144 INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY PUBLICATION NO. 12 



Moreover, not all ceremony and belief in the ' the occasion of a procession, the men wear darki 



community is now identified with the Eoman red sleeveless cloaks over their clothes. The chil- 



Catholic Church. In comparatively recent years, dren of the Cnizada dress in white. 



three Protestant sects have invaded the area, as At least one family in the community builds a 



also has Spiritualist belief and practice. creche for Christmas and Epiphany. This pres- 



A census taken in 1888 listed the entire popula- ent year, it was constructed by the 12-year-old 



tion of the community as belonging to the Eoman daughter, with the assistance of her grandmother. 



Catholic Church. In 1934, or the most recent date In a corner of the principal room a platform was 



on which information of this sort can be obtained, built. Over it, at the rear, a semicircular canopy 



local inhabitants classified themselves with ref- was erected. Both platform and canopy were 



erence to religious affiliation in the following then decorated with Spanish moss, artificial flowers 



way:^" and streamers cut from crepe paper. A stalk of 



Sect: Ma««i,-.. ;.nmm«. T.ui Percent maize was stood up to each side of the canopy. 



Roman Catholic 1, 878 1, 716 3, 594 9.5. 1 Under the latter, at the back, there were placed 



SuXV::::::::: II 3? '"7 1 1 «™=^" ^^S^^ of Mary and of Joseph and three 



Others 2" 9 4 13 .3 small images of the Infant Jesus in a cradle, as 



No data 3 J. 4 ^ well as a representation of a COW. In front were a 



1, 990 1, 790 3, 780 100. black doll, made of celluloid, a row of lead soldiers, 



Masses and resas at which the padre is present several tufts of grass, and a dish with water on 



and officiates, are held regularly each week in the ^'"^li a few celluloid ducks floated. Above the 



village church. At both Mass and reza, there is ""^g^s, gilt and silver balls were hung. '^Vlien I 



usually a sermon. A number of religious festas, ^^^ ^ kittle girl," said the gi-andmother, "My par- 



at each of which there ordinarily is one or more *^"f« "^ed to make a creche each year on the 24th 



processions, are held periodically. Usually one or »* December. After they died, my sister made 



more romarias, or pilgrimages, are made each year ""^ every year until her death. After that, I 



to noted shrines. These activities are described ^^'^^'^^ ^een that a creche is built each Christmas 



in greater detail below. ^^^^ ™"^t not fail to do this, or something awful 



An association at the village church known as "^^^ happen." On the evening of the 6th of 



the Apostolado da Oragao do Sagrado Coramo de January, a reza, or ceremony of prayers and sing- 



Jesus ( Apostleship of Prayer of the Sacred Heart '"g' "^ ^'"^^i ^^'i^J^^s and neighbors participated, 



of Jesus) sponsors prayer and other religious ac- ^^^^ ^^®^" ^^ "^^ creche. 



tivities. Both men and women are admitted. 



^.-n , ,_ . J wi 1 CHURCHES AND CHAPELS 



Children, up to 15 years 01 age, provided they have 



taken first communion, are accepted into a sub- The church is by far the principal structure in 

 division called the Cruzada. For the admission the village (pi. 16, a). It is located at one corner 

 of adult members, a ceremony known as "the de- of the praqa. It is about 60 feet long, 33 feet wide, 

 livery of the ;?te (ribbon)" is held on occasion in and 25 feet high. Above the roof is a belfry, 

 the church at the close of a reza. The new mem- topped by a dome and a wooden cross. The build- 

 bers kneel at the altar, the men to the right and ing is solidly constructed. The walls are about 

 the women to the left. Those who are already 20 inches thick. Formerly of taipa^ they were re- 

 members gather to either side, in keeping with built with brick in 1881. They are calcimined out- 

 their sex. The padre speaks a few words appro- side in pale yellow and inside in white with 

 priate to the occasion and then a patroness puts a stenciled designs in blue. The central altar is 

 ribbon about the neck of each new member in turn, simple in design and supports an image of Nossa 

 after which the new members are given abragos, Senhora da Penha (Our Lady of Penha) about 4 

 the men by the men, the women by the women. On feet high. A smaller image of Nossa Senhora da 



Piedade (Mercy) stands in front of the larger 



-^= According to unpublished data taken from the census sheets. . m j_i i j-j i- xi ■ •^ • 



'-" Identification of the sects included in this category was not image. To the left of the COmmuniOn rail IS a 



possible at the time these data were obtained. An accompany- smaller altar, witll an image of NoSSa ScnllOra do 



ing statement, liowever, specified that "'no Jews, Positivists, or / « i -r-,T i r- -i-i n\ i o 



Free Thinkers are included." DeSteiTO (of the Flight [mto EgyptJ ) , about 3 



