In Terceira island there are many festivals and manifestations of faith that translate the devotion of a religious and very catholic people that are the Terceirans, whose traditions are maintained throughout the years, passing from generation to generation and that contribute to the strengthening of its culture and identity.
With this, we assist to the grandiose festivities of the Holy Spirit in Terceira, where the ceremony of distribution of bread, the “bodo”, for the people, carried out by the “impérios” is a tradition that has been rising for a long time in this island, involving all the devotees to the Holy Spirit. In this religious context, it is here in this island that one of the most popular catholic cults of the Azores takes place, through the pilgrimages to Nossa Senhora dos Milagres da Serreta, that annually attracts about 10 000 faithful from all over Terceira to the parish of Serreta, to venerate the small image of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres.
On the other hand, the island of Terceira is the stage of enormous festivities of a more profane nature that pass the joy and happiness that its people have, thus making this island one of the most festive of the archipelago, where music, dance and food and drink are present. Thus, a great symbol of profane festivity in this island is the Sanjoaninas, that every year are the reason for the adhesion of many Azoreans from all the islands and emigrants, as well as other visitors, to the city of Angra do Heroísmo. This is a festivity that lasts more than a week, which requires months of preparation and is characterised by its joyful marches in honour of Saint John, which parade through the historical centre of the city keeping Angra awake all night long. These festivities are also accompanied by tasquinhas where it is possible to taste the typical food of Terceira, various musical shows, and many other parades besides the marches, thus ensuring the well-known expression that the island of Terceira is the “amusement park of the Azores”.
Another great and very traditional festival in the island are the bullfights with a rope, which take place everywhere in the island, during the summer season. These bullfights, which afterwards took place in other islands of the archipelago, are the brand image of Terceira island and a reason for great festivity and fun for the people of Terceira.
Another successful festival on Terceira is the Carnival or Entrudo as it is called on the island, it is celebrated in a different fashion to other world cultures. It takes place in halls where there are performances of dances and bailinhos that go around the island taking the stage and showing the work done by the group. These dances are a way of showing bravery and grandeur, in the form of popular theatre.
Note: Photographs taken from the Facebook page and “History of the Azores”.
Last modified: 9 de November, 2021
