Culture of Goan Catholics

Last updated

The Culture of Goan Catholics is a blend of Portuguese and Konkani cultures, with the former having a more dominant role because the Portuguese ruled Goa directly from 1510 to 1961. [1]

Contents

Cuisine

Fish curry and rice (Xit kodi in Konkani), the staple food of the Goan Catholics. Goan Xit kodi.jpg
Fish curry and rice (Xit kodi in Konkani), the staple food of the Goan Catholics.

Goan curries use a lot of coconut, coconut oil and curry leaves while chili peppers, spices and vinegar are also used. Fish curry and rice (Xit kodi in Konkani) forms the staple food of the community. Goan Catholic cuisine has distinct Portuguese influence as can be seen in Sorpotel , a pork dish often served with Sannas (steamed rice cakes) as the main dish at wedding dinners and Christmas dinner, while Pão com Chouriço (bread with Goan pork sausage), Chouriço Pulão (Goan pork sausage pilaf), Vindalho , Aad Maas (pork ribs), Assado de Leitão or Assado de Porco (roasted pork) and Carne Assada (roasted beef) are also popular. Goan Catholics mix pork blood and other organs in most of their pork delicacies as can be seen from Cabidela . Xacuti (pronounced [shakuti] ) is dish originally from Goa prepared with either mutton, beef, pork or chicken. [2] Canja de galinha and Frango à cafreal (Chicken cafreal) are well-known chicken dishes. Beef croquettes, beef potato chops and prawn rissoles are common snacks. Roast beef and beef tongue are popular entrees at Goan celebrations.

The traditional Nalachi kodi, (literally coconut curry) is a curry made with coconut juice. The Goan fish curries, prawn curry and fried fish preparations are renowned in the whole of coastal India. Solantulem kodi, a spicy coconut and kokum curry is also popular. Ambot-tik (a sour curry dish) and the Jeerem-Meerem (a spicy curry, which uses jeera and other spices) are prepared with either fish or meat. Chamuças is a Goan derivative of samosa, which is usually filled with minced beef or pork and eaten as a snack. [3] The traditional Molho de Peixe (Fish pickle) and Balchão (prawn pickle), originally from Macau, are famous Goan fish preserves.

Vegetable-based dishes like Khatkhate (a vegetable stew), Tondak (beans combined with cashew nuts) and Caldo verde (a soup) are also popular. Sweets like Bebinca , Dodol , Tizann, Godshem , Patoleo , Cocada , Goiabada , Maçapão (cashew nut marzipan), Arroz doce , Fios de ovos , etc. are well-loved by Goan Catholics. Consoada (Kuswar) is a term used to describe a set of sweets which are distributed to family, friends and neighbors by members of the Goan Catholic community during Christmas.

Names and surnames

Portuguese names, having variants in both Roman Konkani and English, like Miguel (Michael) and Madalena (Magdalene) are common among Goan Catholics. [4] Portuguese surnames (like Lobo, D'Souza, Rodrigues, Fernandes and Pinto) are standard among Goan Catholics because of the Christianisation of Goa during Portuguese rule. [5]

Goan Catholic variantEnglish variantPortuguese variantMeaningGender
Koinsanv Concepcion Conceição Immaculate Conception Female
Foransik Francisco FranciscoFrench (man)Male
Zuvanv John JoãoGod is graciousMale
Bosteanv Sebastian SebastiãoReveredMale
Mori Mary MariaBelovedFemale
Rakel Rachel RaquelEwe or one with purityFemale
Anton Anthony AntónioFlowerMale
Jebel Elizabeth Isabel / ElisabeteMy God is my oathFemale
Zoze Joseph JoséThe Lord will addMale
Source: English-Konkani Dictionary [4] and A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992 (2000) [5]

Language and literature

Goan Catholics have strong feelings towards the Konkani language, which is often venerated in literature, and in particular to Romi Konkani. It has historically been, and to a large extent still is, central to the Goan Catholic identity. They speak Konkani, which is an Indo-Aryan language, belonging to the Indo-European family of languages, spoken predominantly on the west coast of India.

The Konkani spoken by Goan Catholics has a larger infusion of words of Portuguese origin as compared to the Konkani spoken by other communities. [6] Portuguese is still spoken as a first language by a number of Goans, though it is mainly restricted to upper-class Catholic families and the older generation. However, the annual number of Goans learning Portuguese as a second language has been continuously increasing in the 21st century. [7] Increasing numbers of Goan Catholics also speak English as their first language due to its replacement of Portuguese as an official language.

Traditions and festivals

Some Goan Catholics have retained certain Hindu customs regarding marriage.

These ceremonies are followed by the traditional Catholic wedding mass and finally the Wedding Reception. The women at a typical Goan Catholic wedding generally wear gowns/dresses while the men (including the bridegroom) are attired in western-style suits. The bride always wears a western-style virgin-white wedding gown. Contemporary Goan Catholics typically have a White wedding. The bridal entourage usually consists of the Maid of Honour, Bridesmaids, Best man and Groomsmen. Ballroom dancing and live western-style band music are an integral part of a Goan Catholic wedding reception.

In addition to common Christian festivals like Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, the community celebrates many other festivals of religious and historical significance. The Feast of Saint Francis Xavier on 3 December is the major religious feast of all Goan Catholics. [16] Konsachem fest (harvest festival) involves blessing of new harvests. [17] The Zagor (nocturnal vigil in Konkani), mainly celebrated in Siolim, in Bardez taluka of Goa is a festival highlighted by dance, drama and music. [18]

Moti Fest is another major festival, mainly celebrated in Chinchinim, Goa on 8 September, which celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. [19] Other important religious feasts include Mãe de Deus Church at Saligao, Feast of Passion of Christ at Siridão, Feast of Holy Cross at Aldona, Feast of the Holy Spirit Church at Margão, Procession of Saints at Goa Velha, São João (Feast of St.John the Baptist), Feast of St. Peter, Bonderam at Divar and Sangodd (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) at Cumbharjua.

Contrary to popular belief, Goa Carnival is a commercial festival in Goa. Its current form (King Momo, floats, etc.) was created only in 1965 to attract tourists. [20]

See also

Notes

  1. da Silva Gracias, Fatima (1997). "The Impact of Portuguese Culture in Goa: A Myth or Reality". In Charles J. Borges (ed.). Goa and Portugal: Their Cultural Links. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company. pp. 41–51.
  2. "Goa Delights". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  3. Sen 2004 , p.  105
  4. 1 2 Maffei 2001 , p.  541
  5. 1 2 Saradesāya 2000 , p.  24
  6. Anvita Abbi; R. S. Gupta; Ayesha Kidwai (2001). Linguistic structure and language dynamics in South Asia: papers from the proceedings of SALA XVIII Roundtable. Motilal Banarsidass, 2001 – Language Arts & Disciplines -. pp. 409 pages (Chapter 4 Portuguese influence on Konkani syntax). ISBN   9788120817654.
  7. "1.500 pessoas estudam português em Goa". Revista MACAU. 2 June 2014.
  8. Gomes 1987 , p. 126
  9. Gomes 1987 , p. 408
  10. Gomes 1987 , p. 137
  11. da Silva Gracias 1996 , pp. 56–62
  12. Sakshena 1997 , p.  9
  13. da Silva Gracias 1996 , p. 62
  14. Sequeira, Newton (6 November 2016). "Treating 'the unfortunate' to a lavish feast | Goa News". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  15. Goan Observer Team (8 April 2022). "UNIQUE WEDDING TRADITIONS OF GOAN CATHOLICS!". Goan Observer. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  16. "Feast of St. Francis Xavier". The Hindu . 4 December 2004. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  17. "Goans celebrate harvest festival of Konsachem" (Press release). DailyIndia. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  18. Shiv Kumar (April 2006). "Zagor, the Goan festival of communal amity, under threat". InfoChange News & Features. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  19. Jenny Coutinho (9 October 2008). "Moti Fest, pork sausages and Church of Qatar" (Press release). Merinews. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  20. "The dawn of Viva Carnaval in Goa". O Heraldo . 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

Related Research Articles

<i>Chorizo</i> Pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula

Chorizo is a type of pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula. It is made in many national and regional varieties in several countries on different continents. Some of these varieties are quite different from each other, occasionally leading to confusion or disagreements over the names and identities of the products in question.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vindaloo</span> Indian curry dish, originally from Goa

Vindaloo or Vindalho is an Indian curry dish, originally from Goa. It is based on the Portuguese dish carne de vinha d'alhos. It is known globally in its British Indian form as a staple of curry house and Indian restaurant menus and is often regarded as a fiery, spicy dish. The traditional recipe uses pork, but alternative versions have been prepared with beef, mutton, prawns, chicken, lamb, vegetables and tofu.

Goa is a state of India. Goans are commonly said to be born with music and football in their blood because both are deeply entrenched in Goan culture.

Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Latin Christians from the Diocese of Mangalore and the erstwhile South Canara area, by the southwestern coast of present-day Karnataka, India.

Goan Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians adhering to the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church from the Goa state, in the southern part of the Konkan region along the west coast of India. They are Konkani people and speak the Konkani language.

Loutolim or LoutulimLottli pronounced:, Portuguese: Loutulim) is a large village of South Goa district in the state of Goa, India. It is an important settlement in the Salcete sub-district.

Goans is the demonym used to describe the people native to Goa, India, who form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Indo-Portuguese, and Austro-Asiatic ethnic and/or linguistic ancestries. They speak different dialects of the Konkani language, collectively known as Goan Konkani. "Goanese" is an incorrect term for Goans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daivadnya</span> Hindu caste

The Daivadnya Brahman, or Konkanastha Rathakara), are a Konkani community, who claim to have descended from Vishwakarma, Hindu architect god and part of larger Vishwakarma community. They are native to the Konkan and are mainly found in the states of Goa and Damaon, Canara, coastal Maharashtra, and Kerala.

The Kupari consist of Kadodi Christians and Samvedi Christians, which are a Roman Catholic Brahmin sub-group in the Christian Bombay East Indian community, of the people of Konkan division. They are concentrated mostly in Bassein (Vasai), India, which is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Mumbai (Bombay) city. Kadodi ancestors were a mixture of Samvedi Brahmins, Goan Konkani Brahmins& Portuguese New Christians; because of intermarriages between them. The population is about 40,000 to 45,000. The two Konkani dialects spoken by the Kuparis are Samvedi Boli Bhasha and Kadodi, which are a mixture of Gujrati, Marathi & Indo-Portuguese. 97% of the population is Roman Catholic and the remaining minority is a mixed population of various Protestant Revolutionary denominations.

Konkani cuisine is the cuisine of the Saraswat Brahmins from the Konkan region on the western coast of India. Konkani cuisine differs within the Saraswat Brahmin subsects and within the Konkan-Canara region. Konkani cuisine originally hails from the Konkan region including Uttara Kannada, Udupi district, Dakshina Kannada, Damaon, and Goa, India. Konkani cuisine is popular served in many restaurants throughout the western coast of India, and especially in the cities of Bombay and Bangalore. Each variation has its unique flavour and makes uses of different vegetables and fruits available in the region. Konkani cuisine is usually pesco-vegetarian, except acharyas and purohits who follow a strictly saatvik vegetarian diet. According the Konkani folklore, fish, meats are regarded as sea vegetables. Historically, they have refrained from eating any terrestrial animals in general.

Goan cuisine consists of regional foods popular in Goa, an Indian state located along India's west coast on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Rice, seafood, coconut, vegetables, meat, bread, pork and local spices are some of the main ingredients in Goan cuisine. Use of kokum and vinegar is another distinct feature. Goan food is considered incomplete without fish.

The culture of Mangalorean Catholics has been shaped by their Christianisation in Goa, their migrations& their captivity. They adopted elements of the local Mangalorean culture, but retained many of their Konkani customs and values. The ethnic Mangalorean houses of the older generation have spacious porticos, red oxide cemented floors, terra cotta roofs layered with the once famous Mangalore tiles. The houses are usually accompanied by their own private wells or ponds, and are normally attached to orchards of coconut trees, jackfruit trees, ice apple trees, Alphonso mango trees, areca nut trees etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangalorean Catholic cuisine</span> Cuisine of the Mangalorean Catholic community

The Mangalorean Catholic Cuisine is the cuisine of the Mangalorean Catholic community.

Patoleo are stuffed turmeric leaf wraps, a dish which is mostly prepared on the western coast of India. The main stuffing is made from freshly shredded coconut, rice flour paste, and palm jaggery; and cooked by wrapping and steaming in turmeric leaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goan Catholic cuisine</span> Cuisine of the Goan Catholic community

Goan Catholic Cuisine is the cuisine of the Goan Catholic community and is largely influenced by the Saraswat, Konkani, Portuguese, South Indian, and British cuisines. Due to over 450 years of Portuguese rule, the cuisine of Goan Catholics is dominated by ingredients and techniques of Portuguese cuisine like deep-frying, oven-baking, pork, vinegar, egg-based desserts, alcohol, etc.

Goan Catholic literature is diverse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanna (dish)</span> Indian savoury rice cake

A sanna is a spongy, steamed, and savoury unfilled dumpling originally made of red rice, black lentil and coconut in the Konkan region, by the western coast of the Indian subcontinent. They originated in Goa and Damaon, Mangalore, Bombay and Bassein (Vasai), and are especially popular among Goans, both the Goan Hindus and Goan Christians, and also among the Konkani migrants outside Konkan in Karachi, Sindh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala. They are also loved by the people of the Konkan division, such as the Kuparis of the Bombay East Indian community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balchão</span> Indian dish with a spicy and sour sauce

Balchão or balichow is an Indian dish consisting of fresh fried prawns in a spicy and vinegary sauce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goa sausage</span> Pork sausage originating from Goa, India

The Goa sausage or Choris is a typical reflection of Indo-Portuguese cuisine from Goa, which once were part of the Portuguese State of India. It is based on the Chouriço sausage, introduced from Portugal. The humidity of Goa made it difficult to produce European-styled sausages that would keep, and so the meat was pickled in vinegar, alcohol, and a chilli-spice mix before being placed in pig-gut. The Goan sausage is therefore of Iberian origin and related to the Spanish Chorizo, both of which go through a process called pimenton.

References