Popular Saints – June is the month of the popular Saints with feasts all over the country.
The main Festival of the popular Saints is in Lisbon, which celebrates the day on June 13, the day of Saint Anthony, and in Porto, on June 24, when it celebrates the St. John.
With the emergence of the first rays of Sun, that smell like summer comes the traditional popular festivities. But it’s at night that the real magic happens.
In Lisbon the popular marches of each district mark the tradition with a parade by the Avenida da Liberdade, in the night of 12 June day, filling the street of color and a lot of animation with hundreds of persons that participated in the parade.
However, it is in the oldest part of Lisbon that the real party happens, especially in Alfama, Graça, Bica, Alfama, and Madragoa.
Here the snack is the main attraction. We eat Caldo Verde and grilled Sardines, songs, and dances all night.
At Porto, the party of the Popular Saints is lived identically.
But Porto has other traditions. The partygoers run around town causing chaos with their chopsticks.
In addition to the traditional fireworks, a tradition in all lands. Porto lanches colorful hot-air balloons to the sky, in one of the most beautiful celebrations.
At the end of June, day 29, we celebrate Saint Pedro. This Popular Saint is celebrated in various locations as Sintra and Évora. Both the lands are designated as world heritage sites.
In the Popular Saints is also tradition to jump a bonfire and offer your loved one the famous vases of Basil with its romantic courts full of passion since these parties are linked to the summer solstice and the ancient fertility rituals.
If you’re in Portugal enjoy and come celebrate the Popular Saints with the Yellow Cab TT Tours.
