As Companhias de Reis e do Menino Jesus em Carmo do Rio Claro (MG): vivências e memórias, patrimonialização e manutenção do fenômeno

Abstract

It is highlighted the presence of catholicism at the municipality of Carmo do Rio Claro, specially in Catholic Saints' celebrations. In such scenario, it was sought to emphasize the "Companias de Reis e do Menino Jesus" (Company of Kings and Company the Child Jesus are local religious manifestations) celebration aiming to examine the reknowledge of these "companies" as an municipality's immaterial cultural heritage, from its society, revelers, shepherds, tourists and local government. The research is complete with the identification and interpretation of the symbology that sustains and gives meaning to these religious manifestations, also diagnosing the challenges and possible risks of extinction of these cultural manifestations. The legislation, regulations and practices in force in Cultural Policies, present in the state of Minas Gerais and the municipality of Carmo do Rio Claro (MG), which aimed at safeguarding cultural goods, were considered. The research was based on an interdisciplinary basis between Geography, Anthropology, Philosophy, History and Arts and its qualitative research techniques, with emphasis on field research were done with participant observation -interviews, photographic and audiovisual resources. In this context, the concept of religious landscape is the presupposition to think about the "Companias de Reis e do Menino Jesus" of Carmo do Rio Claro (MG) as a system of religious belief, permeated by codes, symbols and signs that reveal historical practices, experiences, individual and collective memories that demand to be preserved.