In this Sept.18, 2015, "gauchos" accompanied by their dogs, ride their horses to go to his work at the rural area of Santa Izabel ranch, Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. During âSemana Farroupilha,â or âRagamuffin Weekâ in this enclave of 75,000 people, the locals celebrate cowboy tradition and intense pride in the regionâs 1935 uprising over taxation against the federal government. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
ALEGRETE, Brazil (AP) - Wearing traditional broad-brimmed hats and red neckerchiefs, their trousers tucked into soft, leather boots, the South American gauchos trot on handsome horses down the street of the small southern community.
Some of the Brazilian cowboys ride with little girls wearing old-fashioned dresses. They parade before crowds in southern Rio Grande do Sul state, which fancies itself as practically a separate nation, with its rugged rural traditions and Germanic roots.
During "Semana Farroupilha," or "Ragamuffin Week," in this enclave of 75,000 people, the locals celebrate cowboy tradition and intense pride in the region's 1835 uprising over taxation against the federal government. Celebrated every September, the regional revolt is known as the "Ragamuffin Revolution" because the poor fighters wore raggedy clothing in an insurgency that took a decade to put down.
It's a different world here, about 700 miles southwest of the Brazilian megalopolis of Sao Paulo. Today, revolution is no longer on the table - instead it's the endless rows of barbecued beef. The region is known for having Brazil's best steaks, ribs, sausages and other carnivorous delights, all slow roasted over massive pit of flames.
During the celebration, cowboy culture is kept alive with traditional dances to accordion music, lectures, book readings and camping out under the stars.
Among those celebrating is 45-year-old Antonio Carlos Pereira, a cowboy nearly his entire life.
As he prepares his mate, the herbal tea sipped by seemingly everyone in the south, Pereira says that being part of the horse parades of Semana Farroupilha is a great reason to never leave his work in the Brazilian grasslands.
"I had many offers to move to a big city, but I could never do it," he says. "I want to keep the tradition alive here."
But Pedro Melchiades, 23, laments that many younger gauchos no longer keep the cowboy ways, instead opting for easier jobs in bigger cities.
While he says he's "overcome that desire" to run away to the urban lights, he admits the cowboy life can be lonesome. Still, Melchiades notes that the annual festival "is a good chance to appeal to the ladies."
"That is one of the reasons why I have been in the horse parades for 10 years," he says.
In this Sept.19, 2015 photo, gaucho Leo Moura, poses for a photo in front his home during the Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week, in Alegretemunicipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Each September, the locals keep their cowboy cultural alive with two weeks of traditional dances, lectures, book readings and camping out under the stars. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.18, 2015, "crioulos" horses, or native horse, are raised at Santa Izabel ranch, Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Celebrated every September, the regional revolt is known as the âRagamuffin Revolutionâ because the poor fighters wore raggedy clothing in an insurgency that took a decade to put down. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.17, 2015, Alcino Rodrigues de Campos, 36, herd sheeps at the Cabanha Escondida ranch, Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Revolution is no longer on the table _ instead itâs the endless rows of barbecued beef. The region is known for having Brazilâs best mouthwatering steaks, ribs, sausages and other carnivorous delights, all slow roasted over massive pit flames. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.17, 2015, gauchos herd cattle at the Cabanha Escondida ranch, Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Pedro Melchiades, 23, laments that many younger gauchos no longer keep the cowboy ways, instead opting for easier jobs in bigger cities. While he says heâs âovercome that desireâ to run away to the urban lights, he admits the cowboy life can be lonesome. Still, Melchiades notes that the annual festival âis a good chance to appeal to the ladies.â (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.17, 2015, Antonio Carlos Vieira, 45, herd cattle at the Santa Izabel ranch, Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The region is known for having Brazilâs best mouthwatering steaks, ribs, sausages and other carnivorous delights, all slow roasted over massive pit flames. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.19, 2015 photo, gaucho Jose Newton Franca Silveira, 66, smokes a cigarrette during the Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week, in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Each September, the locals keep their cowboy cultural alive with two weeks of traditional dances, lectures, book readings and camping out under the stars. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.20, 2015 photo, girl Alessandra Fortes de Lima, 6, touches the boot of her father Adimir Goncalves de Lima, 49, before a parade during the Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week, in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Some of the Brazilian cowboys ride with little girls wearing old-fashioned dresses. They parade before crowds in southern Rio Grande do Sul state, which fancies itself as practically a separate nation, with its rugged rural traditions and Germanic roots. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.20, 2015 photo, a father with his daughter smile during a parade at the Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week, in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Some of the Brazilian cowboys ride with little girls wearing old-fashioned dresses. They parade before crowds in southern Rio Grande do Sul state, which fancies itself as practically a separate nation, with its rugged rural traditions and Germanic roots. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.20, 2015 photo, gauchos wearing traditional clothes gather before the Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Celebrated every September, the regional revolt is known as the âRagamuffin Revolutionâ because the poor fighters wore raggedy clothing in an insurgency that took a decade to put down. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.19, 2015 photo, a girl and her grandfather ride their horses before a parade during the Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week, in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Some of the Brazilian cowboys ride with little girls wearing old-fashioned dresses. They parade before crowds in southern Rio Grande do Sul state, which fancies itself as practically a separate nation, with its rugged rural traditions and Germanic roots. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.19, 2015 photo, couples dance during Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week celebrations, in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. During the celebration, cowboy culture is kept alive with traditional dances to accordion music, lectures, book readings and camping out under the stars. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.19, 2015 photo, gauchos prepare a barbecue or "churrasco" for launch during Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week, in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Itâs a different world here, about 700 miles southwest of the Brazilian megalopolis of Sao Paulo. Today, revolution is no longer on the table _ instead itâs the endless rows of barbecued beef. The region is known for having Brazilâs best steaks, ribs, sausages and other carnivorous delights, all slow roasted over massive pit of flames. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.19, 2015 photo, a couple wearing traditional clothes, dance during Semana Farroupilha or âRagamuffinâ week, in Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. During the celebration, cowboy culture is kept alive with traditional dances to accordion music, lectures, book readings and camping out under the stars. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press
In this Sept.18, 2015, a "gaucho" accompanied by his dog, rides his horse to go to his work at the rural area of Santa Izabel ranch, Alegrete municipality, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Wearing traditional broad-brimmed hats and red neckerchiefs, their trousers tucked into soft, leather boots, the South American gauchos trot on handsome horses down the street of the small southern community. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The Associated Press