Children carry banners 'Aleluia Cristo Ressuscitou Aleluia' Easter Sunday Flower Torches Festival São Brás de Alportel Portugal
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Easter Sunday in São Brás de Alportel Algarve Portugal Mediterranean EuropeMore information:
http://www.eastoffaro.com/Travel_Guide/Towns/Sao_Bras_de_Alportel On Easter Sunday the town of São Brás de Alportel in the Algarve holds the Festa das Tochas (Torch Procession) to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The streets are paved with patterns of wild flowers. A procession of the town's men starts from the Igreja de Matriz and follows the flower-strewn streets, each one carrying a tocha (torch) also made of flowers. The leader cries "Christ has risen" and the rest of the procession responds with three cries of "Hallelujah". This tradition now only survives in São Brás. The history of the Easter Sunday Flower Torch Festival: The Episcopal Palace in the old part of town was once the summer residence of the Bishop of Faro. The beginning of the cobbled road that linked São Brás de Alportel with Faro can still be seen and followed between the palace and the church. According to local legend this road was used by the marauding seamen of Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh after the sacking of Faro in 1596. Bent on more pillage in the hill towns, it was the men of São Brás, armed only with clubs and branches, who defended the town and sent the invaders back to their ships. The São Brás men returned home with their clubs and branches decorated with flowers to celebrate their victory. A mass was held in the Igreja de Matriz to give thanks for the victory - an event still thought to underlie the present day Easter celebrations which begin and end at the Igreja de Matriz.