What does history tell us about the Holy Spirit Festivals?

The Holy Spirit Festivals are an ancient tradition, dating back to before the settlement of the Azores, and have shaped the identity of the Azoreans throughout almost six centuries of regional history. The cult of the Holy Spirit arrived in Portugal through the work of Franciscan friars and the creation of brotherhoods to help the poor. The origin of the cult of the Holy Spirit is related to the doctrine of the Italian Joachim of Fiore and his followers, the Joachimites, Joaquinites, or Spirituals, in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. It is said that the first festival of the Empire of the Holy Spirit in Portuguese territory was held by Queen Saint Isabel, wife of King Dinis, in the Franciscan convent of Alenquer, around the year 1323. These festivities eventually gained great importance with the settlement of the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, and also in Brazil, with the Catholic mission. In the Azores, the cult of the Holy Spirit gained new impetus with the need to seek divine protection from bad weather and natural disasters. It should be remembered that Gaspar Frutuoso, in the 16th century, already identified the cult of the Holy Spirit as something regional, largely due to the Order of Christ, which allowed its dissemination and local incorporation. It was already a festival that encompassed all the islands. The isolation of the Azores and the need to cling to religious protection transformed the festivities of the Holy Spirit into an essential feature of the DNA of the Azorean people, making it one of the most powerful agents of sociability in the archipelago.

What are the particularities of Terceira?

Like the other Azorean islands, Terceira incorporated the Cult of the Holy Spirit with great intensity. However, this Cult has a distinctive feature: the colorful Empires of the Holy Spirit, which are typical examples of local architecture linked to the Brotherhoods of the Holy Spirit. They symbolize the connection between the people of Terceira and the Holy Spirit, their “protector in times of agony and affliction,” but also an example of the strength of the population. The Empires, formerly called “Treatos,” are part of the culture of the Azores and exist throughout the region, but in Terceira, their vibrant colors and the strength they have among the people are a very unique detail of the connection between the people of Terceira and religion.

What is the importance of the concept of solidarity?

Solidarity is a very important concept for the Azoreans. The people of Terceira seek to show social solidarity in this locally rooted cult. The Holy Spirit festivals are more than the “payment” of a promise, more than charity; they are a very special form of conviviality and connection between the Divine and the earthly. We can say that the doctrines of Joachim of Fiore on the Holy Trinity, which defend that the unity of the Three Persons guarantees immutable order, giving an active and essential role to the Holy Spirit, survive with unparalleled strength in the Azores to this day.

Is this concept still relevant today?

It is because cooperation, friendship, support, mutual aid, and solidarity are still very important concepts for the Azoreans. Here on Terceira, we see how people are attentive to helping those in need and being there when needed. Times have indeed changed, and a certain individualism and selfishness proliferate through various actions and attitudes. However, there is still a strong sense of altruism, of lending a hand, which remains current. The Holy Spirit festivals, the Coronations, and the Bodos exemplify how this solidarity and support continue, with many people actively participating in these festivities and helping openly. Sharing is a feeling deeply rooted in Terceira’s culture.

Can we learn anything from this festival?

Of course, we can. The Holy Spirit festivals are a driving force behind the culture of the Azores. They are a living portrait of the Azoreans’ connection with the Divine, a unique festival that continues today and shows how mutual aid and the need to maintain a strong and secure faith can make a difference. They are not just festivals; they are symbols of a collective memory that unites people, showing how helping others is still present, keeping the belief in a better world alive, and the confidence that the worst is over. Even in times of crisis, natural disasters, and fear, the Azorean people have clung to the Holy Spirit and “joined hands” to overcome obstacles and adversity. We cannot dissociate the Cult of the Holy Spirit from the Azorean identity for all these reasons.

What do you think about the involvement of entities such as municipalities in this religious and cultural event?

The Holy Spirit festivities are part of the Azorean “way of being,” they are part of a living history and a link between the locals and the Divine. These festivities are part of the culture of the Azores, so I think it is important that entities get involved, learn more about this religious and cultural event, that they are present, that they help, that they are active in defending the culture and heritage of all of us. The cult of the Holy Spirit is a distinctive feature of the Azoreans, which is still alive. Still, with more support and understanding from local authorities of the importance of these festivities, it will be easier to continue to defend a tangible and intangible heritage such as the Empires and the celebrations of the Holy Spirit, which are essential to the Azoreans.

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 Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.