On the island of São Miguel there are many festivals and manifestations of faith that reflect the devotion of a religious and very Catholic people that are the people of São Miguel, whose traditions are maintained over the years, passing from generation to generation and contributing to the strengthening of their culture and identity.
Thus, in São Miguel, the festivities that have great relevance are mainly the religious ones such as the Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, which every year attracts thousands of people to the city of Ponta Delgada to venerate the beautiful image of Senhor Santo Cristo through a huge procession that takes place on the fifth Sunday after Easter, being one of the largest manifestations of faith in all of Europe.
The festivities of the Divine Holy Spirit, as in the other Azorean islands are also a great example that portrays the faith of this people. Throughout the island there are several celebrations in honor of the Holy Spirit with the “Domingas” and the Empires that are composed of coronations, delivery of pensions, the famous soups and large dinners. In the summer, it is the processions of the parishes that keep the rhythm of the religious festivals, which are held in devotion to the oracle of the respective parishes all over the island, where the paths decorated by carpets of flowers and vegetables have a great appearance and are a characteristic element of this island.
Still on religious manifestations, the island of São Miguel stands out from the others for having started an important tradition that eventually expanded to other islands in the Azores as well as to the Diaspora, which were precisely the Lenten pilgrimages. These pilgrimages are made up of groups of men who prayerfully walk around the island during Lent, visiting churches and hermitages invoking Mary, the mother of Jesus. This is a tradition that has been maintained for more than 500 years.
Regarding other festivities that are great traditions on the island, we have the Cavalhadas de São Pedro, in Ribeira Grande, which takes place on the day of devotion to this Saint (June 29). The marches in honor of the Popular Saints are also festivals that characterize the people of São Miguel, especially the marches of São João da Vila, in Vila Franca do Campo, which are cause for great celebration by its residents and attract people from all over the island.
Carnival is another feast very dear to the Micaelenses, marked by the Battle of Limas, in Ponta Delgada and by the Carnival dances at the Coliseu Micaelense that have been part of the culture of this people for a long time
Last modified: 19 de August, 2021
