Círio de Nazaré: Amazônia de fé

Abstract

This study aims to understand and investigate the Círio de Nazaré not only as a religious festival, but also from an anthropological point of view, allowing us to see the reflection of socio-economic problems manifested by the promesseiros in the procession of the Círio. These, symbolically, demonstrated in a relationship of exchange between: Promesseiro-Sente. This relationship is based on the principle of traditional exchanges, on the reciprocity relationship as constitutive of the social, focused mainly by Mauss (1974), among others. In this context, the promise is seen as a contract between the promise maker and the Saint, categories inherent to the event, in search or thanksgiving for goods and/or gifts received through faith mediation, in eventual existential crises (health, housing, jobs, studies, family problems). The symbolism identified in the Círio procession, by the promesseiros, characterizes the reflection of the socio-economic situation of part of the local population and visitors. Through a symbolic relationship of exchange, originated by the cult and devotion, in which the promesseiros thank for the miracles achieved through the promises made to the Saint. The human being, fragile and susceptible to the conditions in which he lives, at all times facing economic and social problems such as: unemployment, negligence of politicians (authorities that hold the power) with health, high rates of marginality, poverty and lack of sanitation (which causes diseases in the population), will rescue in faith the hope in the belief of a divine force that can free them from all these evils. The promise, then, aims to obtain a "grace", which in the conception of the devotee of popular Catholicism corresponds to an intervention of the saint in the natural order of things, which is translated through the "miracle", although this can appear in other situations, in which the promise is not involved. The ex-vows (objects that symbolize the promises) are presented in several categories, among those observed and reported: health, study, housing and employment.