Day 38 Easter Sunday in São Brás de Alportel for Flower Torch Festival

This day, Easter Sunday, it was mostly sunny and a high of 21C.

Today we went to the town of Sao Bras de Alportel for the Easter Sunday Flower Torch Festival. We had been to this same town last year for Easter Sunday and enjoyed the celebration and excitement in the town so we decided to return this year. In 2022 it was the first time they had held this long running festival since covid, so there was a noticeable excitement and buzz in the town. The excitement was again present in 2023. I think we’d have to say we felt excited to attend again this year even though we knew what to expect. Here is a description of how the events are described on the town website:

“The Resurrection Procession in the eastern Algarve town of São Brás de Alportel is a unique manifestation of its people's sentiments.

In keeping with their faith, every Easter Sunday, the townspeople carpet the streets with flowers and raise their torches to the heavens, repeatedly crying out in honour of the resurrection of Christ.

"[He] has risen, as He said! (Ressuscitou Como Disse) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!” This is the cry that echoes through the streets bedecked in flowers. The town is dressed up in finery and the balconies are all decorated with pretty mats. It's a day for celebrating!During the afternoon, a "sounds and flavours" event takes place in the churchyard of the Igreja Matriz (Main Church). You will have the chance to see performances of popular music and buy regional sweets and nibbles. Be sure to try the tender almonds, a traditional São Brás treat.“

So we got to the town after about a 35min drive from Olhos d’Agua. We arrived before the parade started and hung out nearby the church where the procession starts. We spotted a local media photographer and had a brief chat with him. He pointed out the town Mayor to us. The town is abuzz and full of locals and tourists as the start time of the procession approaches. The locals are dressed in their Easter Sunday best, while the tourists are dressed like tourists! Cameras and phones are poised to capture the parade. I think we agree the best part is both the flower torches carried by the men in the parade and when they randomly break out in the chant of "[He] has risen, as He said! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!” - spoken in Portuguese of course.

The event starts with a church service in the towns main church. We do not attend this service as the church is packed with locals who will participate in the parade. The flower torch parade starts from right outside the church, immediately after the service is over. It starts with a procession led by someone carrying a large cross and with crowd control by boy and girls scouts and GNR and then the men carrying their homemade flower torches, followed by children carrying religious messages, the priest other religious dignitaries and then young people in a traditional musical band playing instruments as they parade. Clearly these descriptions are by a layperson tourist!

The men carrying the flower torches range from small boys to men probably in the 70s or 80s! In the later stages of the parade there seems like a competition to see what group of men can shout “Ressuscitou Como Disse” the loudest!

The parade swings around various streets that are cordoned off for pedestrians only this day. The towns main square is also adorned with various stalls from people selling locally made sweet treats for Easter Sunday. Other events follow later in the day.

So here are some pictures and video from the flower torch parade…….