Starting with Palm Sunday on the 13thApril and finishing with Easter Sunday on the 20th April, Portugal will once again be celebrating Easter with processions, parades, pomp and ceremony.
Thousands of tourists will arrive to witness these celebrations, some of whom will be joining processions and taking part in parades. Residents will either be helping with the enormous preparations needed, participating in the processions or lining the streets to watch alongside the tourists. Either way, everyone will appreciate the spectacles as well as the food, music and dancing that will follow each festival.
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The fairs
During Easter week, fairs are held throughout the Algarve, featuring the renowned Folar cake, topped with a hard-boiled egg in its shell. Dating back to pagan times, it has always been traditional, the world over, to give eggs for Easter. Sugared almonds (which are egg shaped) are the main gifts distributed in the Algarve at Easter time and the children make the most of this delicious confection.
Palm Sunday on 13thApril
On Palm Sunday, the annual Triumphal Procession takes place in Tavira. A tradition introduced by the Carmelite Order in the 18thCentury. Starting from the church, 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 on 18thApril
In the town of Silves, thousands of faithful Christians, carrying candles, silently follow litters bearing Christ and the Virgin Mary through the dark streets. Bamboo staves are pounded on the cobblestone streets in a rhythmic beat and dirge music is played to complete the sombre mood. The procession starts at the cathedral and winds its way through the historic town, taking 2 hours to complete the journey.
Easter Sunday on 20thApril
São Bras de Alportel celebrates Easter Sunday with the Festa das Tochas Floridas (Festival of the Flower Torches). Volunteers work through Saturday night to create a carpet of flowers and petals woven into intricate patterns along the streets of the town, an astonishing but delightful sight to behold.
As Easter Sunday dawns, many hundreds of people descend on the town to wonder at this magnificent display.
Starting with mass at the impressive church, the procession of the town’s men carrying their torches made of flowers; escort the imposing statue of Our Lady through the streets. Rhythmic chants of, “He has risen” and “Hallelujah!” ring out throughout the procession.
After the procession has returned to the church, stalls filled with food are opened and everybody in town eats, drinks and celebrates with music and dancing until the early hours of the next morning.
Loulé too has a major celebratory procession on this day; the Feast of The Sovereign Mother (‘Festa Pequena’). This is the start of the deeply religious homage paid to the Patron Saint of the town. The statue of The Sovereign Mother is carried on a litter by the men folk, from its sanctuary high on the hill to the Church of São Francisco. This is the start of two weeks of pilgrimages, sermons and vigils, whilst the holy statue is ensconced in the church.
On the morning of 4thof May the statue is taken to the town centre, where a religious service is held and, in the afternoon after the Eucharist, it will once more be taken back to its sanctuary. This is known as the Festa Grande and the day will end with a firework display.
Traditions
In the Algarve, despite the thousands of Estrangeiros (foreigners) who live and work here and the millions of visiting tourists, the locals hold firmly to their traditions and welcome one and all to join in. They take great pride in their music for all occasions, their traditional dances and in their inimitable cuisine and are more than willing to share the experience with all comers. Without the slightest show of arrogance, they just know that what they have is priceless and is to be treasured, and so they share. What a wonderful philosophy! So feel free to come and join us this Easter and celebrate Portuguese style.
Click hereto find out about other events in the Algarve this April.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
Celebrate Easter Portuguese Style
by Sun’s Dragon
Starting with Palm Sunday on the 13thApril and finishing with Easter Sunday on the 20th April, Portugal will once again be celebrating Easter with processions, parades, pomp and ceremony.
Thousands of tourists will arrive to witness these celebrations, some of whom will be joining processions and taking part in parades. Residents will either be helping with the enormous preparations needed, participating in the processions or lining the streets to watch alongside the tourists. Either way, everyone will appreciate the spectacles as well as the food, music and dancing that will follow each festival.
The fairs
During Easter week, fairs are held throughout the Algarve, featuring the renowned Folar cake, topped with a hard-boiled egg in its shell. Dating back to pagan times, it has always been traditional, the world over, to give eggs for Easter. Sugared almonds (which are egg shaped) are the main gifts distributed in the Algarve at Easter time and the children make the most of this delicious confection.
Palm Sunday on 13thApril
On Palm Sunday, the annual Triumphal Procession takes place in Tavira. A tradition introduced by the Carmelite Order in the 18thCentury. Starting from the church, 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 on 18thApril
In the town of Silves, thousands of faithful Christians, carrying candles, silently follow litters bearing Christ and the Virgin Mary through the dark streets. Bamboo staves are pounded on the cobblestone streets in a rhythmic beat and dirge music is played to complete the sombre mood. The procession starts at the cathedral and winds its way through the historic town, taking 2 hours to complete the journey.
São Bras de Alportel celebrates Easter Sunday with the Festa das Tochas Floridas (Festival of the Flower Torches). Volunteers work through Saturday night to create a carpet of flowers and petals woven into intricate patterns along the streets of the town, an astonishing but delightful sight to behold.
As Easter Sunday dawns, many hundreds of people descend on the town to wonder at this magnificent display.
After the procession has returned to the church, stalls filled with food are opened and everybody in town eats, drinks and celebrates with music and dancing until the early hours of the next morning.
On the morning of 4thof May the statue is taken to the town centre, where a religious service is held and, in the afternoon after the Eucharist, it will once more be taken back to its sanctuary. This is known as the Festa Grande and the day will end with a firework display.
Traditions
Click here to find out about other events in the Algarve this April.
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.