“It wasn’t the same without São João. It was like something of us got stuck during these two years of the pandemic. Caruaru without São João is not Caruaru. I hope São João is never missing.”
The outburst of teacher Isabele Sousa, 50, sums up the emotions that filled thousands of visitors who filled the streets of Caruaru, in the Agreste region of Pernambuco, to take part in São João, which competes with Campina Grande (PB) for the title largest São João in the world. About 80,000 people attended the party between Friday night (10th) and Saturday morning (11th), according to the Caruaru Culture Foundation.
Even on the usual cold June nights, the audience didn’t leave the Pátio do Forró Luiz Lua Gonzaga, the main room of the Caruaru party, named in honor of the singer who is the greatest symbol of São João.
The party returned in 2022 after two consecutive editions were canceled due to the Covid pandemic. Precisely because of the resumption, the town hall christened the party this year “São João do Reencontro”.
“I think this year is better. It’s livelier. People’s souls are happier to miss the São João festival,” says Isabele, who intends not to miss a single weekend of the party.
Driver Ronan Silva, 38, also celebrated the return of hustle and bustle to the city’s streets. “The best thing about São João de Caruaru is the people who are united in the party and this atmosphere of families traveling in the utmost tranquility. Of course it was important not to have a party during the pandemic, but now with the vaccine, here we are.”
In addition to the 24 centers with more than 800 performances, including trios pé de serra, forró bands, quadrilles, dance companies and nationally known attractions, this year São João also had space to carry out Covid tests and apply coronavirus vaccines and influenza.
Between June 4 and 10, 220 people were vaccinated against Covid and another 35 against influenza, according to the prefecture. During the same period, 77 rapid tests for Covid were carried out, 6 of which tested positive for the disease.
Another novelty for the edition are the matinees, shows that start early in the evening. The kickoff was on Saturday (11/11) at 6:20 p.m. when Bell Marques entered the stage.
On Friday evening and Saturday morning, the audience took to the terrace to dance and enjoy the sound of Renan Cruz, the band Toca do Vale and the duo Simone and Simaria. There are days when the presentations bring together 100,000 people, according to the organization.
“I think the culture of São João is beautiful. I’m from Bahia and I love it here. I see people lighting a fire, I used to do it with my grandmother on her doorstep and we roasted corn in Uibaí, Bahia,” said singer Simaria of the duo with Simone in a press conference after the show on Saturday morning.
For Mayor Rodrigo Pinheiro (PSDB), in 2022, São João de Caruaru will not only help promote local culture, but also fuel the city’s recovery.
“We expect more than 3 million visitors and tourists in these more than 30 days from São João. The population is happy, the economy is heating up and traders are in a positive moment,” he says.
Alongside the traditions of forró and square dancing, the June celebrations, which began on the 4th and last through the end of the month, generate between R$250 million and R$300 million and create about 2,000 temporary jobs, according to City Hall.
Near the Pátio do Forró, where the main performances take place, the audience is served by vendors selling drinks, typical food and children’s toys, among other things.
Tavern owner Roberto Martins, 63, celebrated the return of the party and the 100 percent occupation of the place. When the place was closed during the pandemic, he took the opportunity to do some renovations and make the space more welcoming.
“São João de Caruaru, if I don’t go I’ll get sick. Last year when I went to Alto do Moura and saw everything empty, it was a big pain. On the business side we suffer. But the fact of seeing everyone suffer to beg and sell food again hurts the soul,” he says.
The weekend is also busy because of the “biggest couscous in the world” which is prepared this Sunday (12), Valentine’s Day and the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day.
The story of Comidas Gigantes is already part of the June Caruaru tradition that has been held for over 25 years. According to the organizers, the tradition began with the Festa da Pamonha Gigante in 1999. With this, the residents of the neighborhood brought out new dishes year after year, and so the celebration extends every day of the month of June.
When asked about the report on Caruaru’s traditional rivalry with Campina Grande in Paraíba for the title of the world’s greatest São João, the mayor chose to defend the city he rules, but also praised the competing municipality.
“Considering the number of artists and poles, it is São João de Caruaru. But this rivalry is healthy, there are many people curious to visit the one in Campina Grande who visits São João de Caruaru and vice versa. , the two states , Northeast and Brazil”.