Lollipopandtabocaseller

Lá vem o vendedor de pirulito Trazendo nas costas o latão Com a mão direita toca castanhola e vende pirulito com a outra mão

The excerpt above is from the marchinha “Vendedor de Pirulito” by José Gonçalves and Zilda Gonçalves, composed for the 1953 carnival. It speaks of a figure who was once one of the most eagerly awaited by children on Rio's beaches.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph. In the center, we see a man walking, carrying a large metal container. He is wearing a white hat and a white shirt with black details. His pants are light-colored, and he holds a stick in his hands. In the background, we see another individual standing still, also with their back to the camera.

For many decades, Rio's beaches have been spaces where flavors for all tastes circulate. Rio, in fact, has a relationship with street vending that dates back at least to the 18th century: people moving through the city with their trays and baskets full of fruits and delicacies.

When Rio residents adopted the beach as their favorite leisure spot, in the 20th century, this street vending market also migrated to the sands. And there's a bit of everything. Corn, coalho cheese, skewered shrimp, natural sandwiches, plus the already time-honored classics: Globo biscuits and cold mate tea. Esfirras and empadas used to play a bigger role, losing ground to Argentine empanadas.

But, as everything is dynamic, while new habits and characters emerge, others exit the scene. And the lollipop vendor was one of those vanished trades. Those who lived through it remember the figures, balancing on their backs a metal tin that held the lollipops and the biju cones, also known as taboca or triguilim. On top, carefully skewered, the burnt-sugar lollipops — which would later take on the shape of a pacifier — formed a colorful display.

Image description: This is a color photograph of a beach. In the foreground, a man walks along the sand, carrying a large colorful cylinder on his back. He wears a straw hat, a white shirt, and striped pants. In his right hand he holds a small object. In the background, there is a flag with a yellow and red cross raised on a pole. Further back, a woman is running near the sea. The sky is light blue, and the horizon shows ocean waves.

This vendor's presence was announced even before he could be seen. The dry, repeated sound of "tlac tlac," produced by a small wooden rattle with an articulated metal piece, served to call in customers. Hearing the call was enough to already feel the burnt sugar sticking to your teeth and the biju crackling in your mouth. Today, the lollipop vendor is, at the very least, a rarity

Image description: The image is a painting depicting a lollipop and taboca vendor. The main figure is wearing a straw hat and a blue shirt. Over his left shoulder, he carries a large yellow bucket full of red lollipops. The background features a blue sky with white clouds and a green landscape.