PREPARATIVOS E PRELÚDIOS PARA ERGUER UMA MEMÓRIA REPUBLICANA: COMEMORAÇÕES DO PRIMEIRO CENTENÁRIO DA MORTE DE FREI MIGUELINHO EM 1917

Abstract

The 20th Century was strongly marked by celebrations that aimed to commemorate the history of the people of Rio Grande do Norte. This assertion, for instance. is exemplified by the centennial celebration of independence in 1922. Such festivities were mainly promoted by the Historical and Geographical Institute of Rio Grande do Norte (IHGRN), with the purpose of directing the population's attention and emotions towards these cherished memories. In this article, I analyze the celebrations related to July 12th, which honor the 89th anniversary of Frei Miguelinho's death. This event holds great importance due to the representation that Father Miguel Joaquim de Almeida Castro embodies in the republican memory, thanks to his martyrdom during the Pernambucan Revolution. The research was based on texts published in IHGRN's journal, through an issue dedicated to this subject. Thus, it is possible to understand the role this figure plays in fostering civic, patriotic, and republican sentiments within the community.