Social stratagies in the São Sebations festivities: the exemple of the bidder José Antonio de Freitas Guimarães in Rio de Janeiro (1795-1810)

Abstract

The present research has the purpose of approaching the strategies of part the elite in colonial Rio de Janeiro, as they sought ways to maintain their places in the social hierarchy of the Old Regime city, through the public administration and religiosity. One of those places was the City Council of Rio de Janeiro, which used to organize Saint Sebastian's Feast Day and its Octave (eight consecutive days of celebration), and used a system of public auctions where individuals would supply the city with the necessary items for the celebrations and then charge the Council at cost, in pursuit of honor and prestige. José Antônio de Freitas was the most frequent bidder from 1795 to 1810.

Keywords

• Rio de Janeiro
• Senado da Câmara
• Festa de São Sebastião
• Arrematação