Easter Tradition in Portugal

Holy Week in Braga Easter and Holy Week are celebrated in Braga as in no other town in Portugal.  Throughout this festive season, the city is decorated in religious motifs and the “Passos” – street altars – are filled with flowers and lights.

During the Holy week, visitors and devotees gather along the darkened streets to witness three great processions.

Wednesday’s Procession: “Procissão de Nossa Senhora da Burrinha” Our Lady travels on a donkey and is followed by all the religious scenes of Christ’s life.

Many volunteers participate in the Holy week processions

Thursday’s Procession: The Senhor Ecce-Hommo procession  This procession is mainly centred in the ‘Farricocos’, (barefoot men in black tunics with hoods), that hold torches in a re-enactment of the rites of public penitence and reconciliation common to the 16th century.

The ‘Farricocos’

They walk the streets making noise with their wooden instruments

On Good Friday: Our Lord’s funeral procession “Enterro do Senhor”  Under a shroud of silence, the 'Penitência' procession takes place representing Christ’s final steps while being led to Calvary.

It is the most pious event of the Holy week.

Weeping women And thus ends this majestic cycle of the Holy Week processions and starts the beginning of the Easter celebrations.

Easter Sunday  Easter Sunday starts with an Easter Mass celebration held early in the morning  After the Mass, the priest and the “mordomo” (host of the feast) holding a cross in his hands, go by every house to announce the resurrection of Christ and to bless the homes and people who live there.

The Easter visit Compasso (Visita Pascal)

The Cross is accompanied by a boy with a bell announcing the resurrection of Christ.

The cross is kissed by all.

Godparents exchange gifts with their godchildren

Other Easter traditions in Portugal The “Cortejo dos Ramos”, in Lamego.

“Procissão das tochas” Procession of the torches, transported only by men. In S. Brás de Alportel (Algarve)

 During the Easter visit, it is traditional to set a table with sweets and beverages, so that at the end of the blessings, everyone celebrates with the family! There are always traditional cakes: the “folar”, “pão-de-ló”, almonds, eggs and many other delicacies.

Easter specialities Roast cod with potatoes and corn bread

Roast kid

Roast chicken and pork

Roast Piglet

The “folar”

Another type of “Folar”

“The pão-de-ló”

The “folar” of Amorim, from Póvoa de Varzim.

The almonds

The eggs

And many other specialities

Easter tables at school

Easter carpets

Easter arches

Happy Easter