Photos: Portuguese Festival Of The Holy Spirit

July 4, 2016

The 21st annual Portuguese Festival of the Holy Spirit was held on Saturday and Sunday in St. George’s, with people from around the island coming to attend the festivities.

The Festival Of The Holy Spirit started centuries ago in the Azores, and is still celebrated today by Portuguese citizens and descendants worldwide. According to various reports, the festival stems from a legend which says that during the reign of Portugal’s Queen Isabela centuries ago a drought plagued the country. Against her husband’s wishes, the Queen hid food in her apron, with an aim to sneak out and feed the poor.

Her husband once asked her to open her apron, and Queen Isabela prayed to the Holy Spirit before opening her apron for his inspection. When she opened it, roses are said to have tumbled out instead of the food, a miracle which sparked the Festival of the Holy Spirit.

The Square was decorated, with live music and plenty of food on offer including Portuguese donuts which were selling as fast as they were made. Also on show were decorated sections in keeping with traditions, located at the old passenger terminal on Ordnance Island.

The weekend celebration began on Saturday night with entertainment and continued on Sunday with a procession to the St George’s Catholic Church Stella Maris for a mass before heading back to the Square for a night of social fun and celebration.

The festival was originally started in Bermuda by Eugene Lima and his father Frank Lima, and today with the help of Lisa Almeida and a committee of hard working devoted volunteers, the tradition continues. Funds raised through the event are donated to local charities and families that may be struggling financially.

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