Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Agonia
The pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Agony is held annually in Viana do Castelo, a city located on the northern coast of Portugal. Since 1783, the pilgrimage has occurred during the month of August. Our Lady of Agony is the patron saint of local fishermen. The celebration dates back to ancient times and is one of the largest Portuguese religious festivals attended by thousands of people from far and near.
The nine-day event includes numerous daily celebrations with a variety of drum corps (zés-pereiras) accompanied by “big heads” (cabeçudos), and giants (gigantones), numerous parades featuring floats, marching bands and participants in traditional clothing, most women adorned with priceless Portuguese filigree.
There are craft fairs, concessions, concerts, and street dances every night, when fireworks explode in the sky. The festival ends with adornment of the city’s streets with “flower carpets,” a solemn Eucharistic celebration of Our Lady of Agony, followed by a boat procession out to the sea.
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