Olhares sobre a festa popular de Frei Damião: construção da memória e identidades em Canafístula/AL

Abstract

He popular festivals portray the materialization of sociocultural relations established over the years. These are complex and establish relations of power, remembrances, symbols of identity, forgetfulness, disputes, among others. The research in question brings reflections on the Feast in honor of Frei Damião, which takes place more than 35 years in the District of Canafístula. The same is owned by the Municipality of Palmeira dos Índios in the State of Alagoas. This study aims to discuss popular cultures as a dynamic and transformative process of contemporary societies. The main objective of the research is to analyze how this popular festival is used as a resource that identifies the difference between the inhabitants of Canafístula and the inhabitants of Palmeira dos Índios. or this, this research will seek to understand the historical context of the party and its influence in the formation of the District. Through this context, understand how the Party influences the construction of the identity and difference of the District in relation to the municipality of Palmeira dos Índios to which it belongs. During the work also intends to identify the multiple symbolic expressions in the party presented by the visitors as the songs, the gestural forms and the promises. In addition to making an analysis of political emancipation speeches that use the Festa as a resource for economic development, and in general to address how the different uses of the territory occurs. The phenomenological analysis, based on the qualitative approach, focused on the field research and documentary sources observed from the content analysis. The interviews and questionnaires, applied during the ethnographic process, with direct participatory observations, helped to understand the daily life of the party. The memory of the interviewees, faithful, residents and organizers was used to contextualize the party historically and understand its dynamics. We identified that the party is dynamic and causes different uses of the territory, producer of memories and with strong connection in the process of identity of the District, besides being seen and transmitted of different forms and interests.