A little P-Day fun!

We went to the Farroupilha (Ragamuffin) Celebration.  Everyone dressing similiar to this man.  Like a gaucho (cowboy).  That´s what they call people from Rio Grande do Sul, ´gaucho´ and they speak ´gauché´.

A little different look, interesting hats........still gauchos!

Farroupilha is a celebration in memory of when the state Rio Grade do Sul, caused a civil up rising as they tried to become independent from the rest of Brasil in 1835.  Despite the support of Italian revolutionary Garibaldi (wonder if that´s where Garibaldi chocolate comes from?), the gaucho led revolt ended in 1845.  Even though they were defeated, it still is celebrated with regional pride.  A cowboy type celebration where they meet together with friends and family in cabin like houses like these in a huge park and have a churrasco (huge bar-be-que with tons of different meats, like Tucanos).  They ride horses, wear clothes like these shown, the women in long dresses, cowgirl style.  It´s pretty cool.  We´ve discovered that Rio Grande do Sul is a state like Texas.  Everything thing is bigger and better, they think!  

A section of the park had a big market place where they sold handmade items and all sorts of other stuff.  Very gaucho type things.

The food section of the park reminded us of the State Fair.  They even had `Lays` type potatoe chips.  They made them fresh right there.  They don´t even sell chips like these in the store!!  It was a special treat!