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caty

wao Corey!!! Love this!!!!! Do you mean that all this Portuguese Fiesta happens on your hometown?!!!! wonderful! all communities gather or only portuguese origin people?

May I go? :)

I haven't been in such a huge celebration, only some in Venezuela's country side but smaller with food and dancing :)

Here in France is family and friends that make big celebrations happen

A big hug! and enjoy your Fiesta!

Gill

I have so enjoyed reading about, and seeing your photos of, this interesting tradition - thanks for sharing!

nel

What an amazing celebration and gathering. Looks like hard work and lots of fun! Hope your legs are still going ok!

Jeanne

How fabulous and wonderful~
I love everything

Katy

Well, my family has been in America since the mid 1700's and in Texas since the early 1800's and they fought for the independence of each, so our "culture" is pretty much that of American pioneers. That said, since the 4x gr-grandfather of my name came from Scotland, I do love to attend the Gathering of the Clans. Nothing gets me going like the sound of bagpipes. The ringtone on my phone is bagpipes playing "Scotland the Brave", but background on my screen is the Texas Lone Star flag. (I think I'd rather eat your food than haggis, though!)

Suzanne

I'm part of that tradition of Festas Portuguesas. Afterall... I'm Portuguese! And I know what secret ingredients you are talking about!...

Your hands will smell like mint for days and days! Now, just imagine the people who got to peel onions... or garlics!!!!

Love*

Candy

This is fascinating. I've never even heard of the Festa. Apparently I have not lived near any Portugese people in my life. I love that it is so rich in tradition. It does sound exhausting though.

My Mélange

Great photos and quite an interesteding celelbration.

Thanks for sharing a new cultural experience!!

My cultural celebration...Saint Patty's Day!!

Mary

Hope you're 'back on your feet' by now after so much work Corey - but what a marvelous time must have been had by your community - loved reading about it!! The sopas is an intresting dish for sure!
Is that mom I spy? Great to know she was part of the festivities, altho' a somewhat bittersweet time for all your family I'm sure.

We have a huge St. Patrick's Day celebration here in Raleigh and as dh is of Irish descent I join in!! Most English Summer get togethers I remember were always church fetes with country dancing, 'bring & buy" sales, kiddies games like ring toss, and goodies baked by the mums and grandmas. All quite simple but very pleasant on a perfect English Summer day - read 65 with no humidity or mosquitoes - I want to go back!!!!!!

When I talked to 'French village brother' yesterday, they had returned from a fete at the volunteer firemens' hall - seems there's a fete every weekend over there - such fun. Hope there are some in October when I'm visiting!
Hugs - Mary.

Terri

We had a huge Portuguese community in Peabody, Mass. where I lived and I remember these celebrations very well. I think it's wonderful when an ethnic group holds on to and maintains their culture.
The closest thing I can remember are all the Polish Easter's at my grandmother's house when I was growing up.

Isabel

You got me salivating Corey lol...
I know well all these soups and meats and the scents infusing the air of your Portuguese Festa.
Another Portuguese herb worth mentioning is cilantro. Here in the States, I still make a soup called Sopa Alentejana: I crush a bunch of fresh cilantro, garlic cloves and salt with my marble mortar and pestle, then add olive oil and let it rest while I slice homemade bread and place it in layers in a large bowl. Then, I bring water to a boil, poach some eggs, and when the eggs are done there goes the cilantro paste in. You pour the whole thing over the bread and serve in Portuguese soup bowls accompanied by a good wine, more olive oil, and lots of cured olives.
It is a great warm up for a cold winter day :)

Ed in Willows

It's great to see your mom out and doing the things that bring her joy.

Jeanette

As always it is also a day to catch up with old friend and remember the old days...before children.LOL Are you part of the clean up crew today also? I saw french husband serving. I was looking for you to say hi, but did not see you we must of been busy in the kitchen. My family being German takes part in the Octoberfest. Hot German potato salad, bratwrust or brockwrust and sauerkraut and music I am not a beer drinker so I let the other have at that. And like at the Festa no tradition can be without the Chicken Dance! Young and old get out and boogie to this dance with lots of laughes and smiles. Well I hope your leggs didn't fall off and you are still able to walk today. LOL

the Farmer's Wife

I can't wait to hear more about this beef that's cooked twice!!! Sounds awesome. I saw my Portuguese friend yesterday and told her about your Festa. She was very excited!

Well, the other Suzanne and I must be related because I'm Scottish too, my g-g-g-father came over in 1767 and fought in the revolution. He didn't make it as far as Texas though. He stopped in Tennessee and said, "This looks like a nice spot".

I was raised in Illinois though and the Scottish traditions have been lost in the mist of time. We have good old fashioned American barbecues....steaks and brats on the grill, potatoes wrapped in foil and baked on the grill, and corn in the husk, roasted on the grill and dipped in a big coffee can of butter.

ROASTED CORN IN THE HUSK

Fresh sweet corn in the husk
Large bucket of salt water
Butter
Salt and Pepper

Soak the corn in the salt water for several hours or overnight. Get the coals very hot. Arrange the corn on the grill, turning occassionally until the husk is blackened on all sides.
Pull back the husk and use it as a handle. Dunk the corn into melted butter and dress it up with salt and pepper. Eat several ears and suffer the consequences the following day.

- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

Rosemary

Sounds and looks like fun Corey!!
I'm Italian, so everyday is a festa. Just kidding, but we do have festas too!!
Thanks for sharing,
Rosemary

martina

That looks like so much fun to attend and a great way to pass on the culture to the kids. Mom always bakes spritz and krumkake for Christmas gifts. We never pass up buying any treat with marzipan in it or marzipan candies for ourselves. Favorite Aunty still does rosemaling-traditional Norwegian painting on wooden objects.

kay

What a wonderful tradition. I bet those of you who worked so hard to make it happen are really worn out! I'm learning about life in France from you and now some neat Portuguese info. See...my blog-reading habit (obsession) really is educational!

Beachy

Oh Corey! You've brought tears of joy to my eyes! I was brought up in a heavily Portuguese populated town (I've told you my uncle is Portuguese). I remember these festas oh so well! I remember the long processions, streets being closed off, and the wonderful feasts and parties which followed - and the sopas! The church parking lot became the most popular place to be in the evening - such fun! Everything you've described here is EXACTLY the way it was back home. Now I'm feeling rather blue.. I love living on the Cape, but my roots are still cemented in the suburbs of Boston and always will be. =) hugs!

Franca Bollo

Wha? Mary-Kate Olsen's the Festa Queen? I didn't know she was Portuguese.

Tia Muminguz

waa.. I didn't get any of the meat that makes me happy I'm a carnivore (and to think twas I who drove you to swear off animal flesh).
_________________________________

Hiya Tia

No kidding and to think i put a photo of MEAT on my blog and worked with it all day. Boy talk about being dedicated to tradition!

Carol

I've never heard of a Festa either, and have enjoyed these two entries so much! I also enjoyed reading the article you linked to. Thank you for sharing your heritage with us, Corey.

Sadly, neither my family nor my husbands handed down any cultural celebrations to us.

We have borrowed a couple of traditions from others for Christmas. We have tamales on Christmas eve (purchased at our local farmer's market) and a birthday cake for Jesus at our Christmas morning breakfast/brunch. I started making the cake for my grandchildren and they love it! I make a white cake with white frosting and write "Happy Birthday Jesus" on it in red. The children gather around and we all sing happy birthday and they blow out the candles.

Jamie

WoW, I have Never heard of this Celebration! It looks like so much fun. I learned something New Today. Beautiful Post. Jamie

Franca Bollo

Who is Tia Muminguz? I think you owe to your readers, Coco, to translate the sobriquet. Is it Sheba by any chance?

Beverly

I love the photos Corey, but I'm still sitting here trying to decide if any of the little girls are your nieces!

Traditions...my in-laws and Christmas are a tradition in itself. Lots of pasta, lots of cannolis!

herhimnbryn

Community spirit is so evident in your images and words. Thankyou for sharing.

Debbie in CA  : )

How lovely! How festive! How traditional! How DELICIOUS!!! I'm taking notes. Haven't a drop of portuguese blood in my body, but my tastebuds are applying for a visa. (I'd want a touch of the crown, too.) Yummy post. Thanks. : )

TACE

Sounds like such a fun time!

Marie-Noëlle

"La fête des Lumières" in Lyon on December 8th.

Mary saved the city from the Plague in the 17th century.

Lights everywhere. Music everywhere.
That night all people put little candles on their window sills and stay out late. All sorts of concerts are performed -official and non official- in the streets, in the churches, in the halls...
With your permission, here is a link (with a gallery):
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%AAte_des_lumi%C3%A8res_%28Lyon%29

amber

As always your pictures are so great. and this is very cool. I wish I had family like this. What a gift.

;)

lala

Wow! What a surprise when I saw my picture on your blog. I had so much fun working with all my cousins and friends. The food was so good and it was a beautiful day to visit with everyone. We have to keep this tradition going :)

susanna

I really enjoyed reading this post, Corey. Your photographs capture the movement and gaiety of the celebration, too.

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