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Popular saints. All the saints help to celebrate.
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There's no month like June in Portugal. Thousands and thousands of people take to the streets to celebrate the three great Popular Saints: Santo António (June 13), São João (June 24) and São Pedro (June 29). There are concerts and dances everywhere, grilled sardines and snacks, colorful balloons, and the smell of basil. It's impossible to resist. Ready to party? Guerin will give you a lift.
Santo António of Lisbon. The most popular of the popular saints.
"Santo António the first
To bring people out into the street,
The matchmaker saint,
He brought the sun and the moon together.”
Lisbon wouldn't be the same without Santo António, the festival in honor of the city's patron saint. The narrow, picturesque streets of the most popular neighborhoods fill with life and color in the days leading up to the municipal holiday of June 13. There are colorful flags hanging from the roofs of houses, grilled sardines, and peppers in the street, bifanas and caldo verde, broa and wine, dances, and festivals.
The highlight of the Santo António festivities, on the evening of June 12, is the parade of popular marches along Avenida da Liberdade. Each neighborhood has its own march, with its own choreography, costumes, and music. The neighborhood with the most victories since 1932 is Alfama, followed by Madragoa.
Lisbon's Santo António festivities have been held for centuries and are much more than a religious celebration. They are a cultural event that unites Portuguese folk traditions with the joy and welcoming spirit of the people of Lisbon, making it a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone: families, friends and tourists.
São João, give me a balloon!
"O my rich São João
Give me a balloon
To join the circle
And sing a song.”
The figure of São João Batista is celebrated all over the country. With Guerin, it's easy to get to any festival. In Minho, the most popular is São João de Braga, which is celebrated over several days, with its atmosphere filled with the scent of lemon balm, basil, and leeks. In the south, there are the festivities in Almada and, in the Azores, those in Angra do Heroísmo.
But the big São João festivity is in Porto. On the night of June 23rd to 24th, no one stays at home. Young and old, locals and tourists. The city's streets are filled with thousands of people, united in a communal celebration of enormous joy and conviviality.
Traditions include the launching of hot air balloons, popular dances and the famous-colored plastic hammers that revellers use to play and greet each other. After dinner, the people of Porto head down to Ribeira and, at midnight sharp, the sky lights up with the most famous fireworks display of the year, centered on the D. Luís Bridge. The fireworks mark the "official” start of the night's festivities, which last until dawn.
Throughout the night, there are dances in every square and corner, improvised taverns serving all kinds of traditional snacks, and lively socializing between people of all classes and generations. It's one of the most iconic festivals of the Santos Populares.
São Pedro, the last of the popular saints.
"It's been twenty-four
Let's go to twenty-nine
There's a lot to talk about
São Pedro the Fisherman
It has many stories to tell.”
And to finish off our Popular Saints itinerary on a high note, Guerin takes you to the feasts of São Pedro. On the night of June 28-29, there are numerous festivals dedicated to this patron saint all over the country, from north to south, especially in cities and towns by the sea and with a fishing tradition.
In Póvoa de Varzim, the festivities are in full swing. There are popular music concerts, raids, streamers, and confetti. In Afurada, on the left bank of the Douro estuary, there are processions of decorated boats, concerts, folklore shows, dances and monumental fireworks. In Nazaré, São Pedro is celebrated with religious processions, cultural activities, and a large gastronomic festival. In Sintra too, the popular saint is the pretext for a party with music, dancing, and lots of traditional food.
Celebrate the Popular Saints with the most popular car rental brand.
"It's the Popular Saints
Festival of balloons and basil
The smells are in the air
It's time to travel and flirt.”
Now you just have to choose: Santo António, São João or São Pedro. Perhaps it's best to celebrate them all. Alone, with friends or with family. With Guerin it's simple. Rent a car in Portugal at one of our stations and spend the most festive month of June ever. There's no more fun way to get to know the country and its most ancient traditions. You can count on us to give you all the support you need with our TOP travel assistance, which means you don't have to pay for towing or on-site assistance.
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