Bumba-meu-boi is a folk play in which the main theme is the death and resurrection of an ox. Its basic script of bumba-meu-boi tells the story of a wealthy farmer’s pet ox that is killed by the black employee, Pa Francisco. Pa Francisco kills the ox to satisfy his pregnant wife Catirina’s desire to eat ox tongue. His crime is discovered, he confesses and is arrested. But by the magic of an indigenous shaman, the ox resuscitates, Pa Francisco is forgiven and everything ends well, the reason for singing, dancing and merriment.