Every June, towns and cities across Brazil fill with colorful flags, bonfires and the smell of roasted corn. Festa Junina, also called São João, is one of the country's most beloved celebrations, especially in the Northeast.
The festival has roots in European midsummer traditions honoring Catholic saints, which blended over time with rural Brazilian culture. That is why so many decorations and costumes celebrate countryside life.
Food is the star of the show, with corn appearing in almost every form imaginable. Expect treats like canjica, pamonha, paçoca and pé de moleque, often washed down with warm quentão or hot chocolate.
Then there is the quadrilha, a lively group dance in which couples follow a caller through playful steps and mock wedding scenes. Nobody expects perfection, so visitors are usually welcome to join in and laugh along.
Many schools, neighborhoods and churches host their own festas, making it easy to find one close by. Wearing a checked shirt or a straw hat is a fun way to blend in, though it is never mandatory.
If you visit Brazil in June, a Festa Junina is one of the warmest ways to experience local hospitality. Come hungry, bring a friend and be ready to dance.