Cavalhada of Brumal and Festa de Santo Amaro 2015 in Santa Bárbara, MG

78th Cavalhada of Brumal and Festa de Santo Amaro

From June 26 to July 5, 2015, the district of Brumal, in Santa Bárbara – MG, was once again filled with faith, music and tradition during the 78th Cavalhada of Brumal and Festa de Santo Amaro (an equestrian pageant reenacting the battle between Moors and Christians, held during the Feast of Saint Maurus). Considered one of the greatest expressions of popular devotion in the Serra do Caraça, the festival is a historic and cultural landmark for the town, bringing together residents, pilgrims and visitors in a celebration combining religion, culture and joy.

Promoted by the Santa Bárbara City Hall, through the Department of Tourism and Culture, in partnership with the Brumal Community Association and the Nossa Senhora das Graças Curacy, the 2015 edition reinforced the commitment to preserving one of the oldest and most meaningful traditions in Minas Gerais.

For ten days, Brumal became a meeting point between the sacred and the popular, reaffirming the importance of the Cavalhada as intangible heritage and a symbol of the cultural identity of the Serra do Caraça.

Faith and Devotion to Santo Amaro

The festival's religious program began with novenas and Masses, bringing together believers and neighboring communities for moments of prayer, thanksgiving and fellowship. Devotion to Santo Amaro, the district's patron saint, was celebrated in every detail — from the evening novenas to the processions through the historic streets of Brumal.

The faith of the people of Santa Bárbara could be felt at the solemn Mass held before the traditional Cavalhada, reinforcing the religious spirit that gives the celebration its origin and meaning. The event keeps alive the tradition inherited from the muleteers Jorge Calunga and Amaro Luiz, who established the Cavalhada as a form of thanksgiving and devotion to the saint.

Culture and Music in the Serra do Caraça

The cultural program of the 78th edition was one of the liveliest in recent years, with a series of shows that drew large crowds and energized the district.

On Friday (July 3), the stage welcomed the band Black Bird Fly, which opened the music program with an engaging repertoire. The next day, Saturday (4th), performances began early, at noon, with the group Mistura do Samba, bringing plenty of rhythm and fun. In the evening, the public packed the Largo de Brumal for the main attraction: the duo Zé Henrique & Gabriel, who entertained the crowd with modern sertanejo hits.

On Sunday (5th), the festival closed with Trio Josemir & Filhos at 6 p.m., with a repertoire full of traditional country music, ending the festival with a touch of Minas Gerais tradition.

The program also included the Cycling Ride, held on Saturday (July 4) at 8 a.m., bringing together participants of all ages on a route combining sport, leisure and solidarity.

The Cavalhada: Intangible Heritage of Santa Bárbara

The Cavalhada of Brumal is officially recognized as Intangible Heritage of Santa Bárbara by Municipal Law No. 1,518/2009, of July 23, 2009. The performance represents the medieval battles between Moors and Christians, symbolizing the struggle of the Christian faith and the victory of good over evil.

In Brumal, the tradition was brought by the muleteers Jorge Calunga and Amaro Luiz, inspired by the Cavalhada of Morro Vermelho, in Caeté. Since then, the event has kept the same symbolic format: horsemen in colorful costumes riding through the district's streets in a performance that combines art, religion and history.

With each edition, the Cavalhada reaffirms its role as one of the most important cultural traditions of the Serra do Caraça, attracting tourists, researchers and lovers of folk culture.

Tradition and Identity in the Serra do Caraça

The 78th Cavalhada of Brumal and Festa de Santo Amaro once again established the district as one of the main centers for preserving Minas Gerais tradition. Throughout the week of celebrations, the Brumal community showed that faith and culture still go hand in hand, keeping alive the roots that are the pride of the people of Santa Bárbara.

With its Masses, processions, cultural performances and shows, the festival remains a symbol of devotion, unity and resilience, representing the best of the culture of the Serra do Caraça and the whole Médio Piracicaba region.

Brumal once again made its bells and drums resound, celebrating the history of a people who turn faith into celebration and tradition into legacy.