Cowboy Mass in Serrita brings together thousands of people and keeps the tradition alive The approximately 20 thousand inhabitants of the municipality of Serrita, in the Sertão of Pernambuco, live the cowboy culture day to day. Whether at headquarters or in rural areas, the figures of real-life characters who challenge the caatinga are present in homes, on the streets and are passed down from generation to generation. Cowboy José Antonio Brigel, known as Zezé de Sirlei, is the organizer of one of the most traditional cattle drives in Serrita. At 66 years old, he began venturing into the caatinga as a child. The marks of the profession are in the body and soul. ?: Download the g1 app to see news from Petrolina and the region in real time and for free Northeastern Culture Day: find out where the date comes from and learn about some traditions "The cowboy's life is the most painful life of all living people. The cowboy spends the day hungry, thirsty. He sleeps in the caatinga when necessary. The cowboy's life is hard", highlights Zezé. Despite the difficulties, faith is an unshakable mark of men, women and children who undertake the profession. "The cowboy is a person of faith. He has to believe in God. We always participate in mass here as cowboys, in the events that exist as cowboys. We are proud to be like this, dressed in leather and riding cattle", says Zezé. Zezé de Sirlei, cowboy from Serrita Emerson Rocha / g1 Petrolina The faith of the cowboys of Serrita has been symbolized for 56 years in the traditional mass. The celebration is held annually and has in its origins a story that was enshrined in the voice of Luiz Gonzaga: that of Raimundo Jacó, a cowboy skilled in the art of cattle driving. In 1963, the King of Baião composed the song “A Morte do Vaqueiro” to remember the murder of his cousin. According to legend, Raimundo Jacó's singing attracted cattle and the envy of his professional colleagues. The incident culminated in his death during an ambush. The crime has not been solved to this day. The cowboy's faithful companion in the herd, a dog, watched over his owner's body day and night, until he died of hunger and thirst. Municipality of Serrita, capital of the cowboy Emerson Rocha / g1 Petrolina Seven years after the release of the song, Luiz Gonzaga and the poet Pedro Bandeira created the ceremony, which was celebrated by Father João Câncio. The party, which started small, now moves the entire region. "The cowboy mass has become bigger than Serrita could imagine. It belongs to our northeast, to our hinterland. All the cities around here also experience this reality because it moves the entire economic structure of the other municipalities", says Carlos Sampaio Peixoto, administrator of the Serrita Cultural Center. First Cowboy mass held in Serrita, in 1970 Emerson Rocha / g1 Petrolina The Cultural Center was reopened on July 3rd. In the space, visitors can see photographs and objects that show the evolution of the mass and the relationship that the city has with the cowboys. "The idea of ??the Cultural Center is precisely to rescue our cowboy history. Serrita is considered the national cowboy capital, and it's no surprise that we live our culture, the cowboy culture, in our daily lives. It is told, it is preserved and it is lived. More than anything, it is experienced in our daily lives", says Peixoto. João Gomes launches the album 'Pé de serrita' Disclosure Heir of Luiz Gonzaga and illustrious son of Serrita, singer João Gomes is responsible for keeping the vaquejada culture alive and expanding throughout the country. In 2025, the singer returned to the terreiro of his grandfather's house and recorded the album Pé de Serrita. There are 16 songs that show the essence of traditional forró, music that energizes the Caatinga cowboys inside. Related Galleries From father to son Just like in other parts of the Northeast, in Serrita the cowboy profession is a family tradition “From father to son. It's a tradition here, it comes from scratch. Here, whoever is a cowboy always has someone else's family when he dies. A grandson remains, a son remains, a great-grandson remains, a great-great-grandson", describes Zezé de Sirlei. Serrita's cowboy bears the marks of his profession on his face Emerson Rocha / g1 Petrolina Claudier Bezerra de Lavor, 35 years old, bears on his face the marks of what it means to be a cowboy. "This was the first ox that I jumped, there, I jumped a little wrongly, then the horse passed over me, leaving a mark", he says, explaining the injuries acquired while catching cattle. Claudier's adventures in the caatinga began when he was a teenager, but this is a routine he has lived with for as long as he can remember. “It's been my grandfather's life, dad was a cowboy. Then it goes to the children, it goes to the grandchildren", he says. "I started when I was 14 years old. My younger brother started younger than me, taking risks in the cattle business", he adds. Cowboy culture in Serrita is passed from father to son Emerson Rocha / g1 Petrolina Claudiano is Claudier's brother. The two learned the trade from their father, who learned it from their grandfather and today they pass it on to their children. "It's already in the blood, right? That's tradition. He's almost born fighting with cattle, pulling away a calf. It's too risky, risking the guy's life. But there's no way. The guy breaks down, comes back, there's no way around it. It's in the blood", says Claudiano. "From now on, I want my children to continue to honor their father's life", adds Claudier. Cowboy fashion Cowboy fashion in Serrita Emerson Rocha /g1 Petrolina Leather is the cowboys' great ally to protect themselves from the thorns of the caatinga. Symbols of the profession, the hat, doublet, leggings, gloves and breastguard also help to take the name of Serrita to other places, through craftsmanship. Since he was 14 years old, craftsman Antonio Giovane Lopes has been transforming leather into works of art. He has been in the profession for 19 years with the cowboy as his central theme. All the drawings, all the arabesques, which is how the drawing is known, are aimed at this. Every piece we create has this characteristic", highlights Antonio. The original pieces made by Antonio and other artisans from Serrita are part of a brand created