São Sepé
This is a folktale from the South of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul.
Sepé was a valiant and good warrior that fought against foreigners to defend the "Missões" lands. He was a very special person that had a moon on his forehead.
At night or in combat the moon shone helping soldiers. When he died, God took back the moon from his forehead and put it in the sky of "Rio Grande do Sul" to protect the people who live there, and the stars are called "Cruzeiro do Sul".
Mariana
A note from the teacher! Mariana is a very proud "Gaúcha", a person who is from the South of Brazil. In the South, they keep lots of traditions and it is full of Folktales!
posted by Dennis @ 6:49 PM
8 Comments:
What a fascinating story! Are its origins with the indigenous people in the south part of Brazil?
Reading about São Sepé made me remember stories one of my grandmothers told. One was about "The Man with the Sack." In it, a man with a big, heavy sack would come for misbehaving children, catch them, and put them in his sack. The children were never seen again.
Your story also makes me remember when my sister lived in Alaska. She was adopted into a Native American group there and learned many of the folk stories, especially ones about the trickster, Raven.
What an interesting story! What a fascinating topic!
Dennis
Thanks Dennis!
Sepé was an indian warrior and he is an hero at south of Brazil, specially at "Missões". That place was a community of indians and religious people that existed at 1.600 or 1.700. Three years ago I visited the downfalls and it's very interesting.
The story about "The man with the sack" is popular at Brazil, too. I was afraid about this man when I was a child!
Please, tell us about trickster, Rave!
See you,
Hi, Mariana.
You're welcome!
It's interesting that you also heard the story about "The man with the sack"!
In European mythology, ravens are often symbols of evil, but among many Native North Americans, ravens are seen as tricksters—beings who play tricks (helpful as well as harmful) on people and who can also change shapes and become other things. I think this is a very interesting difference.
Here are some useful websites, each with information on Native American ideas on Raven the Trickster:
"The Raven in Myth and Reality." (For North American associations with ravens, scroll down to "Mythology told by the people of the West Coast of North America.")
"Raven Was White Before He Stole the Sun."
"Northwest Coast Native Settings—Trickster." This gives background information but also shows some very interesting paintings of pre-European life among the Haida people.
In other parts of the U.S., different animals (here in the southwestern U.S., for example, the coyote) play the "trickster" role.
Dennis
Hi Dennis, your message is adorable!
The story about ravens is very interesting. In Brazil the meaning of ravens is related of death and others bad things. The folktales are important for the cultures and demonstrate how people live and feel. Today Brazil is very sad about the World Cup that finished for us. Best wishes, Mariana.
Olá, Mariana!
I agree that the raven story is interesting. In most of the U.S., ravens mean the same as they do in Brazil—death and other bad things (which is the original European meaning). In other parts of the U.S., however, ravens have taken on characteristics from other cultures and become transformed into the image of the trickster (the spider, the coyote, etc.)
I agree that folktales are important in each culture because they demonstrate how people live and feel. I think they are "mirrors" of the way people look at and relate to the world. Because of that, it's only natural that over time, folktales gradually become modified.
Yes, I'm sure Brazil is sad about the World Cup. I am, too! Brazil had become "my team" in the competition and I was SURE that Brazil would win. However, what we want and what we believe aren't always what happens, right?
Best wishes to you as well, Mariana!
Dennis
And now I'm sad for "my" second team, Portugal. I really wanted Portugal to win, just as I did Brazil!
Oh, well . . . .
Best wishes to you!
Dennis
Dear Dennis, now we have to choise France or Italy. I think brazilians prefer Italy, there are many italians living at Brazil.
We like so much Luiz Felipe Scolari, the portuguese coach, and he is "gaúcho", like me! See you, Mariana.
Olá, Mariana.
I'm sorry for the late response to your comment.
I preferred Italy, too, and was glad that one of "my" teams was the winner. My other favorite teams were, of course, Brasil and Portugal.
I hope things are going well for you.
Best wishes—
Dennis
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