A vaquejada e suas expressões culturais na cidade de Nazarezinho, Paraíba.

Abstract

The Vaquejada is a Northeastern cultural tradition and that in addition has taken a great dimension and importance for this region, considering that it is practiced by a great number of inhabitants of this region. For the practice of this sport it is necessary to use three animals, two horses and an ox. The goal of the sport is to knock down the ox within a 9-meter range with the demarcation on the ground, the cowboy who achieves such a feat moves to the "next phase" until only one cowboy remains who will be the champion. There is a strong criticism of the posture adopted with these animals, especially with the bovine, it is questioned if they were cruel practices or if it was within reason. Sports enthusiasts are willing to adopt some measures aimed at preserving the cattle and horses involved in the practice, which would, in theory, facilitate the regulation of the sport in order to ensure that it occurs in the best possible way. However, one does not have the dimension of how much these "new measures" can reduce the impacts to the environment so that it can live harmoniously with the secular tradition that is the Vaquejada. The opinions on the subject, however, differ. This work aims to study the Vaquejada from its origin in the era of the colonels to the present day, highlighting the practice of cultural activity in the municipality of Nazarezinho Paraíba that has been generating income and jobs in the small region, not forgetting that the practice of the same and seen as leisure by many and by others not so much, because this activity also comes to cause mistreatment to the animals of the races.