Português communities love parades and so do we. Parades happen frequently in many villages for a variety of reasons. Many, like the one below, are to honor a Christian saint and have history dating back decades or more. Foz do Douro, the community next door to where we live in Matosinhos, honors Saint Bartholomew with the Cortejo do Traje do Paper (Paper Costume Parade.)  It has been an annual event in it’s current form since 1952 but has history of over 100 years. It is normally held on the Sunday closest to his feast day of August 24. The parade is a candidate to become a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The different neighborhoods of Foz do Douro dress in colorful and intricate crepe paper costumes based on a theme. The theme this year was “Peoples of the World” with the various neighborhoods each representing a different country. The parade follows a route through town followed by all participants heading down to the beach. There, the devotees will wade into the chilly Atlantic to immerse themselves in the “holy bath” to receive the protection of St. Bartholomew.  Costumes disintegrate and are collected and disposed of. This year the weather was ideal for the 600+ participants and  many thousands of people that came to watch.