Imagine Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, but in the Amazon rainforest. That is a pretty accurate depiction of the Festival de Parintins (Parintins' Festival). It is the biggest festival in the Amazon. It takes place annually at the end of June in the city of Parintins, hence its name. The main festival takes place on the last Friday of June and ends on that Sunday, but festivities start on the last weekend of March.
The Festival de Parintins centers around two opposing bulls: the Garantido and the Caprichoso. The Garantido is a white bull who is supported by the red team. The Caprichosos is a black bull who is supported by the blue team. I have struggled to understand the difference between the teams, but it is my current understanding that the Garantido team is more "for the people." This tradition of teams runs deep in the Amazonian communities. For most, their choice aligns with whomever their family supports. Recently, I met someone who is on team Garantido, and who, to date, has never worn the color blue, except for jeans, which she stated doesn't count. It is said that you don't chose your team; rather, the boi, or bull, chooses you.
