Noiva do Cordeiro is a settlement located in Brazil, about 500 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro. The term "village of women" can be misleading because men also live in this place. "National Geographic" explains that the settlement is home to about 350 people, with roughly equal numbers of men and women. However, during the week, the male residents travel to nearby cities to earn money for their families. As a result, for most of the time, only women remain in the village.
The media has often described Noiva do Cordeiro as a settlement of single women longing for male companionship. The women of the village themselves contributed to this perception! The matriarch of the settlement, Delina, revealed in an interview with "National Geographic" that when she received word of journalists coming to visit, she would deliberately send the men to nearby cities. She consciously built the image that Noiva do Cordeiro was inhabited only by women to garner attention. This goal was achieved. However, the village is interesting not just for its demographics, but also for its fascinating history.
The History of Noiva do Cordeiro Dates Back to the 19th Century
How did the "village of women" come into being? It all started in the 19th century. According to the portal turystyka.wp.pl, in 1891, María Senhorinha de Lima was exiled from her village. The reason for her exile was her "sin" - María fell in love with Chico Fernandes and decided to run away with him, even though she had been married for three months. Tired and frustrated by her arranged marriage, she took a bold step. Her exile not only affected her but also extended to her descendants and three more generations of her family. As a result, she decided to found her own settlement.
The village founded by María was meant to be completely different from all others. The main principles of the new settlement were openness, respect, and tolerance for women. Regardless of the life circumstances they faced, newcomers were to receive shelter and assistance, without being judged. It quickly became clear that this was something women of the time desperately needed. Crowds of women seeking refuge flocked to Noiva do Cordeiro. However, as often happens, such places soon attracted attention from others beyond the intended group. In 1940, an evangelical pastor arrived in the village.
The Pastor's Arrival Changed Everything: The Church Imposed Restrictions on Women
Pastor Anisio Pereira married one of the village women (a sixteen-year-old named Delina, the granddaughter of María), founded a new church in the settlement, and began imposing rules that were contrary to the ideals of Noiva do Cordeiro. Pereira interpreted the Bible literally, banning music, alcohol, and the cutting of hair, and enforcing absolute submission of women to men. From that moment on, life for the women changed dramatically. Many of them still remember that life under the pastor’s rule was a true ordeal.
Meanwhile, the pastor's wife gave birth to 15 children, all of whom are still alive today. However, the conditions in which she gave birth were shocking. In an interview with "National Geographic", one of the women who lived during Pereira’s time recalled that one day Delina gave birth at five in the morning and just two hours later was forced to slaughter a pig in the village slaughterhouse. So, when the pastor died, the women breathed a sigh of relief. Some of them still remembered what life had been like in Noiva before his arrival. For this reason, their first action after the pastor’s death was to abolish the church and restore the previous system.
We have God in our hearts. But we don’t need to go to church, get married before a priest, or baptize our children. These are rules imposed by men
- said Rosalee Fernandes, a resident of the matriarchal settlement, in an interview with the "Daily Mail".
Noiva do Cordeiro Runs Like Clockwork: Residents Share Duties and Resources
Since the pastor's departure, the village has run like clockwork. The women live as one big family, eagerly sharing duties and resources. On a daily basis, the women cultivate fruits and vegetables, including peppers, tangerines, and bananas. The village also has an efficient administrative system and an educational structure. There are teachers and good accountants among the residents. The villagers also raise animals, and the settlement is self-sufficient. While it is not very wealthy, life is peaceful. The residents often say that the village has an abundance of everything they need.
