Maceié Dear student, With a cup of “quentéo” in one hand and my pen in the other, / am writing to you from a “festa junina’. | am here with a friend from Macei6. Here in this city the people really keep the tradition of (conservam a tradigéo de) “festa junina’. They dress their children (suas criangas, as criancas delas) in “‘caipira’ clothing; the girls wear their hair in_braids (trangas),; the boys paint beards and moustaches on their faces (pintam barbas e bigodes. em seus rostos, nos rostos deles). | am wearing my_own moustache (meu proprio bigode). my ‘friends old pants and a checkered (axadrezada) shirt. Tonight is Sao Joao's night according to the legend (de acordo com a lenda), the coldest evening of the year. Everybody is keeping warm, drinking “‘quentao” and eating ‘‘munguza". Now the “‘caipira” wedding is about to start (esta para comegar). The couples are taking their places on the lines. My friend and his partner introduce me to @ girl. Her partner is not here and | am happy to take his place. The wedding ceremony is over (esté terminada) and our, group is be- ginning to dance. The “quadrilha" is one of my favorite dances. / still remember most of its steps (a maioria dos seus passos, a maioria dos passos dela). ‘Festa junina” is a party for children and adults, too. We We get older (Nés ficamos mais velhos), but the tradition never loses charm (nunca perde seu charme). Your teacher, Fernando