Traditions and Customs of the Marranos from Minas Gerais, Brazil
Copyright 2024 Marcelo Miranda Guimaraes
The gold, emerald, and diamond mines of the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil attracted Jews and New Christians who came from the Northern states of Brazil, Portugal, and other countries such as Spain and Italy during the 16th and 18th Centuries. This Jewish element left an important legacy in the ethnic mix of colonial Brazil. The ethnic origin of Brazil is rich and can be considered an interesting example of the mixing of races and habits.
Manuel Junior Diegues writes in his book, Regiões Culturais do Brasil (Cultural Regions of Brazil), the following:
“To these groups of Portuguese new immigrants, joined the foreigners that were in large numbers in Minas Gerais. Although not being large in number, reports Professor Manuel Cardoso, foreigners have made a significant influence on the economy and social life of the Minas Gerais region. Everything seems to indicate that these foreigners (most of them merchants), were Jews or Israelites from Portugal, Spain, and Holland. History confirms that many Jews came and settled in Minas Gerais. Augusto de Lima Junior, in his study of Minas Gerais located the major settlements of Jews in the following cities: Paracatu, Serro Frio, Sabara, Pitangui, Ouro Preto, and Mariana. Jews have formed ghettos, still recognized today by the absence of chapels on their ruins. These New-Christian Jews only inter-married with other New-Christian families, and weddings between first degree cousins are, to this day, common practice among them.”
According to another Brazilian scholar, Dr. Neuza Fernandes, who did research in registry offices, old documents, and family documents, thousands of New-Christian families from Portugal and Spain established themselves in Minas Gerais from 1712 to 1763. I will simply mention the towns and surnames that were most frequent:
In Brumado: Family Azevedo.
In Cachoeira: Pereira da Cunha, Fernandes de Matos, Robinson, Moreira, Henriques, Nunes, and Sanches.
In Caeté: Nunes Ribeiro, Bicudo, Barros, and Fonseca.
In Catas Altas: Isidro, Ferreira (Isidore), Pereira, Chaves.
In Congonhas do Campo: Moraes and Oliveira.
In Córredo do Pau das Minas de Arasualhy: Pereira, Ávila, Fernandes, and Pereira.
In Curralinho: Miranda, Roiz, Rodrigues, Nunes, Henriques, Lopes, Álvares, Mendes, and Mendonça.
In Diamantina (former Tijuco): Ribeiro Furtado, Fernandes, Dias, Correa, Rodrigues, and Nunes.
In Fornos: Rodrigues and Cardoso.
In Itaperava: Sá Tinoco.
In Minas de Arassuahi: Fernandes, Pereira, Costa, Silva, and Henriques.
In Minas Novas de Fanados: Lara, Fonseca da Costa, and Ferreira.
In Minas Novas de Paracatu: Ribeiro Sanches, Henriques, Nunes, Britto, and Ferreira.
In Ouro Branco: Lopes.
In Ouro Preto (former vila Rica): Miranda, Fernandes, Pereira, Nunes, Gomes, Fróes, Rodrigues, Moraes, Costa, Cruz, Mendes, Almeida, Vale, Roiz, and Martins.
In Parapanema: Afonso and Miguel.
In Pitangui: Pereira da Cunha, Rodrigues, Roiz, Nogueira, Silveira, Bicudo, and Henriques.
In Ribeirão do Carmo (Mariana): Miranda, Almeida de Sá, Dias, Fernandes, Rodrigues Pinto, Roiz, Cardoso, Pereira, Chaves, Oliveira, Mattos, Pereira da Cunha, and Mendes.
In Rio das Mortes: Miranda, Azevedo, Vale, Machado Coelho, Pereira de Araújo, Lara, Nunes, Alves, Benar, and Vizeu
In Sabará: Miranda, Oliveira, Matos Henriques, Lucena, Montarroio, Rodrigues, Pinto, Nunes de Almeida, Henriques, Ferreira, Costa, Mendes de Sá, Ferreira, and Isidoro.
In São Caetano: Rodrigues.
In São Jerônimo: Rodrigues de Faria.
In Serro Frio: Cunha, Medanha, Sottomaior, Sá de Almeida, Fernandes, Pereira, Ribeiro, Furtado, Gomes, Nunes, Costa, Pereira, Lopes de Mesquita, Paes, and Barreto.
In Sumidouro: Fróis
The relationship of cities and surnames above is just one of the most obvious examples, and does not necessarily mean that there are no other surnames for Marranos or other locations. Likewise, it does not mean that every surname mentioned here originated with the Marranos, but the Jews of Portugal used these names after they were forced to convert to Catholicism.
It is not difficult to identify in the inhabitants of Minas Gerais many cultural similarities with typical Sephardic Jewish families. Among other traditions, I remember even from my own ancestors who lived in Minas Gerais, the following:
Marriage within the family over many generations. Parents commonly choose the bride or groom from their own families (usually first cousins).
Following the lunar calendar and intercalating it with the agricultural cycle.
Leaving grain in the fields for the poor to harvest.
Not throwing anything away, and taking the most of everything without wasting a bit.
Many of them were merchants of precious stones and metals, such as gold and silver. This was one of the reasons why they came to Minas Gerais.
Compared to their neighbors, they stood out by overwork, and for their intelligence.
They were concerned to stay united, inheriting the tradition of celebrating festivals in the family. Their children are educated in the best colleges, usually in Catholic schools. This custom is very old, since the time of the Inquisition in Portugal, when they placed their children in Catholic schools in order to hide their Jewish identity.
Even when working as merchants and farmers, they retained certain traits of fine education and culture. It was the habit of the time also to hire teachers for children's education. They liked to be well dressed, and bought their clothes in large shopping malls in Rio de Janeiro or imported them.
No one can deny their religion. Most Marranos were never really Catholics. They were a people of faith who refused to bow down to saints or images. Some traditions, like asking a blessing from the parents at the time of departure and arrival at home, were until recently a common tradition.
Laying hands over the children to bless them.
Sweeping the house towards the inside.
Killing animals by letting them bleed and then draining all the blood. Unlike Portuguese and Brazilian traditions, New Christians abstained from eating blood.
Washing the dead.
Throwing a handful of earth on the coffin when it is lowered into the grave.
Spilling part of the wine before drinking it. The act of pouring a portion out of the drink is called a libation.
Wearing beards has always been a Jewish custom, although it was also very common in the colonial period.
Avoiding work on Saturday. It was a day to bathe and to wear new clothes.
The expression “que massada!” (“what a massada!”) to explain a tragedy or surprise, in allusion to the fall of the fortress of Masada near the Dead Sea.
Popular use of the verb “Judiar” (to “Judaize” or “bring suffering”) comes from the time of the Inquisition when Jews were persecuted and mistreated.
Touching the doorpost of their houses when they enter or leave, in allusion to the custom of the mezuzah. Once they could not have a mezuzah on their doorposts, they kept the tradition of kissing the plain doorpost.
The expression “a carapuça serviu” (something like “the hood fits you!”) comes from the time of the Inquisition. In the Middle Ages Jews wore elongated hats or hats with three tips to distinguish themselves from non-Jews.
Testing the knife edge on the nail of the animal before slaughtering it.
Washing hands before meals.
All of these customs are clear evidence of the Jewish influence brought by the Marranos who lived in Minas Gerais, and nobody can deny or ignore these historical facts.