In a few cities in the Northeastern state of Pernambuco, Festa de São João, the popular June 24th festival that celebrates Saint John, includes the noisy performance of bacamarteiros. These armed groups parade around town shooting their bacamartes, guns similar to a blunderbuss. A few women participate in this tradition, that seems to have its origins in Army celebrations, mainly the festivities after the end of the 19th century Paraguayan War.

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