A folia de santo e sua influência no dia-a-dia dos pescadores: o caso da folia de São Benedito, na comunidade do Silêncio do Matá, município de Óbidos-Pa

Abstract

In the community of Silêncio do Matá, municipality of Óbidos-Pa, occurs the Folia de São Benedito, a cultural manifestation that presents itself as a religious expression of the residents. The present work seeks to make a ritualistic analysis of this manifestation, highlighting its main moments and contributing to the research line "Traditional Knowledge and Practices" within the scope of the RENAS Project, in which this study is inserted. The methodology used was based on an ethnographic survey, based on authors such as Galvão (1955), Van Gennep (1976), Alves (1980) and Maués (1995). In the field, direct observation was complemented with photographic and phonographic records and formal and informal interviews. The work has theoretical and methodological support in the above mentioned authors. It was registered that during the festivities for Saint Benedict, the local residents break with their daily routine and unite around this manifestation, which is characterized as one of the forms of social cohesion of the group. During the Esmolação (visits of Folia members to neighboring communities), the residents of Silêncio do Matá leave their "domestic" world to enter another world - the "foreign" one, strengthening their bonds of friendship with neighboring communities. However, some of the characteristics of this Folia are changing through external factors, such as the media (television and radio), public policies, and the contact of community residents with urban centers.