Araçu: Ox-Cart Tradition and Pilgrimage

Araçu combines rural traditions with religious customs. At its heart is the Encontro de Carreiros e Cavaleiros, founded in 2008, which reached its 17th edition. In the municipality of Araçu, the gathering takes place annually in the first week of May. It preserves rural traditions and honours practices that are part of the region’s cultural identity. The ox-cart procession is not only shaped by religion: it also brings together customs, traditions and forms of community organisation.

Families in Araçu also preserve the carrear tradition as a symbol of rural life. Visitors interested in this culture can explore its different connections: the ox-cart procession in Araçu, the families’ tradition and the gathering of the Carreiros e Cavaleiros. The tradition brings together culture, passion and faith in the Divino Pai Eterno. This gives Araçu a distinctive character for travellers who want to discover not only a landscape when planning their holiday, but also the cultural stories of a place.

Origins and religious customs

According to the founding story of Araçu, the town’s history began in 1914. Jose Jacinto da Silva, owner of the land located along the Córrego Salobro, donated part of it to the Catholic Church for the construction of a chapel and the founding of the town. Also in 1914, a Cruzeiro was erected in Araçu in a forecourt presumably intended for the Capela de São Sebastião do Salobro. The story and the cross are separate details in the town’s history: one tells of its founding, while the other describes a religious structure from the same year.

The connection to faith is also reflected in the pilgrimage of the Carreiros from Araçu to Trindade. Its route is divided into four overnight stops. Since the mid-19th century, an annual ox-cart pilgrimage has taken place in Trindade in honour of Pai Eterno. In 2023, the Comitivas dos Carreiros de Araçu set out for Trindade, following a religious blessing and a shared lunch before the journey. These details illustrate the communal and spiritual context of the pilgrimage without conflating it with the annual gathering in Araçu.

The most frequently used route follows the GO-222. Before the Centro Integrado, the Carreiros turn off towards the Fazenda of the late Dr. João Borges, where they spend the night. Further stops include Caturaí, the Capela do Bugre and a Chácara near Trindade; after that, they take part in the ox-cart procession. This makes it possible to follow the route in the order described: it begins with the first overnight stop at the Fazenda and continues through three more stops towards Trindade.

Individual moments during the gathering also show its religious dimension. In 2019, a service was held at the start of the evening at one of the city’s rest areas, with preparations and evangelisation for all visitors. It was attended by Father Márcio Celestino of the Paróquia Santa Rita de Cássia de Araçu. The mobilisation generated by the Encontro de Carreiros e Cavaleiros is also associated with the potential to promote tourism and the local economy in Araçu.

Hiking in the surrounding region

Another key theme is the Caminho das Goiabeiras. Araçu was involved in a cooperation agreement to develop this regional long-distance hiking trail, which is part of Brazil’s national network of long-distance trails. It offers a different focus for trip planning from the cultural events and the pilgrimage: those interested in hiking can consider this regional trail as a separate highlight. The topics covered range from local history and rural traditions to religious customs and long-distance hiking.

For further discoveries, you can also find Três Ranchos, São Luís de Montes Belos, São Domingos, Mundo Novo, Formosa, Itapirapuã, Teresina de Goiás and Cristianópolis here.

For the overarching travel overview: Goias.