The History of Puxada de Rede

The folcloric representation that depicts the puxada de rede tells the story of a fisherman. One night, he was to fish at sea, in order to feed his family. He kissed his wife goodbye. She had a bad feeling about her husband going to fish at night. She warned him and told him of the dangers of fishing at night. Nevertheless, the fisherman left the house, despite his wife’s tears and children’s scared faces. 

The fisherman went to sea and took with him the image of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes (Our Lady of Sailors). He went with his fellow fishermen and Gods blessing. Hours before the fisherman was supposed to return, his wife waited for him on the beach. She had an odd vision. She saw the fishing boat return with the fishermen on board. They were very sad, and some of them were in tears. They then got off the ship. In panic, the woman realized that her husband was not there. The fishermen told her that he had fallen off deck into the darkness of the night. They could not find him in Yemonja’s waters. 

In the morning, when they pulled the net that was in the ocean, they noted that they had caught much less fish than they expected, yet the net was heavier than usual. Once the net was on shore, they realized that the missing fisher-mans body was in the net. Everyone became very emotional and desperation took over those that were present. 

They proceeded to have his funerary rituals. His companions and loved ones took his body to his eternal resting spot. They carried his body on their shoulders because they could not afford a coffin. 

The puxada de rede (pulling of the net) is done using nets of Xareu (a fish that is abundant in Brasil’s Northeast). Though this story illustrated the arduous labor that fishermen undergo, it is laced with poetry, religion, music, and parties. The ritual is also characterized by happy and sad singing that evokes protective entities such as Yemonja. The rhythm of atabaques take over the fishermen with their beats. As they follow the same rhythm and motions, they complete yet another job necessary to sustain and support their families.