Kings of the Favela One of the rare Brazilian popular traditional ritual names called “Three Wise Kings Celebration†is a “favela†style festival which is performed on religious days like Christmas in Rio de Janeiro. Favela Formiga (Formiga means ‘ant’ in Portuguese language) ,Santa Marta, Rocinha and Mangueira are big communities based on Tijuca, Mangueira, Leblon and Botafogo neighborhoods which are the biggest northern ve southern side neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro. Out of its Portuguese and Spanish Catholic Christian origins, in Favela Formiga, groups perform the celebration mixing with Afro-Brazilian originate rituals like Candoble and Umbanda musical rhythms and dances, their symbols and rolemodels. “Three Wise Kings†celebration has important figures like Master, Banner Holder, Clown and the Three Wise Kings. Groups pray and perform rituals with traditional religious music and dance. In Christmas, traditional and religious celebration, “Three Wise Kings†was performed by the groups in Favelas all day long. Groups have been united in their traditional bases. After the first ritual, they left their bases and visited the houses of devotees of this religious celebration. They pray by the leadership of master in those houses and clowns wait outside. After the praying ritual of the group, clowns perform their rumor of “quarrel†as a tribute to devotees. All Christmas, night and day, groups continue their devoted rituals. “Three Wise Kings†celebration is one of the very authentic Brazilian cultural ritual and also a part of Brazilian festive life style.
