MovieChat Forums > O Cheiro do Ralo (2007) Discussion > I didn't understand a certain 'prop' (mi...

I didn't understand a certain 'prop' (minor spoiler, possibly)

posted 16 years ago by Reiyou
10 replies | jump to latest

He receives a frog in a box.

I was wondering about the meaning. Does this have a certain meaning in Brazil?

Thanks.

yes. i'm not sure of the exact specifics, but it's something to do with 'macumba' - folkloric brazilian black magic. it's staggeringly widespread. i've often seen macumba items on the street, and it's kind of creepy... stuff like dead chickens, and buckets filled with rotten mean and candles....
anyway, the frog with its mouth sewn up has something to do with that. i think.

[–] debblyst 16 years ago

It's a kind of black magic practiced by some currents of African-Brazilian religions. The name of a person is written on a small piece of paper that is then sewn into the mouth of a frog. It means to cause harm and bad luck to this unfortunate person. It's a well-known practice that generated the Brazilian idiomatic expression "vou botar seu nome na boca do sapo" ("I'll put your name into the frog's mouth"), to be uttered only to worst enemies.

[–] Reiyou 16 years ago

Hm, very interesting! Thank you both, for your comments.

[–] fix_the_mad 16 years ago

Its Macumba.

A kind of black magic belief. The Frog with your name sewed on its mouth is a common term used by some people to justify why a particular person is having a bad luck streak. The ritual involves getting some personal belongings of the victim, a small photo and also a piece of paper with the person´s name on it. Put it inside a live frog´s mouth. Sew the frogs mouth and then deliver it to the victim, when the frog dies, the victims life are supposed to sink with it, even dies. It’s a Death Macumba. The saying goes: Someone sewed your name in the Frog´s mouth.

For more info about this practices use the keywords: Macumba, Candomblé, Umbanda.

[–] konam 16 years ago

I'd just like to point that macumba is not common to brazilian people in general, but limited to small parts, mostly black and poor people that lives on poor suburbs.

"Shop Smart, Shop S-Mart" -Ash

[–] jose-boscolo 16 years ago

the name macumba is actually a popular attribution to the black magic practices related with the black slaves cultures, which, by inheritance would reach the rest of the population as well. macumba it is actually the name of the musical rythm played along the black magic sessions and rituals. people just made the easy connection.

oh and people who think that only black and poor people have access to it are wrong. macumba is everywhere is brazil. even in catholic doctrine. although is denied, the consecrating with holy water has roots in black magic. "sympathy spells" are practised by white, black, rich or poor people, assumedly christians. and let's not forget that the spiritism/candomble beliefs about catholic saints - such ad st. jorge - are meddled into one another - catholicism and spiritism/candomble.

in other words, religion in Brazil is a big feijoada.

[–] frost_citizen 15 years ago

wow but you are so wrong you might be aware that Brazil is an enormous country therefore there are many religions...and Macumba is one of the smallest religions here in Brazil actually people who are involved in this sort of things are primarily discriminated... it's like the anti-Christ religion... at least as far as i'm concerned...yes it's true not only poor back people do it anyone stupid enough can enter in it... it's a minority...and there are no catholic-macumba related religions specially christian-macumba, here in brazil you probably saw that in a movie...or received a misinformation. see ya punks

[–] MindDazer 15 years ago

Mais preconceituoso nunca vi!!! The guy who said that there are connections between macumba and catholicism is absolutely right... you are a freakin racist! You're saying that only black and STUPID white people get involved in it? You know nothing! Stupid *beep* racist! These african religions are not "evil". It's just what your stupid parents tell you at the dinner table!

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] buyerxyz 9 years ago

Hi for all, no fight here friends. Maybe somebody not had expressed well. First thing, macumba or any afroreligion not is from Brasil, is practiced in Brasil, but it came from Africa. Then is right that is perpetued in major case by black people rich and poor, but rich and poor white people also do. Connections between macumba or any afroreligion and catholicism no exist. Some afroreligion try to make an approximation to get followers, saying that some saint from afroreligion is the same saint in catholicism (but only in their heads). Cause the catholicism don't have this opinion and never will. For who said that "african religions are not "evil". Maybe not all (I don't know all), but to understand better we must read the holy bible, there God prohibits to adore images or any representations (statues) of "saints" or "entities" and prohibits any kind of spiritism (includes receive entities in our bodies and consult any kind of "spirits"). In fact in the bible, no exist "spirits", the souls of dead people is sleeping and will stay this way until the armagedon/apocalypse. So, any kind of supernatural entitie or even claiming to be a spirit of people, is in fact a demon tryin' to lie to you. Now what we found in some afroreligions? Spiritism, consults to "entities", people receiving entities or "saints" in their bodies, adoration of images/statues (and what statues!!! Red demons with horns and tridents). These kind of statues remember who? God? I'm right that no. I'm not judging any religion. Some afroreligions are evil at pointview of bible, I not even believe in all theres in the the bible. I don't follow any religion, I don't like God, but I know theres some kind of powerful creator. But I recommed read the bible and take your conclusions.