This book traces the social, cultural, and political history of the Brazilian empire (1822-89) through the official and popular celebrations on the days of national festivity (national holidays) instituted soon after independence in 1822. The focus is on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s largest city and national capital. As Latin America’s only long-lasting monarchy, Brazil’s civic ritual drew on many old-regime forms, but married them to modern elements such as the 1824 constitution. Based on newspaper coverage, travelers’ accounts, and descriptions of these national holidays, this book analyzes the ... More

This book traces the social, cultural, and political history of the Brazilian empire (1822-89) through the official and popular celebrations on the days of national festivity (national holidays) instituted soon after independence in 1822. The focus is on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s largest city and national capital. As Latin America’s only long-lasting monarchy, Brazil’s civic ritual drew on many old-regime forms, but married them to modern elements such as the 1824 constitution. Based on newspaper coverage, travelers’ accounts, and descriptions of these national holidays, this book analyzes the changing debate about the political institutions (independent empire, monarchy, and constitution) celebrated year after year. Rather than invoking an abstract nationalism, these celebrations were the occasion for extensive debate about the empire’s political institutions: the constitution on 25 March, independence on 7 September, and the monarchy on the emperors’ birthdays. This book is, furthermore, a social and cultural history of these civic rituals, which frequently mobilized large proportions of Rio de Janeiro’s population. The often extensive popular festivals on national holidays reveals that political participation extended more broadly into the urban population than historians have assumed. This book also examines the theater galas held on these days, as well as the emperors’ ceremonial entries into Rio de Janeiro after their travels and the inaugurations of the two monuments that celebrated independence. Each of these civic rituals was the occasion for extensive debate about the nature of the empire’s political institutions.