O sagrado e o profano no Sertão da Bahia: a religiosidade em Monte Santo

Abstract

The popular Catholicism, manifested in the practice of pilgrimages, processions and worship of saints, had a significant importance in the emergence and transformation of many cities in Brazil. Monte Santo is a small town located in the northeastern region of Bahia, the semi-arid backlands, the micro-economic Euclides da Cunha. It houses, among other temples, the Sanctuary of Santa Cruz, which transforms the city center in periodic pilgrimages and attracts visitors from both the State of Bahia, as other more distant places. Readings and field research verifying that the Catholic religion and the displacement of people occupy and change temporarily the public spaces of Monte Santo. The objective of this work is to analyze religiosity from the perspective of the traditions, which enshrined the local sacred places which, in turn, lead to a new dynamic functionality and in the city during periods of intense flow of faithful. Seeks to also do understand the decay of these traditions and the expansion of secular practice through secular parties. It used the most recurrent methodology for analysis and synthesis using techniques procedure, as documentary bibliographic consultations, complemented with field research - using open interviews and personal observations - during the dates of local religious pilgrimages. Demonstrations occur twice a year, one coinciding with Holy Week and the other held on the eve of All Saints Day, October 31. If also assess local public policies that propose improvements to the city, based on the exploitation of religious tourism. We conclude that the pilgrimages, carried by the faith of the Brazilian people, independent of local government that by promoting the lay parties, continues to divide the population and visitors between traditional religious events and festivals with newer popular singers.