JESYS CHRIST´S DAYS

NOVA JERUSALEM is a theater-city, surrounded by a stone wall, with seven doors and seventy towers, spread in an area of about seventy thousand square meters, which is equivalent to one-third of the encircled area of Jerusalem in Jesus Christ's days. Scattered throughout this area, one find twelve stages, which are actually buildings mode out of granite, which constitute the scenery for the acting and make up the route that the public and the actors must follow.

The complex, extraordinary integiated in the dry landscape of the Brazilian Northeast, is something impressive, savage and unbelievable. Classified with a five-star mark by Guia 4 Rodas of Brazil as "a very interesting turistic event-you should see" and by COTAL magazine as one of the three greatest Brazilian turistic events, NOVA JERUSALEM, the biggest open-air theater in the world is run by the Fazenda Nova Theatrical Society, a cultural and artistic non-profit organization.

In NOVA JERUSALEM during Holy Week, on saturday, sunday, monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday and on Easter Saturday evenings at 6 PM, the story of Christ's Passion and Death is presented.

It's the only one of its kind in the world in which five hundred actors and adresses, utilizing twelve stages, perform the life and the process of Jesus, in sixty scenes of extraordinary and beautiful realism; It is even possible to hear the actors breath, through the ultramodern sound system, with two hundred loudspeakers. The spectacular sound and light effects moke Christ's Passion and Death an unforgettable and fantastic show.

Come visit Pernambuco. Come see NOVA JERUSALEM.

All year round it has its seven doors open to you. It's during Holy Week, however, that you've got eight days to get over your problems and participate in the greatest outdoor mobile theatrical ploy of the world. The show begins when you start your car or seat comfortably on your bus seat; is goes on through the paved roads with their outstanding views.

The apex is Christ's Passion and Death in NOVA JERUSALEM. But the show isn't over yet, the show never ends. This magic trip you've made will remain forever in your memory, so you'll be looking forward to returning. Come visit Pernambuco. Come see NOVA JERUSALÉM
Site: http://www.novajerusalem.com.br/2005/english.htm
 http://www.novajerusalem.com.br/2006 (only português)


WINTER FESTIVAL

Every year in June, when the weather is milder, a number of festivities take place in several cities of Pernambuco like Garanhuns, Gravatá, Triunfo e Taquaritinga do Norte. Both national and international attractions parade in those cities.

In Garanhuns, for example, it is time for the already famous Garanhuns Winter Festival. Music, theater, dance and all kinds of workshops take place in the city known as the Pernambuco Switzerland due to its cool weather with temperatures reaching down as low as 8 degrees Celsius. This festival aims at disseminating the many rhythms heard in the local scenario, as well as integrating these with the new trends in Brazilian music.

Triunfo plays its part in the July celebrations with the Students’ Feast, which attracts about 150 thousand tourists that invade this small town. This event has happened in Triunfo since 1958, but it was only recently that it became part of the Circuito do Frio. Today, the Students’ Feast relies on a solid infrastructure for cleaning, lighting, hotels, bars and restaurants.

Taquaritinga do Norte is rich in natural landscapes and provides outsiders with lots of opportunities to enjoy a taste of country life. It also lends the state the ultimate phase of the Circuito do Frio, when all the tourists’ attention turns to town.


FESTAS JUNINAS / SÃO JOÃO (SAINT JOHN´S DAY)

This is the time for traditional celebrations in the Catholic calendar. The days observed are: June 13, Santo Antônio; June 24, São João; and June 29, São Pedro and São Paulo.

The origin of these festivities traces back to the Pre-Christian times. According to Sir James George Fraser, the month of June, time of summer solstice in Europe, the Middle East and North of Africa, inspires innumerous rites that evoke fertility to promote the growth of food crops as well as a good harvest. These rites represent very important religious manifestations to different peoples.

On June 23, the day before Saint John was born, the celebrations get started. The importance of Saint John is made clear when we consider the fact that, of all the saints observed in the month of June, he is the one that gives name to the month.

JUNE DANCES
The most popular dance during the festivities of the month of June is the Square Dance, in which there is a fake wedding that takes place before the actual performance. All in the name of fun.

SPECIAL JUNE DISHES
Corn, peanuts, sweet potato and manioc are the main ingredients of the dishes served over the month of June. Despite the changes in the way these foods are produced, they are still as popular – and tasty – as ever.