DIVERSIDADE CULTURAL E RELIGIOSA DA FESTA JUNINA DA UMEI PROFESSORA NORMÍLIA DOS SANTOS – VILA VELHA/ES: INTERFACES COM A EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL

Abstract

The general objective of this Professional Master's thesis in Religious Studies is to analyze the presence of cultural and religious diversity in the "Festa Junina" (June Festival/Party) made at the Municipal Early Childhood Education Unit (UMEI) Professor Normília dos Santos - Vila Velha/ES, because many families question the reason for this parties and others do not allow their children’s participation due to issues involving the family's religious traditions. The question is: what is the influence of cultural and religious diversity in the "Festa Junina" (June Festival) at UMEI Professora Normília dos Santos – Vila Velha/ES and its interfaces with early childhood education? Children have the right and the need to be respected in their singularities and diversities, including the right to play and have access to available sociocultural goods, which requires children to participate in activities, socialization processes and interactions, without any ethnic, social, gender or religious discrimination. In this sense, the first chapter affirms the child as a historical being and with rights, in which playing, educating and caring form the triad in educational development, involving movement, joy, celebration, questions, curiosity and discoveries. The second chapter deals with UMEI as a space to learn to know and respect Brazilian cultural and religious diversity, aiming at building a culture of peace. The third chapter presents the results and analysis of the research carried out with teachers, mothers and fathers of UMEI children on the realization and participation in the "Festa Junina" (June Festival). The teachers say that the children are happy to participate, play and dance, performing on the day of the celebration for the families. In relation to the results with mothers and fathers, there are contradictions in the positions, due to influences of the religious tradition, to which the families are inserted. In view of the data analysis, it is concluded that each year it becomes necessary to dialogue with the entire school community, beginning with the children enrolled in UMEI, about the holding of parties, especially the "Festa Junina" (June Festival). The research carried out becomes an important instrument for reflection and dialogue in the professionalization of the author as a manager of UMEI and in the civic construction of respect for cultural and religious diversity.