The Festival of Saint Peter

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In Brazil, the Festival of Saint Peter, known as o Dia de São Pedro in Portuguese, is celebrated each year in late June. Saint Peter is the saint of fishermen, who have boat processions on the sea to honor the saint and to ask for protection and better catches. 

In Salvador, Bahia, the celebration begins with a large party in Pelourinho, the old city, complete with traditional music and dances. Fishermen provide offerings to São Pedro and to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea, in small boats off the coast.

In the Baía de Guanabara, in Rio de Janeiro, the procession attracts 90,000 people annually and lasts four days. The fishermen elaborately decorate their boats to honor the saint, and a panel of judges choses the most originally decorated boat.

Below is video footage of the procession in Rio this year.

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One Comment

  • Carmelita commented on July 5, 2008 at 7:29 pm |Permalink

    Hi. I´m from Brasil, I live in a small city, Aracaju, but is very beautiful. Do you know my country? Why you show pictures of Brasil in here? Please, I don´t know how right in inglish so good, but I try…thank you!
    I will wait for your mail for me.
    Kisses.
    Ca

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