In photos: Brazil celebrates Cavalhadas, a festival of faith and folklore

Brazilians celebrated the Cavalhadas festival, or the Holy Spirit festival, on Monday. Cavalhadas are celebrated in various Brazilian cities, with Pirenópolis in Goiás being a well-known example. (Image: AP)

The Cavalhadas involves a public reenactment of a battle between Christian warriors and Muslims, symbolizing the victory of Iberian Christians over the Moors. The festival is also a celebration of the Holy Spirit, one of the entities of the Roman Catholic Church's trinity. (Image: AP)

Dressed in bright costumes and masks, the Mascarados are playful figures of the Cavalhadas Festival, known for their humor, lively antics, and hoarse, exaggerated voices. (Image: AP)

In historic Pirenópolis, Goiás, the Cavalhada has been celebrated since 1826 with three days of vibrant festivities. Twelve riders in medieval costumes parade through the streets on decorated horses, culminating in a staged battle, where Christian knights always triumph, to the delight of cheering locals. (Image: AP)

Cavalhadas has been a cultural heritage by many local governments in Brazil. Cavalhadas also promotes community identity and tourism in cities like Pirenópolis, Jaraguá, and Palmeiras de Goiás. (Image: AP)

The horses are at the heart of the Cavalhadas Festival. Lavishly adorned, they carry the 24 knights, 12 Christians, and 12 Moors into the symbolic battle. (Image: AP)

The knights bring a sense of lightness to the festivities, easing the intensity of the symbolic battle between life and death. With their presence, the holy war depicted is softened by the vibrant beauty of flowers, colors, and the rich textures of the Brazilian cerrado. (Image: AP)