Hymns as the doctrine's teaching
The Santo Daime's teachings are carried primarily through its hymns. Mestre Irineu's own hinário of 129 hymns traces his spiritual path from the time he began drinking Daime until his death, and singing it is, within the tradition, understood as a way for members to walk that same path. Many members over the years have "received" their own hymns, and the doctrine's hinários today run into the thousands; some collections gather the hymns of a single person, while others are assembled around a theme such as healing, concentration, or the Mass.
The main types of Works
Santo Daime rituals are generally organized around a central altar bearing a Cross of Caravaca, four candles, images of Mestre Irineu and other elders, and fresh flowers, and each session opens and closes with prayer. The main categories are Concentrations (seated, largely silent meditation works), White Works or hinário works (danced works built around the singing of a full hinário), Curas (works held for healing), and the Santa Missa. Some works run for many hours, and participants are expected to draw on stamina and steadiness — firmeza — through their length.
How the calendar organizes the hinários
Particular hinários are tied to specific dates on the Santo Daime calendar. Mestre Irineu's hinário is sung on the feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 7), at Christmas, on the Day of Kings (January 6), and on the feast of St. John (June 23). Padrinho Sebastião's hinário is sung on Mestre Irineu's birthday (December 15), on the feast of St. Sebastian (January 19), on Madrinha Rita's birthday (June 25), and on Brazilian Father's Day. Padrinho Alfredo's hinário is sung on his own birthday (January 8), on the feast of St. Joseph (March 18), on the feast of St. Peter (June 28), and on New Year's Eve (December 31).