São João

São João is celebrated both in catholic and pagan ways. The small chapel of Saint John located at the beginning of Avenida da Liberdade holds the catholic ceremonies, while on the eve of the 24th June the crowds go up and down the avenue banging plastic hammers on people’s heads or rubbing smelly garlic flowers on people’s noses... in this case, the favorites are young women!
It is a crazy party that lasts for a whole week and ends in a loud session of fireworks at midnight of the 24th.Read more