PACA Celebrates Independence Day for Brazil with Singing, Acting and Recitation

Caption: Elementary kids represent the Brazilian flag in a beautiful presentation with music and singing.[by Benjamin Oliveira]

by Benjamin Oliveira

The students and teachers of PACA celebrated the Independence Day of Brazil on Friday, September 5th, in the school gym during eighth period, as part of their annual tradition to recognize this important date in Brazilian history and give thanks to God for his work in that event.

PACA has traditionally held an assembly on the day of, or shortly before, the official day of Brazilian Independence. The celebration is held as an assembly in the gym to accommodate the entire student body, their teachers and parents who are invited to join them. The PACA celebration is meant to honor the official Brazilian Independence Day which is September 7th.

Any country’s independence day is a motive for great celebration, as it reminds all Brazilians about the freedom they currently have in their country. It is a time to remember that Brazil became an independent country in 1822. Historians say that it started with a remarkable cry of independence, by Dom Pedro next to the Ipiranga River.

Benjamin Hatcher commented on what it means to be a Brazilian and how important the day is for him to remember what it means to be a Brazilian.

“For me, being a Brazilian on a special day such as the seventh of September is a huge honor,” said Hatcher.

He says that, each September seventh, he remembers how important it is and all the process Brazil had to get here. For him being a Brazilian also means to always be strong and courageous.

“Our country has passed through extremely difficult times and problems such as slavery, corruption, poverty and others,” said Hatcher. “But in all of these hardships we as a country always prevail, showing our beautiful nature, hospitality, and much more.”

The assembly was well distributed and was represented by students from every grade. The Independence Day event began with a special parade and entrance by seniors entering with their kinder buddies.

Caption: Senior students guide their excited Kinder Buddies to the front of the stage area to begin their performance for the parents. [by Dr. Cristina Meier]

The elementary students stood together and sang the national anthem, while holding the Brazilian flags in their hand.This was followed with a presentation by the juniors doing a pleasing combination of songs which represent Brazilian culture. All are connected to Brazilian history and bring us to today in which we are free.

There was also singing from the second and third grade classes, telling the story of the man whose name is Dom Pedro, and singing of the exile by both of these classes.

The Brazilian Brazilian coordinator at PACA, Viviane Guedes, said that she liked how Brazilian culture was reenacted throughout the presentation.

“Very well, there was a mix of culture, celebration, joy, enthusiasm, colors, inclusion, cooperation, and excitement,” said Santos [translated from Portuguese to English]. “And all of this together forms the face of Brazil. There were four parts that I really enjoyed: the videos of the third anniversary of the Cançao do Exilio (Song of Exile) and the name of Dom Pedro. The performance by Ben Hatcher and Rafael Portella was enchanting. I found the juniors performing songs that represent the songs that marked Brazil in eras so different from their own.”

During the assembly we also had a performance from Rafael Portella and Benjamin Hatcher, which simulated a conversation between the emperor and the artist of the famous independence painting, Pedro Americo. The skit brought information about the real meaning of freedom of a nation.

Benjamin Hatcher who participated in the Dom pedro skit talks about how he thought it was a fun and different way to represent the situation and why it was his favourite part, and how much effort they put into it and the experience of being part of this.

“While presenting our skit in front of the public I could hear the laughter and see the smiles all the way from the kids to the adults,” said Hatcher “Seeing this really made me feel like I created great memories and accomplished something that I would have never accomplished if I had not taken the challenge to perform the skit.”

Finally the event ended with a prayer from Mr. Lucas Ham, in which he thanked God and asked Him to bless this nation so that it may represent his kingdom.

The Independence Day assembly provided an overview of the difficulties faced by Brazil nowadays, and ended with a prayer so that God may bless the Brazilian nation and that he may bring his nation well represented here.

All this came together to represent the Independence Day Assembly as planned by the Brazilian Director at PACA.