Portuguese Festivities

Main Portuguese Festivities

Portugal

Viana do Castelo

Barcelos

Porto

North and Beiras

Coimbra

Figueira da Foz

Tomar

Óbidos

Lisbon

Campo Maior

Senhora da Agonia

Viana do Castelo

• It takes place between August 5 and August 20;

• It has been held annually in the city of Viana do Castelo since 1783;

• The pilgrimage of "Our Lady of Agony" dates back to ancient times and is already one of the largest Portuguese religious festivals.

• This festival is associated with the devotion of people connected to fishing, who thanked or celebrated the graces received in difficult times, during storms or shipwrecks.

• This festivity is comprised of several moments such as: Flowered Carpets, "Gigantones and Cabeçudos", Procession to the Sea, the "Cortejo da Mordomia", and the Solemn Procession.

Senhora da Agonia

Main moments

"Procissão ao mar"

"Gigantones e Cabeçudos "

"Tapetes floridos"

The procession takes place in the sea, the fishermen wear their best checked shirts, according to the tradition. They carry the floats, each weighing about 600 kilos, on their shoulders to the pier and form the procession.

The pilgrims work all night, until dawn, decorating the streets with carpets of salt allusive to fishing, to the pilgrimage and to the city.

The groups show their art and strength of arms. They are also the kings of the festivity, handmade with paper pulp and painted by hand.

Senhora da Agonia

Main moments

"Desfile da mordomia"

"Procissão solene"

Hundreds of young women from Viana do Castelo wear their traditional clothes show them in a parade along the streets of the city. They exhibite the most beautiful costumes and picturesque necklaces made of gold which are a live hystorical exhibition .

The city silently stops in a profound moment of devotion and respect to see the religious procession along the streets. It is the most religious moment in the programme.

Festa das Cruzes

Barcelos

The first great pilgrimage of Minho

• It takes place on Late April/Early May.

• Its origin dates back to the 16th century.

• It is a religious and popular festival, that celebrates the

devotion to the Holy Cross and the Virgin Mary.

• 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. This led to

the devotion to the Lord of the Cross, and the construction of the Temple of the Good Jesus of the Cross.

• Since then the festival has become a tradition celebrated annually in gratitude for the miracle and it is a symbol of Barcelos' identity and culture.

Festa das Cruzes

Barcelos

• Festa das Cruzes is a pilgrimage for national and international visitors. The week-long festival features a variety of events throughout the day and entertainment in the evenings, making Barcelos an exciting destination for visitors.

Main Events:

Pilgrimage Arches

Battle of Flowers

Carpets of Natural Petals

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

Flower petals arranged in intricate designs form stunning carpets at the Temple of the Lord of the Cross.

Structures made of wood, paper and flowers that symbolize Barcelos' history, culture, and religion.

Festa das Cruzes

Barcelos

Other Events:

The fireworks show

Procession of the Invention of the Holy Cross

Folk dances

A religious manifestation of the faith and devotion to the Holy Cross.

Local groups perform traditional dances of the Alto Minho region, such as "Vira", "Chula" and "Malhão".

A beautiful show that illuminates the sky and river of Barcelos with stunning colors and shapes.

Festas de S. João

Porto

• The Festivities of São João do Porto are a traditional celebration that takes place every year in the city of Oporto, Portugal

• The festivities take place in honor of São João Batista, patron saint of the city of Oporto, and last for several days, usually from mid-June to mid-July.

• One of the most famous traditions is the exchange of plastic mallets, used to hit people on the head as a form of celebration.

• Another popular tradition is square dance, which is a traditional dance in which participants dance in pairs and form figures as a group.

Festas de S. João

Porto

• During the festivities, the streets are decorated with balloons, flags and coulored lights, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the city. People also often build bonfires in the streets, where they gather to eat, drink and socialize.

• The night culminates with a great fireworks display over the Douro River, which attracts thousands of people to the banks of the river. In addition, there are also many food and drink stalls, where visitors can sample local delicacies such as grilled sardines and port wine.

• The Festivities of São João do Porto show its rich cultural heritage, which mixes religious traditions with cultural and folkloric elements.

Queima do Judas

Centre and North of the country

• The Queima do Judas is a ritual carried out between March and April, mainly in the centre and in the north of Portugal, which involves the burning of a doll made of straw or paper and dressed in rags, with the name of Judas.

• It is a pagan feast accepted by the Christian order.

• The Queima do Judas represents the burning of Winter and the arrival of Spring, being a celebration of the end of the dead era and the rebirth of nature.

• The name of Judas may have been chosen by the Church to cover pagan festivities, just as in other countries Luther's Burning or Witch Burning occurs.

Queima do Judas

• During the day of the festivity, people participate in parades and theatrical representations that recall the story of Judas and his betrayal. At the end of the night, Judas dolls are burned in a large bonfire, while people sing and dance.

• However, there is no evidence that Judas was burned for his betrayal, and the Queima doJudas is not exactly a reproduction of an evangelical episode.

Queima das Fitas

Coimbra

Queima das Fitas is a very traditional academic festival that takes place in the university of Coimbra which it is the oldest and largest university in the country.

• It is the celebration of the end of academic year, when the students who will gradutate in the following year “Burn their Ribbons”, literally and replace them by bigger ones. Those bigger ribbons will be signed by teachers, friends and family in their last year.

• This event usually takes place in the first weeks of May.

• Queima das Fitas is very important for all students because each one has a reason to celebrate: Freshmen celebrate the end of their first year and the beginning of a new journey.Second year students receive their narrow ribbons, Students who are in their last year of studies celebrate the end of their academic life.

Queima das Fitas

Coimbra

• Queima das Fitas is not a recent event in Portugal. It is thought that the tradition began in Coimbra, at the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, law students started carrying satin ribbons in their briefcases to show that they were graduating. In the last year of the course, these ribbons were burned to symbolize the end of the students' academic life, giving the festivity its name "Queima das Fitas" (Burning of the Ribbons).

• It is also the biggest academic festivity in all of Europe.

Enterro do Bacalhau

Figueira da Foz

• Enterro do Bacalhau (Burial of the Cod) is a street theatre that first

took place in 1938 and has since been held every four years.

• For a long time, the Catholic Church banned meat consumption during

Lent, meaning that poor people had to survive by only eating fish during these seven weeks.

• Since codfish was the most affordable fish at that time, it

became the saviour for the poor people.

• The celebration symbolizes the people's resilience and

rebellion.

• With around three hundred actors, this spectacular and

humorous street theatre production is a must-see.

• Following the theatrical performance, attendees can

enjoy lively music and delicious food.

Festa dos Tabuleiros

Tomar

• It takes place every 4 years (next one will be in 2023) between April and June.

• It is one of the largest and oldest festivals in Portugal, dating back to the Emperor's Feast, instituted by D. Dinis and Queen Santa Isabel.

• The festivity features several moments such as:

- Procissão das Coroas (Crowns Parade)- Cortejo dos Rapazes (Boys' Parade)- Cortejos Parciais (Partial Parades)- Procissão dos Tabuleiros (Procession of the Trays)- Ornamented Streets- Popular festivals and shows

"Procissão das Coroas e Pendões"

The festival begins on Easter Sunday with the procession of crowns and banners from the 11 parishes that, since the Council, will go out to the streets seven times over two months, displaying the symbols that identify each parish.

"Cortejo dos Rapazes"

On the last Sunday before the procession of the trays, there is a procession of the young people, who cannot participate in the big procession.

"Cortejos Parciais"

On Saturday the parade trays arrive in town. The trays are gathered together until they are taken in a small procession to Mata dos Sete Montes, where they remain on display until the next day. This moment is called Partial Processions.

"Arraias Populares e Espetáculos"

During these days, usually at night, there are also popular festivals and shows and, more recently, there are also concerts a few weeks after these more traditional days.

"Procissão dos Tabuleiros"

On Sunday the much awaited Procession of the Trays takes place, starting at 4:00 p.m. In the middle of the honeymoon, the Butler opens the gates of Sete Colinas and after the drum roll, the bagpipes and the launching of the firecrackers, the procession departs. The participants walk through the streets of Tomar for 5km, during four hours.

Ornamented Street

During this period, the streets of the historic center of the city gain a lot of color. The streets are decorated with flowers made of paper and the residents hang quilts on the balconies of the houses.

Festas de S. António

Lisbon

• The Santo António festival is the biggest traditional

Portuguese festival, which takes place every year on the 12th and 13th of June.

• Legend has it that St. Anthony, after whom the festival is

named, was a skilled matchmaker who passed away on June 13th. In honor of his memory, the day is celebrated as a holiday in Lisbon, known as "Santo António's Day."

• The legend lives on, and it is said that those seeking a

romantic partner can obtain an image of St. Anthony, turn it upside down in a glass of water, and vow to only turn it upright once they have found their ideal partner.

• During these two days there is much entertainment and mouth-watering cuisine (notably sardines), creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere in the streets of Lisbon.

Festas de S. António

Lisbon

• On the evening of June 12th, the much awaited "Popular

Marches", a parade featuring elaborate choreography, music and costumes, take place.

• This parade is organized by a team of young and adult

participants who spend months preparing their performances based on a chosen theme that represents their neighborhood.

• The parade takes place on Avenida da Liberdade.

• On the 13th, as part of the tradition, weddings are held in the morning. Throughout the year, brides and grooms are selected from thousands of applicants.

• In addition to receiving a wedding ceremony, courtesy of the City Council, they also receive several gifts for their future home.

Festas de S. António

Lisbon

• Another tradition of the festival is the sale of basil plants (manjerico) on the streets of the popular districts.

• Each pot of basil comes with a paper carnation and a popular verse that alludes to love. Whoever owns a basil has to take good care of the plant and keep it alive until the next year's festivities, at which point it is replaced by a new one.

Festival do Chocolate

Óbidos

• The Óbidos International Chocolate Festival has been held annually in Óbidos since 2002.

• The festival shows the different possibilities of cocoa molecules, from sweet to pure, and includes chocolate sculptures, renowned chefs, showcookings and other entertainment.

• The theme of the 2023 edition was Comics, with works in chocolate and presentations of iconic comic book characters.

Festival do Chocolate

Óbidos

• Chef Abner Ivan and his team created several chocolate sculptures, including Tintin, Spider-Man, Monica, Asterix, Obelix, Tom B. Jerry, Lucky Luke and Goofy.

• Show cooking demonstrates the versatility of chocolate in both sweet and savory dishes, with chefs sharing their techniques, skills and secrets.

Festa das Flores

Campo Maior

In the Festa das Flores, the inhabitants of Campo Maior make paper flowers to decorate the streets of their town.

This event has been organized on for more than 100 years! The first time it was organized was in 1897, in honor of village's patron, St. John the Baptist.

On December 15, 2021, the Festival of Flowers was recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

All the thousands of flowers that adorn the streets were prepared with love, care and great desire to continue this event. A rare spectacle that is offered to us, besides the beautifully decorated streets, there are also charming and enchanting melodies that were inspired by loose songs followed by a lively and cheerful rhythm, that is sung and danced, in the streets.

"THE END"

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