Calendar

The prevalent festivals demonstrate the importance of religion to the Azorean people. The traditional festival of the Divine Holy Spirit that is celebrated at all parishes of the archipelago, occurs from May through September. Ruled by the crown of the Emperor and the exhibition of his symbols - crown and scepter -, there will be a procession, distribution of bread, meat and wine among the people by the brethren. Fireworks, dances and songs are always part of the celebration.

The festival of the Holy Christ of Miracles, on San Miguel, an annual happening on every 5th Sunday following Easter, is the veneration of the image of the saint who resides in the "Convento da Esperança" church.

With this festival the streets of Ponta Delgada are abundantly decorated with flowers for the procession and there are open-air festivities with dance, music and fireworks.

Around Saint John´s day, June 24, Terceira celebrates its famous Sanjoaninas, a popular saint tradition, starting on Friday and ends ten days later on Sunday, with ethnographic processions, music and theater, marches, brass bands, folklore dance groups, games, sports, bullfights and fireworks.

There are other big festivals spread out over the islands, such as the international music festival "Maré d´Agosto on Santa Maria, the sea week on Faial, the week of the Whalers on Pico or the festival of the Emigrant on Flores.