today it is celebrated across the country, mainly in the months of june and july, during the 'juninas', although the celebrations can happen during the entire year, depending on specific festivities and reenactment groups' activity calendars. 

the legend is usually reenacted by a group of actors, professional or amateurs, who do so surrounded by the public, standing in a circle and closing it slowly around them.

this oppressive participation of sorts of the public remains an important part of the tradition - in rio de janeiro there are several such groups like the bumba-meu-boi quatitoso, created by culture pointe of the roça fair it makes reenactments in the fair itself, but also in quatis and other towns within the region.