The Cavalhadas of São Pedro in Ribeira Seca, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, are a centuries-old expression of gratitude to Saint Peter for protecting the local people from the earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and cataclysms that afflicted this part of the island of São Miguel.
Every year, on June 29, men dressed in authentic medieval attire and mounted on carefully trained horses process toward the Chapel of Saint Peter, a sanctuary believed to have been spared by the lava flows from several eruptions that occurred in 1563 at Pico do Sapateiro and Lagoa do Fogo.
This interpretation is not unanimously accepted, as Ribeira Grande researcher Mário Moura has aptly noted. One thing is certain, however: while this centuries-old tradition may not have originated exclusively as a religious celebration, over time it has incorporated elements associated with the Festas of the Divine Holy Spirit. It remains a deeply rooted popular tradition, organized and led by the local people themselves, who come together each year to prepare and participate in the procession.
Its cultural significance is such that it is now permanently documented at the Casa das Cavalhadas Museum in Ribeira Grande, where visitors can learn more about this remarkable tradition.
The mounted procession is led by a King, accompanied by two Lancers and the Buglers, followed by the Horsemen.
The King’s recitation—delivered by the figure distinguished by his famous beard while mounted on a magnificently adorned horse—is one of the highlights of the Cavalhadas. Each year, the celebration draws hundreds upon hundreds of pilgrims and visitors to Ribeira Grande, eager to experience these unique festivities.
The enduring strength and devotion embodied by the Cavalhadas can now also be experienced and appreciated through a Tourist Village in Ribeira Seca, Ribeira Grande—a tribute and living hymn to the centuries-old Cavalhadas of São Pedro of Ribeira Seca, Ribeira Grande.
Gualter Furtado writes for several Azorean news outlets. He is a retired economist, having served the Azores in various capacities of public and private industry. Photos from Gualter Furtado and the excellent news platform JornalAcores9.
