亚马逊河流域的花车对抗

By Rera Kobo

The great Amazon River that cuts through Brazil. Seven hundred and fifty miles upstream from the mouth of the river sits the town of Parintins. It is home to 70，000 people. Each year， at the end of June， this small town hosts the Boi Bumba Festival.

Cattle breeding is the economic backbone of the town. Over 120，000 cows fill the surrounding countryside. In fact， the “boi” of Boi Bumba means“Ox.” The festival is held to celebrate the story of an ox that was 1）resurrected from the dead.

The popularity of the Boi Bumba Festival took off with the creation of this 40，000-seat stadium. It was built in 1988 especially for Boi Bumba with regional government funding. Local rivalries were transformed into a battle of giant festival floats. Teams of red and blue were formed， each spending a year to create their floats. The festival spans three days. Close to 30 floats are put on show. A panel of judges determines a winner based on presentation and performance.

The town of Parintins is divided between east and west from the church in the center of town. On the east side of town， even the traffic signs are blue. Blue homes line the streets. The telephone poles and phone booths are blue. This is home to many of the members of the blue team. Crossing over to the west side of town， the streets are lined with red houses. This is home to the members of the red team. The red team is not short of dedicated fans either.

June 27th， the day before the festival， streams of tourists arrive in town. Theyve come from all over Brazil. The 3-day festival， with its spectacular floats and feverish dance performances， is growing in popularity every year. What was once a small local event has now become a huge festival 2）encompassing all the towns in the region.

June 28th， 9 oclock， at last the festival begins. It starts with the arrival of the ox， the symbol of the festival. Forty thousand spectators pack the stands. Thirty thousand more， who couldnt get a seat， will watch on screens placed outside the stadium.

Day 2. The blue teams largest float of the festival dominates the stage. The 3）shaman stands on the top of the eagle. The 4）cobra and the 5）jaguar， 6）incarnations of the Indio， come to life spitting fire.

The final day of Boi Bumba， 9 oclock， the third day of the festival begins. This is the red teams largest float， the House of Flutes. Figures of young Indio boys playing flutes take the stage. The coming of age ceremony begins with the sacred flutes. The Goddess of the Forest， who watches over the youth， appears riding on a butterfly. The boy is beaten by the other youths of the tribe. If he can 7）withstand the pain， he will be considered an adult. When the ceremony ends， the Goddess of the Forest gives him a drink to help him recover. The water fairies and fish of the Amazon River appear. Its the float to honour the water goddess. The performers re-enact the lives of the Indio people， who have lived on the banks of the river for centuries. The Indio believe deeply in the goddess and see the river as the source of all life.

This is the final float of this years festival， the House of the Future. The Indio house slowly opens. The house of the future appears. It is a home for all peoples of the world. Finally it is transformed into the shape of the Earth. This is an appeal for a peaceful world where all peoples can live in harmony.

The 3-day festival draws to a close. In the stadium the following morning， the results of the competition are revealed. The total points awarded by the judges are broadcast to the spectators. They start with the points for each category. Finally， the grand total. Its a tie！ In the 35-year history of the battle of red and blue， this has never happened. Both teams celebrate victory. The giant festival floats are filled with the pride and passion of the people of the Amazon.

这是浩浩荡荡穿过巴西的亚马逊河，在河口上游750英里处（约1200公里），有一座帕林廷斯镇，镇上人口七万。在每年的六月底，这座小镇会举行彭帕牛节。

养牛业是该镇的经济支柱，在小镇周围的乡野有超过十二万头牛。事实上，“彭帕”（Boi Bumba）的“彭”（boi）指的就是牛。这个节日就是为了庆祝一头牛死而复生的传说设立的。

随着这座有四万个座位的体育馆落成，彭帕牛节变得大受欢迎。这座体育馆在1988年由当地政府出资，是专门为彭帕牛节建造的。如此一来，小镇里的竞争演变成了节日大花车的对抗。比赛的队伍分成了红队和蓝队，每一队都会花一整年的时间来制作自己的花车。彭帕牛节历时三天，共展出近三十辆花车，评委组将根据各队花车的外观和表演，决定哪队是获胜者。

帕林廷斯镇从镇中心的教堂处划分成东西两边。在东边，甚至连交通指示牌也是蓝色的。沿街都是涂成了蓝色的房子，电话线杆和电话亭都是蓝色的。这里是众多蓝队队员的家园。在小镇的西边，街道上分布着红房子，这里是红队队员的家，红队也不缺热情的粉丝。

6月27日是节日开始的前一天，大批来自巴西各地的游客来到这个小镇。这个持续三天的节日会展示非常壮观的花车，还有激昂狂热的舞蹈表演，正一年比一年受欢迎。它以前只不过是一个小型的地方庆典，现在已变成了一个大型节日，风靡了这个地区的所有城镇。

6月28日晚上九点，彭帕牛节的庆祝活动终于开始了。首先出场的是一头象征着这个节日的牛。四万名观众坐满了看台，另外占不到位置的三万多人在场外看大屏幕。

第二天，蓝队最大的节日花车占据了整个舞台，萨满站在鹰花车的头顶，土著印地安人化身的眼镜蛇花车和美洲虎花车喷着火焰，活灵活现，非常逼真。

第三天，也就是节日最后一天，活动在晚上九点开始了。这是红队最大的花车“长笛之屋”。一群土著印地安男孩吹着长笛的塑像出现在舞台上。成人礼随着神圣的长笛声开始了，守护这名少年的森林女神骑在一只蝴蝶上现身了。这位少年被部落里的其他少年鞭打。如果他能承受疼痛，就会被认可为一名成人。在仪式结束时，森林女神给了他一瓶药水，帮助他恢复身体。亚马逊河的水精灵和鱼神也出现了，这辆花车正是向水之女神致意的。表演者再现土著印地安人的生活，他们已经在这条河的河岸上生活了好几个世纪。土著印地安人非常相信这水之女神，把亚马逊河视为所有生命的源泉。

这是今年节日表演的最后一辆花车——未来之屋。这座土著印地安人的房子正缓慢地开启，未来之屋出现了。它是全世界人们的家园，最后未来之屋变成了地球的形状。它呼吁世界和平，希望全世界人民都能和平共处。

持续了三天的节日已经接近尾声了，接下来的次日上午将在体育馆里揭晓这次比赛的结果。评委的评分正通过广播向观众宣布，从每个分类的分数开始播报，然后是最后总分。两队的比分相同！在红蓝两队对抗的35年历史中，从来没有出现过这种情况。两支队伍都在庆祝自己的胜利。巨大的节日花车里充满着亚马逊人的骄傲和热情。翻译：丁一