Santa Cruz de Jovim Folk Ranch

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Community Centre

District: Porto > Gondomar > Santa Cruz de Jovim > Barraca

Location

The Rancho Folclórico de Santa Cruz de Jovim is located in the locality of Santa Cruz de Jovim, in the municipality of Gondomar. It is specifically situated in the Barraca area, which is part of the Jovim parish. This location is set within a territory marked by its proximity to the Douro River, extending across an environment historically linked to riverside and rural activities. The very name "Jovim," derived from the ancient verb "Jouver," meaning to lie or rest, suggests a deep and tranquil connection with the natural and cultural heritage of the Douro basin and the Ferreira River.

Local Roots and Identity

Founded on November 7, 2003, the Rancho Folclórico de Santa Cruz de Jovim was born from the desire to preserve and promote the rich popular traditions of its homeland. This cultural group is a living manifestation of the spirit of Jovim, a parish once characterized by a daily life of hard work, but also by intense moments of social gathering. Its roots delve into local history, where activities such as fishing, agriculture, filigree art, carpentry, and firewood trade shaped the lives of its inhabitants. The folk group thus serves as a link between the past and the present, ensuring that the memory of a hardworking and festive people endures.

The Artistic Expression of the Past

The performances of the Rancho Folclórico de Santa Cruz de Jovim are an authentic portal to the region's past. Through dance and song, the group recreates the atmosphere of the festivals and pilgrimages that enlivened the ends of harvests, agricultural labors, grape-picking seasons, and corn husking events. The costumes worn by its members are a faithful representation of the attire used by the people of Jovim about 150 years ago, reflecting their intrinsic connection to working the land and the river. The music, performed with traditional instruments such as accordions, violas, cavaquinhos, bombos (bass drums), and ferrinhos (small metal percussion), transports the audience to the threshing floors and squares where the community gathered to celebrate, sing, and dance. The repertoire is a testament to the vibrant soul of a land of "gold and filigree" and of "fishermen."

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt