The document summarizes the Portuguese tradition of Folia de Reis, in which musicians, singers and dancers go from house to house announcing Jesus' birth and praising the homeowners. Unlike traditional kings, they seek donations rather than give gifts. Originating in Portugal and brought to Brazil, it features singing, dancing groups organized by a leader, requests to enter homes, solo and refrain music, and tributes in verse. Key figures include the Three Kings, the Master who organizes the group, singers, clowns, flag-bearers, and partymen who host the beginning and end.

2. Popular manifestation of praise to the birth of
Jesus with songs, dances and visits to the homes
of the residents.
Groups of musicians, singers and dancers go door
to door announcing the arrival of the Messiah
and praising the owners of the houses, wherever
they go and dance. But unlike the kings of
catholic tradition, the purpose of the
manifestation is not to bring gifts but to receive
them from the homeowner for philanthropic
purposes.

3. It originates in Portugal, from where it was
transmitted to Brazil through colonization. In
Portugal, where it was called Reiseiras, the
visits began at Christmas and only ended at
the feasts of the Holy Kings in January. In
Brazil came to be called Reisado, Folia de Reis,
Boi de Reis or Terno de Reis, the most
representative holiday of the Christmas cycle,
with the Northeast of Brazil as its reference
territory.

4. Most important features of the Portuguese
contribution:
• singings in honor to Jesus, his mother Mary and
Saint Joseph;
• the organization in groups, the blue and the red;
• requests for door openings to begin the
presentation;
• the musics with solo and refrain;
• tributes to people with verses.

5. The “brincante” are
conducted by Mateus or
Caboclo, who shares
with Dona Deusa, the
development of the fun.
One of the two has the
honor of holding a two-
color banner in groups
colors, with a
mechanism that allows
the flags to be raised
according to the financial
contributions that one of
the two groups gets. As a
reward to donors, the
women give a paper
flower to the people
who contributed.
Divine Holy Spirit. Photo Guilherme Lopes Moura 2017.

6. In both groups, characters such as the Butterfly, the
Guriatá, the Bamboo, the Gypsy and the Peasant go to
the center when called by Mateus to say their part. All
them are organized under the leadership of the
revelry master and reverently follow the footsteps of
the flag, performing traditional rituals of
unquestionable beauty and cultural richness.

7. Mostly homemade and handmade, as drums,
reco-reco, flute and rabeca (a kind of rustic
violin), in addition to the traditional redneck
viola and accordion.

8. • The Three Kings or biblical
magi: personify the kings who
visited the baby Jesus when
he was born: Balthazar,
Belchior and Gaspar.
• Master or Ambassador: is the
main character of the party,
he organizes the group
logistics, the route, schedules
and instruments. It is
responsible for improvising
the verses sung in the
residences. He was
responsible for keeping the
tradition alive and for its oral
transmission.
Master Aldenir in battle staging. Folia de Reis in Crato -
Ceará, January 2015.
Available in https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folia_de_Reis

9. • Choir: It usually consists of six people who are both singers and
instrumentalists. Each choir member has his role.
• Clowns: usually two or three. Its main function is the protection
of the flag and the solution of the sign (which works like a puzzle)
made by the homeowner with leaves and flowers, for example if
the letters VSR are placed; they speak one verse to each letter
and say the meaning: for example: Viva Santos Reis (Cheers to
the Holy Kings). They perform stunts. Using a baton they wear
masks, carry a whistle with which they mark the arrival and
departure of the flag. During their performances, spectators
throw coins to the ground to honor them. They then rejoice and
joke with each other, pushing the coins with the baton so that the
other clown picks them up, taking advantage to entice the public
to throw more money, which they put in bags to collect these
gifts.

10. • Flagman: Carries the group flag respectfully. It is introduced to the
head of the residence where the party goes to receive donations
offered by families. The flag: Called "Doctrine", it is made of
shiny cloth. It is affixed with a print of the Three Kings. It directly
represents the baby Jesus. It is the sacred element of the
company and is treated as such: it is respectfully kissed by the
residents of the houses visited, it is passed with great faith on the
beds of the residence.
• Partyman: an important figure, because it is usually at his home
that the revelers begins the revelry and is also where they return
to end the party. Sometimes the house of the master is used for
the departure and arrival of the flag or the home of someone
who, by reason of promise, pays the expenses of the revelry.

11. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPg38IKG-
P4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpQgSe7Pe
m8 – Special Folia de Reis on TV Brasil
• http://www.reiseiros.com/
• https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folia_de_Reis