BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is standing in a little square of the favela Santa Marta, in Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro, waiting for the other participants of the parade for the commemoration of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro (20th January). As tradition in Rio de Janeiro, Saint Sebastian parade closes the commemoration period of Folia de Reis. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is getting ready by his mum to attend the short parade during the Saint Sebastian day, the patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro. In 2021, due to the corona virus pandemic, all the parades were suspended, but the one to pay tribute to Saint Sebastian, the patron of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The parade happened in the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is parading in a stairway of the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro, along with the other clowns and in front of the musicians. In that day, the parade was leading to the community of Cidade de Deus (City of God), a favela in the Zona Oeste (West zone) region of Rio de Janeiro, around 32 kilometres far from Santa Marta. It is common that Folia de Reis visits other communities in the city. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is standing in an alley of the favela Santa Marta, during the parade for Saint Sebastian day, patron of Rio the Janeiro (20th January). As tradition in Rio de Janeiro, Saint Sebastian parade closes the commemoration period of Folia de Reis. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is parading in the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro, along with the musicians, during the Saint Sebastian day, patron of Rio the Janeiro (20th January). As tradition in Rio de Janeiro, Saint Sebastian parade closes the commemoration period of Folia de Reis. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is playing with other children in the square “Happy children” of the favela Cidade de Deus (City of God), in the Zona Oeste (West zone) region of Rio de Janeiro, around 32 kilometres far from the favela of Santa Marta, where Theo lives. According to the tradition, Folia de Reis visits their neighbourhood to parade and commemorate the biblical Magi’s journey. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is playing with other children in the square “Happy children” of the favela Cidade de Deus (City of God), in the Zona Oeste (West zone) region of Rio de Janeiro, around 32 kilometres far from the favela of Santa Marta, where Theo lives. According to the tradition, Folia de Reis visits their neighbourhood to parade and commemorate the biblical Magi’s journey. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is resting during the parade in the favela Cidade de Deus (City of God), in the Zona Oeste (West zone) region of Rio de Janeiro, around 32 kilometres far from the favela of Santa Marta, where Theo lives. According to the tradition, Folia de Reis visits their neighbourhood to parade and commemorate the biblical Magi’s journey. They stops at devotees, a little bar in this picture, to pay a tribute, playing music, singing and declaring poems. Devotees usually give a meal to the Folia de Reis’ participants. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is running to go back to the parade, during the Saint Sebastian day, the patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro, after receiving some money by a devotee. Devotees usually give some changes or small amount of money to contribute to the Folia de Reis. Traditionally, clowns are in charge of collecting the changes. In 2021, due to the corona virus pandemic, all the Folia de Reis parades were suspended, but the one to pay tribute to Saint Sebastian, the patron of the city of Rio de Janeiro (20th January). The parade happened in the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is playing with a child in the favela Cidade de Deus (City of God), in the Zona Oeste (West zone) region of Rio de Janeiro, around 32 kilometres far from the favela of Santa Marta, where Theo lives. According to the tradition, Folia de Reis visits their neighbourhood to parade and commemorate the biblical Magi’s journey. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is dancing in the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro, during the parade of Saint Sebastian day, patron of Rio the Janeiro (20th January). As tradition in Rio de Janeiro, Saint Sebastian parade closes the commemoration period of Folia de Reis. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is waiting for the beginning of the parade of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro (20th January), on the roof of the house where the Folia de Reis’ participants meet and get ready, in the favela Santa Marta. In 2021, due to the corona virus pandemic, all the Folia de Reis parades were suspended, but the one to pay tribute to Saint Sebastian, the patron of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The parade happened in the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is waiting for the beginning of the parade of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro (20th January), on the roof of the house where the Folia de Reis’ participants meet and get ready, in the favela Santa Marta. In 2021, due to the corona virus pandemic, all the Folia de Reis parades were suspended, but the one to pay tribute to Saint Sebastian, the patron of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The parade happened in the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro. @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro / Rio de Janeiro Theo is standing in front of the church Nossa Senhora das Graças in the favela Santa Marta, waiting for the parade of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of the city of Rio de Janeiro (20th January). Being a catholic commemoration, Folia de Reis always passes by, stops and pays tribute to the church. In 2021, due to the corona virus pandemic, all the Folia de Reis parades were suspended, but the one to pay tribute to Saint Sebastian, the patron of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The parade happened in the favela Santa Marta, in the Zona Sul region of Rio de Janeiro @Lara Ciarabellini / Anzenberger
Clowns are considered the major popular attraction of the event Folia de Reis, a commemoration of the biblical Magi’s journey happening every year during the Epiphany in Rio de Janeiro. Masked men representing the devil, the clowns are supposed to be the embodiment of Herod’s soldiers, looking for the Christ Child.
Their colourfully dress and their stunts entertain the children and, of course, they fascinated Theo who dreamt to become one of them.
The Folia de Santa Marta, or Os Penitentes do Santa Marta, the parade of Theo's community, young mascot, and finally he started parading past jubilant folks, happy to wear the costume and the mask of devil.
When the parade is moving, Theo and the clowns walk, always without shoes and with mask, in front of the musicians, creating an allegoric choreography. When less expected, they run after the children, frightening them, pretending to catch them. The parade becomes a great game. Theo’s peers play as mischievous and Theo beats his stick on the ground to scare them and make them escape.
When the parade stops in the squares or in the house of devotes, Clowns becomes poet troubadours. Theo wins his shyness and declare his poems, in front of a large public.
Folia de Reis
Lara Ciarabellini
Photographer
based in Rio de Janeiro
Public Story
Folia de Reis
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