|
When
|
What |
Where
|
Type
|
|
|
Jan. 1
|
Bom Jesus dos Navegantes / The Lord Good
Jesus of the Mariners Festival
The year begins midsummer with the
festival on January 1, literally the Good Jesus of the Mariners
festival, during which hundreds of vessels of all types sail through All
Saints' Bay carrying the image of Good Jesus from Conceição da Praia
church to the Chapel at Boa Viagem, a beautiful procession of
faith |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Jan. 6
|
Saint Benedito Feast
The Saint Benedito Feast Day, patron saint of Cairu, is
the most traditional in the municipality. It is preceded by the
presentation of Saint Benedito’s banner. Folk groups and the local
marching band parade through the streets of the old part of Cairu, a
lively and colorful spectacle. |
Cairu
|
Religious
|
|
Jan. 3-6
|
Festas de Reis; The Three Kings
or Lapinha Feast
an extension of the Christmas celebrations and represent the
visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. Of Portuguese origin, the Three
Kings celebrations in Salvador have acquired over the years the
characteristics of the typical open-air festivals. And it is precisely
in Largo da Lapinha, against the backdrop of All Saints' Bay, where the
stands known as barracas are set up to sell beverages and local fare to
the many participants. On the night of January the 5th, the eve of the
Epiphany on the 6th, singing groups called Ternos de Reis perform
traditional Portuguese songs dressed in period costumes. The faithful
remember, in song and dance, the Three Kings' visit to the baby Jesus |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Jan.
|
João das Botas Sailboat Regatta |
Salvador
|
Sports
|
|
Jan.
|
Saint Antônio de Categeró Feast
|
Salvador
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Jan.
|
Offering to Iemanjá |
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Jan.
STEP WASHING is 2nd Thursday after the 1st Sunday
ENDS
2nd Sunday after Epiphany
|
Senhor do Bonfim Feast
The saint with the largest following in Bahia, Senhor do
Bonfim or Lord of the Good End - associated with the Candomblé deity
Oxalá, the father of all the orixás (o-RICK-sa) - is honored in the
month of January
nearly 800,000 people dressed in white accompany traditional "Baianas"
wearing typical multi-layered white-lace petticoats and turbans. The
multitudes parade through the Lower City from Conceição da Praia
to Bonfim church, where the Bahian women bless those present by
showering them with lavender water and perform the traditional "washing
of the steps", in a ritual of faith and hope. A fireworks
display marks the beginning of the parade. Immediately thereafter,
priestesses and initiates of Candomblé carrying clay vases filled with
flowers and lavender water on their heads begin the procession to the
Holy Hill to wash the steps of Bonfim Church. Civilian authorities, the
faithful, and revelers accompany the parade on foot or in horse-drawn
carts. The festivities include a novena, a solemn mass and the open-air
festival.
Fridays: Each Orixá has a week day consecrated to him; so, don't be
surprised to see lots of people dressing white on Fridays, because this
is Oxalá’s day, god of Creation, and his colour is white. Oxalá
corresponds to Senhor do Bonfim (Jesus Christ), the patron of Salvador
Trios elétricos change the ritual atmosphere at the church to a
party one so begin early and remember Oxalá, protects only those who go
on foot, hence the local expression, "those with faith walk all
the way |
Salvador
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Jan.
|
Ribeira Feast |
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Jan.
|
Saint Lázaro Feast |
Salvador
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Jan. 24-Feb. 2
|
Our Lady of Purification Feast |
Santo Amaro
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Jan. 28
|
National Tourism Day |
Salvador
|
Public
|
|
Feb. 2
|
|
The Iemanjá Feast
initiates of Candomblé (can-DOME-blay) pay homage to the Goddess of the Sea,
represented symbolically as a mermaid. |
|
|
The
festival takes place in the neighborhood of Rio Vermelho,
an impressive manifestation of faith in the power of the "Mother
of the Waters". The faithful cast offerings into the sea,
often chanting ritual hymns and in return ask for
a blessing. (Sea Goddess also spelt Yemanjá
) |
|
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Pre-Carnival*
|
Washing of Feirinha Feast |
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Pre-Carnival*
|
Washing of Itapuã Church Feast |
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Pre-Carnival*
|
Washing of Our Lady of Light Church Feast |
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Feb
|
Carnival Festival
Salvador's is 7 days beginning on Carnaval Thursday and finishing
early in the morning on Ash Wednesday.
Porto Seguro
and nearby
Arraial D’Ajuda are huge
resort beach towns which also go into peak party mode for their
Carnavals made up of mostly out of town young people |
|
Folk
|
|
Feb.
|
Procession of the Encounter Feast |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Mar
|
Gift to Iemanjá Feast |
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Mar. 10-19
|
Saint John’s Feast Day |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Mar. 21
|
Saint Bento Feast Day |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Mar. 29
|
The Founding of City of Salvador |
Salvador
|
Civic
|
|
Apr.
|
Holy Thursday Foot Washing |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Apr.
|
Good Friday Procession |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Apr.
|
Alleluia Saturday |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
Apr. 22-26
|
Discovery of Brazil Festival
&
the Commemoration
of the First Mass |
Porto. Seguro, Sta. CruzbCabrália & Prado
|
Civic & Religious
|
|
Apr. 23
|
Saint Jorge Feast Day |
Salvador
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Apr.
|
Caxixis Pottery Fair |
Nazaré das Farinhas
|
Folk
|
|
Holy Week
|
Lamentation of the Souls |
Chapada Diamantina
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
April
|
Micareta (Carnival) Festival
off-season Carnivals featuring the top bands & trio electrico trucks of
Salvador are popular throughout Brazil. One of the largest is held in
April in
Feira De Santana |
Inland Bahia
|
Folk
|
|
May 10
|
Saint Francisco Xavier Feast Day |
Salvador
|
Religious
|
|
May
|
Bembé Market Feast
The people of African descent from Santo Amaro da Purificação,
located near All Saints' Bay in a sugar-cane producing region, have
commemorated the abolition of slavery with the Bembé do Mercado festival
since 1889, one year after the Emancipation Proclamation. The festival
is a folk and religious tradition in which the local population plays an
important role as it is organized by the fishermen and fish sellers of
Santo Amaro. It takes place in front of the Municipal Market, where two
small stages are set up. For three days, starting on Friday, groups of
samba de roda-a traditional style of samba danced in a circle; Afoxés-Afro-Brazilian
Carnival groups; maculelê-a sword dance; and capoiera-an Afro-Brazilian
martial art practiced to music, a warrior's dance, perform on the small
stages alongside religious dances in honor of the orixás of the waters,
Oxum-the goddess of rivers, lakes and rain, and Yemanjá-the goddess of
the sea. The Bembé do Mercado festival also commemorates the end of
official persecution of African-based religious faiths. This is why, as
a part of the festival, an offering is made to Yemanjá on the nearby
beach of Cabuçu. |
Santo Amaro & Cabuçu Beach
|
Folk
|
|
May
(50th day after Easter)
|
Festival of the Divine Holy Ghost Feast Day - Pentecost
In Salvador and in many small cities in the interior of the
state the Festival of the Divine Holy Ghost or Festival of the Divine as
it is more commonly known, is celebrated with a lot of pomp, reminiscent
of the Imperial era in Brazil. Of Portuguese origin, the festival was
introduced to Brazil by Azorians in the 17th century commemorates the
Descent of the Holy
Ghost upon the Apostles.
In Salvador it is celebrated in the neighborhood of Santo Antônio Além
do Carmo, where a solemn mass is held at the church bearing the same
name. Immediately after the mass, the procession of the Emperor,
represented by a young boy, parades through the neighborhood carrying
the banner of the Divine Holy Ghost.
In the city of Andaraí in the Chapada Diamantina, the Festival of
the Divine, in which the entire population is involved, is one of the
most important and imposing in the state. The Emperor's entourage is
composed of children dressed in period attire. |
Salvador
Chapada Diamantina
many small cities in the interior of the state |
Religious
|
|
Jun. 1-13
|
Saint Antônio Feast Day
In Bahia, it is June not May that is known as the "merry month"
particularly for São João Originating in pre-Christian Europe to
honour the harvest and fertility. Unlike the Carnival, Festas Juninas
celebrate the ego, the constancy of life and hard work. |
Various towns
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Jun. 23-24
|
Saint John Feast Day
The São João Festival is commemorated throughout the state
with bonfires, fireworks, Forró music and square dancing as well as
copious amounts of liquors and local delicacies. The devotion to all
three saints was introduced to Bahia by Portuguese Jesuit priests
during the colonial period as part of harvest celebrations. A popular
saying says that "Christmas is best celebrated at home and São João is
best in the corral," in other words, best in the interior of the state,
where thousands of people go to take advantage of the festivities.
A festival of fertility, the main feature of the Festas Juninas are
children. Little boys wear patchwork pants and neck bandannas. Their
faces are painted with signs of manhood – small pointed moustaches and
smears of 5 o’clock shadow. Little girls blossom in gingham and flowered
dresses with puffed sleeves, ruffles and ribbons. Swirls of rouge and
fake freckles decorate their cheeks
The São João Festival in Cachoeira is perhaps one of the most
traditional with Forró music and 3-person bands called trios, typical of
the Brazilian Northeast. There is also an open market at the Port where
liquor and local fare are sold.
In the Chapada Diamantina the São João Festival in Mucugê is
worth a mention, as he is the town's patron saint. The exciting "war of
the swords" - a type of fireworks - attracts tourists to the São João
festivals in Cruz das Almas and Senhor do Bonfim |
Salvador, and many other towns inc./
Mucugê
Cruz das Almas
Senhor do Bonfim
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Jun. 28-29
|
Saint Peter Feast Day
Widows honor St. peter by placing lit candles on their doorsteps.
Others enjoy the food, drink, dancing and fireworks throughout the day |
Various towns
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Jul. 2
|
Independence Day of Bahia
Civic festival commemorating the entry into the city of the victorious
Brazilian troops that freed Bahia from Portuguese rule in 1823. |
Salvador
|
Civic
|
|
Aug. 1-6
|
Pilgrimage to Bom Jesus da Lapa |
Bom Jesus da Lapa
|
Religious
|
|
Aug.
first Friday before August 15th
|
Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte
(Our Lady of Good Death Feast)
Festival has as main objective to thank her "for
liberty granted". This celebration has been held for more than a century
in the city of Cachoeira, located in the area surrounding All Saints'
Bay. The last day of the festival is when the Assumption of Our Lady is
commemorated. The festival includes a three day devotion celebrated at
the Our Lady of the Rosary of the Port of Cachoeira Church, a prayer
vigil, a festive mass, two processions, a dinner and a lunch at the
headquarters of the sisterhood as well as performances of samba de roda-a
traditional style of samba danced in a circle. The Sisterhood of Good
Death, a closed society that only accepts females of African descent is
responsible for organizing the entire event. The devotion to Our Lady of
Good Death was initiated at the Barroquinha Church in Salvador by freed
female slaves who founded the society around 1823, the objective of
which was to work and save enough money to buy the freedom of the other
sisters. |
Cachoeira
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Sept. 27
|
St. Cosme & St. Damião Feast Day
Celebrated by all the candomblés of the city for these saints are
among the most popular |
Salvador
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Oct. 5
|
Celebration for Martyrs of Canudos |
Canudos
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Oct.
|
Our Lady of Rosário Feast Day (First Sunday of
October) |
Cairu
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Nov.
|
Day of the 'Baiana'
|
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Nov.
|
Our Lady of Help Feast Day
Cachoeira is known for is candomblé events, with participants
still conducting rituals in African dialects that nobody speaks anymore,
but recognizable as variants of West African and Angolan languages |
Cachoeira
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Dec
|
Samba Day in Bahia |
Salvador
|
Folk
|
|
Dec
|
Saint Bárbara Feast Day
Festa de Santa Barbara, dedicated not to the saint but to the
goddess Iansã. In an example of Bahian syncretism, the patron
saint of both the fire brigade and of the markets, St Barbara, is known
in the Candomblé religion as the queen of thunder and lightning. The
celebrations start at the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos
Pretos, in Pelourinho. Here an effigy of the saint is picked up and
taken at the front of a procession throughout the Pelourinho and other
parts of the historical district of Salvador, via the fire station,
where it is met with the sound of sirens. The procession ends in the
Baixa dos Sapateiros, where St Barbara's market is located.
Following the procession and accompanying the celebrations in the
Candomblé houses, people eat caruru, a dish containing okra.
Dec. 12 in Salvador but the most important is in in São Felix,
(across the river from Cachoeira )on December 4th is held the
second most important candomblé event |
|
Religious/Folk
|
|
Dec |
Christmas
The city's beautiful historical centre is decorated in lights and the
program includes events for children, concerts, dances, touring
shows, exhibitions, processions celebrating the birth of Christ and the
Annunciation, a Christmas float, other religious celebrations and a
Christmas supper. The Pelourinho is aglow with lights, angels
(four metres high), stars and various other symbols of the Nativity.
Father Christmas is there, and a huge tree. |
Salvador |
Religious/
Civic |
|
Dec. 31 |
New Year's Eve & Festival Do Senhor Bom Jesus
Dos Navegantes in the neighborhood of Boa Viagem, which is
also where one of the largest New Year's celebrations in the world takes
place. Of Portuguese origin, the devotion to this saint in Bahia began
in the 18th century when the Boa Viagem Chapel was built in 1750. Two
processions are the main events of the festival. The first takes place
in the late afternoon on the 31st of December, from Boa Viagem Church to
the Basilica of Conceição da Praia. The second is in the morning on the
first day of January, one of the most popular processions in Bahia.
A spectacular New year's Eve celebration has been produced by the Bahian
Capital since 1997/98 at Farrol da Barra Beach with a
program beginning in the early evening with a countdown &
fireworks at midnight |
Salvador
Largo Da Boa Viagem |
Religious/
Civic |
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Porto Seguro -Discovery Coast![[D]](link.gif){kind=small}
praticus.com/festas in English & Portuguese