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Bringing People Together: Electronic Voyages to Brazil Part 4
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By Joe Lopes
June 7, 2007
Here is part 4 of Joe‘s article, recounting some of the stories he has had resulting from articles he has written. To read the previous parts click the relevant links at the end of the article.
The Fabulous "Feather Game"
Speaking of cultural commentary, I was solicited last June 2006, via e-mail (what else?), by the program events coordinator of Exploris, a local interactive museum devoted to world cultures, to give a lecture on, and show my long-dormant "skills" with (ha!), something called peteca, as part of the museum's focus on "inspiring interest in our ever-evolving global society and how it touches [our] lives here at home."
The peteca talk and live demonstration would be concurrent with that of a visiting capoeira troupe, the Abadá Capoeira Raleigh, run by a large, muscularly built fellow called Fabiano Cunha (nicknamed "Mago," in accordance with capoeira tradition), a native of Paraná State in southern Brazil.
What is peteca? Peteca (pronounced peh-TEH-ka) is a traditional Brazilian game of "hand shuttlecock," which is probably the best way to describe the activity to someone unfamiliar with its origins or the obscure-looking object of everyone's desire, the peteca itself.
My brother and I learned to play peteca not on the shady alamedas of our native São Paulo, but on the concrete pavements of the South Bronx, where we both grew up.
Our citified friends were suitably intrigued by peteca. In effect, they used to call it the "feather game," mostly because of the way it looked: the peteca has a flat, rounded, and weighted leather base around three-to-five inches in diameter, depending on the type of peteca used. It's topped off with a flowing crop of stiff, brightly colored feathers-somewhat like the worn headdress of a Guaraní Indian chieftain (you get the idea).
Whether on a tennis court or a playground, at the beach or in the park, inside the office (don't let the boss catch you) or outside during break time, peteca can be played practically anywhere and by almost anyone, regardless of age or condition.
One strikes the flat part of its base with the palm of one's hand. No feet are allowed, which in our case, as former juvenile players of street soccer, was pretty hard to resist. The trick was to steer the peteca towards your partner without ever letting it touch the ground, ergo its similarity to badminton in that respect, but without the net or racket.
There are professional peteca leagues and federations (with standardized rules and regulations) not only all across Brazil, but also in such remote regions as England and France, and as far away as The People's Republic of China (!).
Perhaps the peteca had invisible wings (to go with the aerodynamic plumage) for it to have reached such great distances on its own.
In any event, the program was set for Saturday, on the afternoon of November 4th, 2006, right after the capoeira exhibition in the Global Village Square, or great hall, of the museum.
Part 5 next week...
Copyright © 2007 by Josmar F. Lopes
A naturalized American citizen born in Brazil, Joe Lopes was raised and educated in New York City, where he worked for many years in the financial sector. In 1996, he moved to Brazil with his wife and daughters. In 2001, he returned to the U.S. and now resides in North Carolina with his family. You can email your comments to JosmarLopes@msn.com.
To read previous articles by Joe Lopes click below:
Bringing People Together: Electronic Voyages to Brazil Part 3
Bringing People Together: Electronic Voyages to Brazil Part 2
Bringing People Together: Electronic Voyages to Brazil Part 2
Bringing People Together: Electronic Voyages to Brazil Part 1
Misunderstanding Brazil's National Anthem: A Crash-Course in the Hymn of the Nation
Brecht, Weill & Buarque: The Brazilian Play‘s the Thing! Part 1
Theater, the Brecht of Life: The Influences on Chico's "Modern" Street Opera, Part II
A Walk on the Weill Side: The Influences on Chico‘s "Modern" Street Opera Part 2
A Walk on the Weill Side: The Influences on Chico‘s "Modern" Street Opera Part 1
Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Brazilian Bach Part 5
Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Brazilian Bach Part 4
Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Brazilian Bach Part 3
Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Brazilian Bach Part 2
Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Brazilian Bach Part 1
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 11
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 10
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 9
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 8
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 7
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 6
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 5
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 4
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 3
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 2
Two Brazilian Charmers Part 1
Teaching English In Brazil Part 21
Teaching English In Brazil Part 20
Teaching English In Brazil Part 19
Teaching English In Brazil Part 18
Teaching English In Brazil Part 17
Teaching English In Brazil Part 16
Teaching English In Brazil Part 15
Teaching English In Brazil Part 14
Teaching English In Brazil Part 13
Teaching English In Brazil Part 12
Teaching English In Brazil Part 11
Brazil: Thrills, Spills, and... Oh Yes, No Ifs, Ands or Head-Butts, Please
Teaching English In Brazil Part 10
Teaching English In Brazil Part 9
Brazil: A Fever Called Corinthians Part 4
Brazil: Taking Flight on Florencia's Fragile Wings Part 4
Brazil: A Fever Called Corinthians Part 3
Brazilian World Cup Debacle: Just Wait Till 2010! Part 2
Brazilian World Cup Debacle: Just Wait Till 2010! Part 1
Brazil: Taking Flight on Florencia's Fragile Wings Part 3
Brazil: A Fever Called Corinthians Part 2
Brazil: Taking Flight on Florencia‘s Fragile Wings Part 2
Brazil: A Fever Called Corinthians Part 1
Brazil: Taking Flight on Florencia's Fragile Wings Part 1
Teaching English In Brazil Part 8
Teaching English In Brazil Part 7
Teaching English In Brazil Part 6
Teaching English In Brazil Part 5
Teaching English In Brazil Part 4
Teaching English In Brazil Part 3
Teaching English In Brazil Part 2
A German Ring in the Brazilian Rainforest Part 4
A German Ring in the Brazilian Rainforest Part 3
Teaching English In Brazil - Part I
A German Ring in the Brazilian Rainforest Part 2
A German Ring in the Brazilian Rainforest Part 1
"Down in Brazil," with Michael Franks Part 3
"Down in Brazil," with Michael Franks Part 2
"Down in Brazil," with Michael Franks Part 1
Brazil: A Candid Talk with Gerald Thomas
Getting to the "bottom" of Brazil's Gerald Thomas
A Brazilian Diva Torn Between Europe and Brazil
The Enraged Genius of Brazil‘s Maestro Neschling
A German Ring in the Brazilian Rainforest
Brazil's Musical Polyglots: What Was That You Were Singing?
Did Bossa Nova Kill Opera in Brazil?
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6/8/2007
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