Festa das Cruzes - Barcelos

FESTA DAS CRUZES

Barcelos

Festival of the Crosses

David A.

The first great pilgrimage of Minho

• Date: Late April/Early May• Location: Barcelos, Braga • Its origin dates back to the 16th century. • It is a religious and popular festival, that celebrates devotion to the Holy Cross and the Virgin Mary.

History

Legend of the Crosses of Barcelos

• According to the legend, a shoemaker named João Pires was returning from church in 1504, when he saw a black cross on the fairground. • He considered it a sacred sign and warned the people, who quickly gathered on the spot. It ended up leading to the devotion to the Lord of the Cross, materialized in the construction of the Temple of the Good Jesus of the Cross, today the epicenter of the Festival of the Crosses. • Since then, it has become a tradition to celebrate the festival of the crosses every year, in gratitude for the miracle. The festival became the first great pilgrimage of Minho and a symbol of Barcelos' identity and culture.

19-21TH Centuries

• In the 19th century, the festivities had a religious nature. Hundreds of pilgrims came from the rural parishes of Barcelos, from all over the country and Galicia. • In the 20th century, the religious component was mixed with profane elements, visible in the carousels, food and drink booths, horse races, ethnographic parades and fireworks. • Nowadays, the Festa das Cruzes is a point of pilgrimage for national and international visitors. With various events throughout the day and entertainment during the evening, Barcelos is filled with fun all week long.

THE FESTIVAL

Main Events

The festival is made up of various events throughout the days.

Carpets of Natural Petals

Pilgrimage Arches

Battle of Flowers

Carpets made of fresh flower petals that are arranged in intricate patterns and designs on the floor of the Temple of the Lord of the Cross.

Parade of floats decorated with natural flowers that compete for the best design and creativity.

Structures made of wood, paper and flowers that represent different themes and symbols related to the history, culture and religion of Barcelos and its people

Main Events

The festival is made up of various events throughout the days.

Procession of the Invention of the Holy Cross

The fireworks show

The folk dances and songs

Performed by local groups and associations that showcase the traditional culture and music of the Alto Minho region, such as dances like “Vira”, “Chula” and “Malhão”.

One of the most spectacular and awaited moments of the festival. It consists of five sessions that light up the sky and the river of Barcelos with dazzling colors and shapes.

As the main religious event, it is a manifestation of the faith and devotion to the Holy Cross as a symbol of salvation, holiness and victory over sin, death, and evil.

Handicraft

Handicraft is an important component of the celebrations.

GaLO DE BARCELOS

Rooster of Barcelos

The folk tale of the Rooster of Barcelos

• One night a Galician pilgrim was passing through Barcelos on his way to Santiago de Compostela. He was accused of stealing silver from a landowner and was sentenced to death by hanging.• On the day of his hanging, the pilgrim asked, as his last wish, to go and talk to the judge, who was having a banquet with a roasted rooster on the table. The condemned man knelt down and insisted on his innocence, telling the judge that the rooster would crow as a sign of his truth.

• The judge ignored him and continued with his meal. However, legend has it that the rooster stood up and crowed loudly. The judge realized his mistake and rushed to save the pilgrim, who was still alive thanks to a loose knot. • The pilgrim was set free and continued his journey. Years later, he returned to Barcelos and built a monument in honor of the Virgin Mary and Santiago - Cruzeiro do Galo.

FESTA DAS CRUZES

Thank you!