Saci- Perere

“Esta e uma lenda que se originou no nordeste do Brasil e foi influenciado pelos indios que povoavam naquela regiao do pais. A estoria e sobre um jovem negro, que usa um chapeu vermelho, fuma cachimbo e tem apenas uma perna. Ele perdeu a perna numa briga de capoeira, que uma danca de artes marcias originado pelos escravos de plantacoes de cana no
Brasil. A caracteristica sobre este menino e que ele e travesso. Ele e notorio por entrar nas casas das pessoas e roubar coisas. Ele assombra os viajantes nas florestas, e rouba as coisas pessoais deles. Ele faz as travessuras apenas por brincadeira e nao machuca ninguem. Esta lenda tem passado por varias geracoes e hoje Saci-Perere e uma personagem destacada durante o Halloween Brasileiro. Alem disso, ele aparece como personagem de varios livros infantis.

This is a tale that originated in the northeastern part of Brazil and was influenced by the Indians who inhabited that part of the country. The story is based on a young, black kid who wears a red hat, smokes a pipe, and has one leg. He lost his leg in a capoeira fight, a martial-arts dance started by the slaves on the plantations of Brazil. The thing about this boy is that he is troublesome. He is notorious for breaking into people’s houses and stealing. He roams through the forests, scares people, and steals their personal belongings.  He does this for fun and doesn’t cause harm or deliberately hurt anyone. This tale has been passed on over generations now. Saci- Perere is a popular figure during Brazilian Halloween (is marketable and commercialized). Also, this boy appears in popular children’s story books.” –Peter Wen

Analysis:

My father does not have personal connections with this popular Brazilian tale. He moved to Brazil when he was five years old and wasn’t exposed to as many Brazilian fairytales or legends since his parents grew up in Taiwan and engaged him in a different cultural environment. He heard about it through the grapevine and in the media tailored to the younger crowd. The story’s origins are crucial to understanding Brazil’s history of colonization. Back in 18^th century Brazil, African slaves would tell stories of this popular Brazilian character to scare little children. While Saci played tricks on people using his magical red hat, he was also the brunt of practical jokes. It was common to see Saci trapped in a glass bottle, which emulated stories of Arabian mythology. The Muslim’s occupation of parts of Portuguese territory influenced the circulation of the story. The oicotype has travelled through several regions in Brazil and adapted to local cultures. One variation says the story was partly influenced by Christian folklore and that Saci symbolized demonic forces (different from our traditional perception of “demonic” and more along the lines of innocent troublemaker). At the very least, he has become a marketable product in both merchandise and children’s tales, especially around the time of Halloween. The image of the one legged black boy with holes in his hands and a red hat has become an iconic figure in the world of children’s tales.

Perhaps children can identify with Saci, who is both mischievous and good-hearted. One cannot help but sympathize with Saci’s one leg and decrepit physical state, which may symbolize the poverty that exists in Brazil. Perhaps, Saci represents the lower class who is further disadvantaged by his physically handicapped state. It comes to show that despite certain setbacks, Saci and other handicapped, underprivileged individuals in his situation can still move forward and live a normal life. He is a relatable character who can provide inspiration to those who struggle physically or financially (he always seems to make ends meet). At the same time, those who don’t struggle still delight in his good-hearted, harmless nature and take comfort in his perseverance.

Boto

“Boto e um peixe do rio Amazonas e se parece com o dolfin. A lenda diz que o Boto vive no rio muito solitario e as noites se transforma num jovem bonito. Uma caracteristica interessante sobre ele e que ele usa um chapeu para evitar que a agua saia do orificio que ele tem como peixe. As noites ele sai entao para seduzir mulheres e antes de amanhecer ele volta para o rio , onde ele se transforma em Boto novamente. Nas manhas seguintes, as mulheres que eram seduzidas por ele ficavam gravidas. Hoje, quando ume mulher fica gravida naquela regiao e nao se sabe quem e o pai legitimo, as pessoas dizem que esta tudo bem, porque ele ou ela
deve ser filho ou filha do Boto.

Boto is a fish in the Amazon River that looks like a dolphin. The tale is that Boto lives a lonely life in the river and in the evenings, transforms into a young, handsome male. The interesting thing about this is that he wears a hat to cover the blowhole where the water would come out. In the evenings, he goes back around seducing women and by the morning, goes back to the river where he transforms back to Boto again. The following morning, the women he seduces always become pregnant. Nowadays, when women become pregnant in the northeastern region of Brazil and don’t know who the legitimate father is, they say “Oh, that’s ok…that’s the son/daughter of Boto.” – Peter Wen

Analysis:

My dad shared this story with me recently. He learned about this folklore from a good friend and client of his, who is well acquainted with popular Brazilian tales. While it originated in the Northeastern region of Brazil, its cultural significance stays true to the stereotype of Brazilian men. Brazilians have a stigma for being lazy, which holds partial truth. According to my dad who has travelled to Rio numerous times, working class people go straight to the beach after work as early as 3:00 pm on weekdays. Also, if it were not for beer, soccer, and samba, the country “would go bust,” which is a colloquial phrase Brazilians use to describe their culture. Like the dolphin, Brazilian men are perceived as tranquil, exotic animals. However, at night, the dolphin seduces women, which is where the negative stereotype comes into play. The playful nature of the tale is a safe medium to address these negative stereotypes; that Brazilian men are known for excessive flirting and being unfaithful. My dad said that those who didn’t want to raise their children in this kind of environment left the country, which is one of the reasons why my family never lived in Brazil (other reasons include safety and the education system).

Boto has survived throughout generations and continues to carry negative connotations. The stereotype of men as agents of sexual violence has been a deep seated myth, infiltrating many tales and legends, perhaps the tale of Boto. This results in a general distrust for the male species and negative connotations of masculinity. Boto, however, is not portrayed in a completely negative light. During the day, Boto transforms back into a dolphin and loses his ability to harm women. Maybe the legend is encouraging us to embrace and question nature’s intentions. Or perhaps nature allows us to explore the dual nature of men. The ending of the folklore drives this point home with, “Oh, that’s ok, that’s the son/daughter of Boto,” as if this kind of behavior has been normalized and accepted in society.

I think the point of the tale is to reflect the light-hearted, playful nature of Brazilian people. While this is not to say that Brazilians condone the behavior of Boto at night, it is valid to say that they are much more relaxed and less judgmental about the forward, flirtatious male types. When my dad told me the story, he had a very lighthearted, humorous tone in his voice. While Boto does not reflect an entire gender, it does perpetuate a stereotype of the way Brazilian men interact with women.