“Angra: your name is Freedom” is the theme, alluding to the April 25 Revolution, chosen for the 2024 edition of the Sanjoaninas.
The festivities celebrating St. John are scheduled to take place in Angra do Heroísmo from June 21 to 30.
“The Sanjoaninas have been marked in recent years by being an evocative moment of historical events to which the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo is linked,” says Guido Teles, Vice-President of the municipality.
In this sense, in the year of celebrating the 50th anniversary of April 25th, “the Sanjoaninas have obviously adopted this as their commemorative theme,” he said.
Guido Teles says this theme was chosen “not to tell what happened in 1974, but to evoke the values behind that revolution, which are more present today than ever and have to be worked on daily so that they remain more alive than ever”.

The theme of the festivities and the march lyrics are the brainchild of writer Joel Neto, and the poster was created by designer Rúben Quadros Ramos.
“I’ve always wanted to take part in the Sanjoaninas, and for a long time, I didn’t have the opportunity because I wasn’t asked,” said Joel Neto at the presentation of the Sanjoaninas theme and poster for 2024.
For the writer, April 25th “is the most formidable date in Portugal’s history. It is the sum of all the declarations of freedom and self-determination and, above all, of inclusion”. In an explanatory text, the writer chose a poem by Marcolino Candeias to emphasize his message.
“This poster has a graphic style reminiscent of Portugal’s tourist posters from the 60s and 70s, with pastel and summer colors,” explained Rúben Quadros Ramos.
The poster depicts Praça Velha “adorned with carnations, the ultimate symbol of April 25”. The designer goes on to say that “in the foreground are the Town Hall flying the flag of Angra do Heroísmo, in an allusion to the importance of local authorities after the revolution.” In the background, you can see the city’s characteristic houses, the Memória monument, and the Cathedral (Sé).
The Royal Court will be introduced at Easter time.

Editor’s Note: This year’s Sanjoaninas will have very strong participation from the Central Valley, especially the city of Tulare, as the Filarmónica Portuguesa de Tulare is the invited marching band, and there is a “marcha” from Tulare that is being organized. 

In Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno–PBBI thanks the sponsorship of the Luso-American Development Foundation from Lisbon, Portugal (FLAD)