CAVALHADAS OF TAGUATINGA DO TOCANTINS AS CULTURAL HERITAGE

Abstract

This article is part of a master's thesis with the objective of describing the Cavalhadas staged annually in the city of Taguatinga do Tocantins, during the festivities of the patron saint of the city, Nossa Senhora D'Abadia. The event fosters interests and passions of the local community, which ends up contributing to adorn their homes, and consequently much of the city in blue (representing the army of Christians) and red (representing the army of the Moors). This interest goes beyond the geographical limits of that municipality, since it gains regional and state space, especially with contributions from the press, which has helped disseminate the festive rituals of the Cavalhadas. This event is unique in the state of Tocantins, which arouses public interest. With the repeated practice of the reenactments that have occured since the thirties, despite a period of paralysis from 1947 to 1997, the event continues to be staged. Since 1997, it has occurred every year, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We can ascertain that the Cavalhadas, even with the periods of paralysis, represent not only for the direct characters, the Knights, but for the whole community, an identity arising from the practices and domains of social life that are manifested in their celebrations and/or forms of scenic expressions, thus being an intangible cultural heritage event.