Easter comes early in 2013 starting with Palm Sunday on the 24th March and finishing with Easter Sunday on the 31st March. Portugal, being predominantly Catholic, celebrates Easter with many processions and parades and people come from all over the world to witness the wonderful sights.
It’s truly amazing that, despite the huge influx of foreigners buying property in the Algarve and the countless thousands of annual tourists that descend upon them, the Algarveans have steadfastly stuck to their traditions. Here are some of their famous traditional customs at Easter.
Folar Cakes and Sugar Almonds
During Easter week, fairs are held across the whole of the Algarve featuring the renowned Folar cake. As traditional to Portugal as the Easter Egg is to Northern Europe, the cake is sweet, moist and topped with a hard boiled egg still in the shell. Sugared almonds are another Easter favourite and are given as gifts for children – adults too munch their way through as many of them as they can.
Palm Sunday
On the Sunday before Easter Sunday, the annual Triumphal Procession takes place in Tavira. The Carmelite Order started this tradition in the 18th Century and it has grown with the passing years. Starting from the church, nine litters of gilded wood displaying the Life of Christ, from the Mount of Olives to his Crucifixion, are paraded through the streets. The procession winds its way through the town and finishes at the church.
Good Friday
Through the dark streets of Silves, thousands of faithful Christians, carrying candles, silently follow litters bearing Christ and the Virgin Mary. Bamboo staves are pounded on the cobblestone streets in a rhythmic beat and dirge music is played to complete the somber mood. The procession starts at the cathedral and winds its way through the historic area, taking 2 hours to complete the journey.
Easter Sunday
Festa das Tochas Floridas is the festival of flower torches which is celebrated each Easter Sunday in the town of São Bras de Alportel. With eager volunteers working through the night, Easter Sunday dawns and the streets are transformed with a carpet of flowers and petals in intricate patterns. Many hundreds of people descend on the town to wonder at this magnificent display.
The day starts with mass at the impressive church, followed by a procession of the town’s men carrying ‘torches’ made of flowers, escorting the imposing statue of Our Lady through the streets. Chants of “He has risen” and Aleluia! ring out from the men during the whole procession.
Flowers and fire are used across the world in religious ceremonies and this festival epitomises both, using the flowers in their torches to demonstrate fire.
After the procession has returned to the church, everybody in town celebrates with food from many stalls and music and dancing until the early hours of the next morning.
Did you know?
Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, after ransacking Faro in 1596, made their way inland, heading up the old Faro to São Bras road. The men of Sao Bras had no weapons but by using clubs and staves they warded off the marauders, thereby saving the town. To celebrate their victory, the men returned to the town, with flowers decorating their “weapons”, and a mass was held in the Igreja de Matriz to celebrate their victory.
According to the folks in São Bras, this act of bravery is the foundation for the Easter procession, which begins and ends at this very church.
It’s well worth coming to the Algarve for Easter; sunshine, processions and festivities abound during this wonderful time and everybody enjoys every minute of it. So, book your flights, pack your bags and come and join in the fun.
Do you live in the Algarve or own a home here? Is there an event in your town that you’d like to share with us?
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
Easter in the Algarve
by Sun’s Dragon
Easter comes early in 2013 starting with Palm Sunday on the 24th March and finishing with Easter Sunday on the 31st March. Portugal, being predominantly Catholic, celebrates Easter with many processions and parades and people come from all over the world to witness the wonderful sights.
It’s truly amazing that, despite the huge influx of foreigners buying property in the Algarve and the countless thousands of annual tourists that descend upon them, the Algarveans have steadfastly stuck to their traditions. Here are some of their famous traditional customs at Easter.
Folar Cakes and Sugar Almonds
During Easter week, fairs are held across the whole of the Algarve featuring the renowned Folar cake. As traditional to Portugal as the Easter Egg is to Northern Europe, the cake is sweet, moist and topped with a hard boiled egg still in the shell. Sugared almonds are another Easter favourite and are given as gifts for children – adults too munch their way through as many of them as they can.
Palm Sunday
On the Sunday before Easter Sunday, the annual Triumphal Procession takes place in Tavira. The Carmelite Order started this tradition in the 18th Century and it has grown with the passing years. Starting from the church, nine litters of gilded wood displaying the Life of Christ, from the Mount of Olives to his Crucifixion, are paraded through the streets. The procession winds its way through the town and finishes at the church.
Good Friday
Through the dark streets of Silves, thousands of faithful Christians, carrying candles, silently follow litters bearing Christ and the Virgin Mary. Bamboo staves are pounded on the cobblestone streets in a rhythmic beat and dirge music is played to complete the somber mood. The procession starts at the cathedral and winds its way through the historic area, taking 2 hours to complete the journey.
Easter Sunday
Festa das Tochas Floridas is the festival of flower torches which is celebrated each Easter Sunday in the town of São Bras de Alportel. With eager volunteers working through the night, Easter Sunday dawns and the streets are transformed with a carpet of flowers and petals in intricate patterns. Many hundreds of people descend on the town to wonder at this magnificent display.
The day starts with mass at the impressive church, followed by a procession of the town’s men carrying ‘torches’ made of flowers, escorting the imposing statue of Our Lady through the streets. Chants of “He has risen” and Aleluia! ring out from the men during the whole procession.
Flowers and fire are used across the world in religious ceremonies and this festival epitomises both, using the flowers in their torches to demonstrate fire.
After the procession has returned to the church, everybody in town celebrates with food from many stalls and music and dancing until the early hours of the next morning.
Did you know?
Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, after ransacking Faro in 1596, made their way inland, heading up the old Faro to São Bras road. The men of Sao Bras had no weapons but by using clubs and staves they warded off the marauders, thereby saving the town. To celebrate their victory, the men returned to the town, with flowers decorating their “weapons”, and a mass was held in the Igreja de Matriz to celebrate their victory.
According to the folks in São Bras, this act of bravery is the foundation for the Easter procession, which begins and ends at this very church.
It’s well worth coming to the Algarve for Easter; sunshine, processions and festivities abound during this wonderful time and everybody enjoys every minute of it. So, book your flights, pack your bags and come and join in the fun.
Do you live in the Algarve or own a home here? Is there an event in your town that you’d like to share with us?
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.