Hello everyone, today I invit you to sing "As Janeiras" !!!
In Portugal, for almost all of Europe and, from what I read, also in Latin America, "Dia de Reis" - January 6 - is the day of singing "As Janeiras".
Zeca Afonso, a Portuguese popular singer whose songs and lyrics were also associated with the Revolution of April 25,1974 in Portugal, popularized O "Natal dos Simples", a song that speaks of this tradition and begins precisely with the verse "Vamos cantar as Janeiras".
Sounds like this:
It is supposed that this tradition is related to pagan cults, unfolding in the month of the Roman god Janus, from Janua, meaning Gate, Entrance.
However, this tradition can not dissociate itself from the misery in which people lived, taking advantage of this type of manifestation to get wine and other foods from the richer families.
As Janeiras "or" Cantar as Janeiras " is also a tradition in Portugal that consists of the meeting of groups, men and women or Folk groups that stroll the streets at the beginning of the year, singing from door to door and wishing people a happy new year.
Here in Alentejo where I live and in my place of work it is tradition that the Alentejo Cantares Group wishes a good year to the President and workers of the City Hall, singing "As Janeiras".
I think it is very important that traditions are maintained, they are the ones that show us who we are, how we have transformed ourselves and who keep our cultural identity alive.
In this video, Cantares de Mora group sing "As Janeiras" to all of us in the City HallI!
Enjoy !!!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdtJsBuleyqJsuy4LWN1zR-bFfstIXH7zQrUSo0/?taken-by=belinhapgram