How are you guys? This week I had my last test at school. Woah, this sounds so weird. There are gonna have more tests to enter college and then I'm done. (yeah, we have tests to go into college. you know, to see if we are intelligent enough or something like that. and it's a fucking big test, like, 70 questions, depending on the university. i think i'm going to write a whole post about it when it's over). Oh well, here's one more Brazilian legend for you guys:
The legend of the boto cor-de rosa (it's a dolphin, basically) has its origin in the Amazon region (northern Brazil). It is still very popular in the region and is part of Brazilian folklore. According to legend, a dolphin colored pink leaves of the rivers on the nights of June Festival. With a special power, can turn into a beautiful young man dressed in white clothes social. He wears a white hat to cover his face and hide the big nose. With his flirtatious and talkative, the dolphin approaches of unaccompanied girls, seducing them. Soon after, convinces women for a ride on the river bottom, where usually impregnate them. The next morning back to become the boto.
In popular culture, this legend was used to justify the occurrence of a pregnancy outside of marriage.
Still nowadays, especially in the Amazon region, it is said that a child is the son of boto, when no one knows who the father is.
Source: in Portuguese
This is a boto, btw. It's like a dolphin that lives in rivers.
That's it.
See you
Hej då
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