EACH year, in a Brazilian city named Americana, the South does, indeed, rise again!
That’s because the descendants of defeated rebel soldiers, who founded the community after the Civil War, celebrate their roots with an annual Confederate Festival. The party, held at the settlers’ original graveyard, turns back time with traditional Southern-style dancing, music, food and costumes — even though most of the Confederates’ modern kinfolk no longer speak English and the Southern drawl is long forgotten.
Located about 70 miles northwest of Sao Paulo, Americana was settled around 1865 by former Rebel Americans drawn to Brazil by the promise of cheap land and the chance to escape the all-conquering Yankees.
Now, their families remember the past and honor their ancestors while decked out in traditional leather jackets, Confederate flags…
