Gira as liturgical space

What it is: The gira is a central form of ritual meeting in many Umbanda terreiros.

How the religion understands it: In it, chants, pontos, incorporation, consultation, terreiro discipline, charity, and relation with spiritual lines are articulated.

Basis and context: The gira structures the practical religious experience of most faithful and mediums.

Debates and variations: There are giras of different lines, with rhythms, uses of atabaque, forms of greeting, and their own protocols.

Supportive

Oral Tradition of the Caboclos

umbanda,caboclos,oral-tradition,lines

Caboclos are prominent lines of strength, healing, and guidance.

Reference: Oral tradition and songs linked to the caboclos.
Content: The caboclos appear as entities of firmness, the forest, courage, healing, and spiritual direction.
Use in debate: It is a central source for entities and the Umbanda gira.

Patrícia Birman, Making Style, Creating Genders

umbanda,patricia-birman,anthropology,gender

Studies on corporeality, gender, and ritual construction in Afro-Brazilian religions.

Reference: Patrícia Birman, ethnographic studies on Umbanda and Afro-Brazilian religiosities.
Content: The author examines ritual performance, gender, the body, and the social production of religious identities.
Use in debate: It is useful for plurality, incorporation, and an anthropological reading of the religion.

Umbanda Sung Points

umbanda,sung-points,liturgy,oral-tradition

Sung points express practical theology, memory, and ritual summoning.

Reference: Repertoires of sung points preserved orally and in Umbandist songbooks.
Content: The points salute lines, open ritual works, identify entities, and transmit religious memories in condensed form.
Use in debate: They are a very important internal source for liturgy, entities, and the gira.