In June the temperature rises up to 25°C, the Summer arrives and the streets of the most typical neighborhoods of Portugal fill with color!
POPULAR SAINTS FESTIVITIES ARE ARRIVED! Throughout the Country, on the night of St. Anthony, St. John and St. Peter the people take the streets to eat, drink and have fun. It’s tradition to jump into the fire and offer to the girlfriend or boyfriend a basil (aromatic plant) with a message about love.
In Lisbon, the night of June 12th to June 13th the popular marches cheer up the ‘Avenida da Liberdade’. Hundreds of marchers parading down the Avenue with the sound of popular music, color, animation and many spectators!
In the typical Lisbon’s neighborhoods like Alfama, Graça, Bica or Mouraria the party is huge, the streets fill with people eating ‘caldo verde’ soup, grilled sardines, dancing and singing all night long.
Also on this day happen the ‘marriage of Saint Anthony’ sponsored by the City Council of Lisbon, an event of strong social character, which gives to the most in need young people a blessed marriage by the Patron Saint of Lisbon.
On 13th June, takes place the procession of Saint Anthony along the streets of the City, starting in Alfama, at the Church of St. Anthony of Lisbon.
In Oporto the festivities are all also colorful and joyful throughout the characteristic neighborhoods of the City as Miragaia, Fontainhas, Ribeira or Massarelos.
But here, the people traditionally go to the streets, on the night of June 23rd to June 24th, with plastic hammers to strike the head of each other.
At midnight, in the Douro River is launched a huge fireworks and colorful hot air balloons. Tradition dictates that the night runs along the beach to watch the sun rise or for a morning bath.
In several other regions of the Country such as Sintra and Évora (both World Heritage) is celebrated St. Peter on June 29.
