Cavalhada of Brumal and Festa de Santo Amaro 2018 in Santa Bárbara, MG
81st Cavalhada of Brumal and Festa de Santo Amaro
From June 22 to July 1, 2018, the district of Brumal, in Santa Bárbara – MG, once again hosted one of the most emblematic cultural traditions of the Serra do Caraça: the 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). Reaching its 81st edition, the event brought together faith, music and tradition in a program that delighted residents and visitors.
The festival, which combines religion and folk culture, was promoted by the Santa Bárbara City Hall, the Brumal Community Association and the Nossa Senhora das Graças Curacy, reaffirming the commitment to preserving a heritage that has been part of local history and identity for more than eight decades.
For a week, the district became a great center of celebration, with Masses, processions, shows, quadrilhas (square dances), a solidarity ride and the traditional Cavalhada, which closed the program with great emotion.
Faith, Devotion and Tradition
The religious program of the 81st Cavalhada began on June 22, with a novena and opening Mass, bringing together believers from neighboring communities. Over the following days, the celebrations included a tribute to the horsemen, the Santo Amaro motorcade and the traditional procession through the district's streets, showing the residents' devotion and the strength of the faith that has permeated the event since its origin.
Sunday, July 1, closed the program with the solemn Mass in praise of Santo Amaro and the eagerly awaited Cavalhada, held at 5:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display by Elmo de Castro.
Every year, these moments reinforce the spiritual bond between the faithful and Brumal's patron saint, keeping alive a tradition that spans generations.
Culture and Music in the Serra do Caraça
The cultural program of the 81st edition offered a vibrant mix of shows and popular activities involving the whole community. Local schools opened the festival with a country party and quadrilha, celebrating Minas Gerais culture and the June spirit.
On June 29 (Friday), the duo Jeff & Alex opened the musical performances with a night of sertanejo and fun. On Saturday (30th), the public packed the Largo de Brumal for the show by singer Felipe Araújo, one of the biggest breakout names in Brazilian sertanejo.
Straight from Goiânia, Felipe brought a repertoire of hits such as A Mala é Falsa, Chave Cópia and Amor da Sua Cama, delighting the audience with charisma and energy. The singer, brother of the late Cristiano Araújo, showed that the new generation of sertanejo continues to win hearts across Brazil.
Closing the music program, Sunday (July 1) featured a show by Clever Paulo, who brought joy and sertanejo rhythm to the end of the festival.
The event also included the 5th Solidarity Ride, held that same Sunday at 9 a.m., starting at the Parque Recanto Verde and finishing at the Largo de Brumal. Registration was made by donating adult diapers for the elderly, showing the charitable side that is also part of the celebration.
The Cavalhada: Intangible Heritage of Santa Bárbara
The Cavalhada of Brumal is officially recognized as Intangible Heritage of Santa Bárbara under Municipal Law No. 1,518/2009, of July 23, 2009. The tradition portrays the symbolic battles between Moors and Christians during the Crusades in the Middle Ages, representing the victory of faith and unity.
In Santa Bárbara, the tradition was brought by the muleteers Jorge Calunga and Amaro Luiz, inspired by the Cavalhada of Morro Vermelho, in Caeté, to fulfill a vow to Santo Amaro. Since then, the performance has been kept alive, passed down from generation to generation as an important symbol of local identity.
The previous year, during the 80th anniversary of the Cavalhada, the Cavalhada of Brumal Memorial was opened, a space dedicated to preserving the memory and history of this decades-old celebration, reinforcing its cultural value for the whole Serra do Caraça.
Tradition, Culture and Pride of the Serra do Caraça
More than a festival, the Cavalhada of Brumal and Festa de Santo Amaro is a meeting of faith, music and folk culture. Every year, the event renews the community's commitment to its roots and shows how Minas Gerais traditions remain alive and vibrant.
In 2018, completing 81 years of history, the Cavalhada reaffirmed its role as a symbol of resilience and cultural identity, attracting visitors from many towns in the Serra do Caraça region and all over Minas Gerais.
Brumal thus remains the guardian of this intangible heritage, where the sound of the drums, the shine of the horses and devotion to Santo Amaro continue to move generations and carry on one of the most precious legacies of Santa Bárbara culture.
