Background and Event Overview
The Santo Cristo dos Milagres Feast dazzled the local Portuguese community and visitors alike on June 2nd, 2024. Held at St. Elizabeth’s Church, the event drew hundreds for heartfelt prayers, mouthwatering Portuguese and American cuisine, and vibrant musical performances. The tireless efforts of the Santo Cristo Feast Committee ensured that this year’s celebration was truly unforgettable.
The festivities stretched over three days, beginning on Friday with a delightful assortment of food and music by Legacy Band. Saturday’s activities featured a 5 o’clock Mass led by Rev. Vander S. Martins, pastor of St. Elizabeth’s Church, followed by the procession of the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, accompanied by the St. Elizabeth’s Philharmonic Band. The evening was highlighted by more delectable food and performances by Tony Borges and the EURO Band.
Sunday showcased the Feast Mass in the afternoon, a traditional procession with local government officials, and beautiful weather throughout. The day’s entertainment included DJ Jose Mauricio and Josephine Couto, a concert by the St. Elizabeth Philharmonic Band, a raffle drawing, and the official closing of the Feast.
(summarized from EastBayRI)
Personal Connection
My dad is from São Miguel in the Azores, and his family brought their special traditions and faith to the United States. When I was a kid, we went to a local Catholic church that had similar celebrations. These events, like the special Mass, the parade, and the community party that ended with entertainment and a big feast, were a big part of my childhood. My parents would volunteer at the event, and I would spend the whole day there while they sold blade meat sandwiches and raffle tickets.
Last year, for Father’s Day, I took my parents and my family to a small Azorean restaurant in Bristol, RI. It was really hard to find parking, and we were confused by some blocked streets. After lunch, we walked around and stumbled upon a Santo Cristo Feast being held by a local church. It instantly took us back 20 years to what we experienced in our small community in Attleboro. We decided to come back in a year, and I brought my camera to capture the event. Here’s what happened.
Experiencing the Feast
This year, the feast happened on a really nice day, with partly cloudy skies and enough sun to make it warm and inviting. There were way more people at the parade than last year, which was great to see. Unexpectedly, we ran into my aunt and uncle from my dad’s side in São Miguel. My youngest daughter, my parents, and my aunt and uncle all watched in awe of the festivities. The colorful outfits of the Catholic Church and the traditional clothes from the Azorean island of São Miguel stood out against the modern neighborhood of Bristol, RI. Flags waved in the air as marching bands filled the area with their lively brass and drum sounds. The people of Bristol loved the parade, cheering and clapping for their representatives. When the parade ended, the kitchen area around the church grounds opened, and the delicious smell of Blade Meat Sandwiches and Malassadas, a Portuguese doughnut, filled the air.
The whole event was full of cultural elements from the Portuguese community. The church was decorated with Portuguese and American flags, showing a lot of cultural pride. With so many former São Miguel residents there, it felt like one big family reunion. Nearly everyone in the crowd could pass as a relative, even across the different generations. The community was incredibly welcoming, and the event went smoothly without any problems. It was heartwarming to see so many people from different areas come together to celebrate and create a unified community.
The range of ages at the event was amazing, from very young kids to the elderly, which is rare at many other events. Many people spoke Portuguese instead of English, including my family, who usually speak English. The level of maturity among the children was impressive, with more than 40 kids participating in the parade and other activities, all behaving really well. This might be due to the strict traditional Portuguese upbringing, which I experienced and have passed on to my children as well.
I wanted to document the event for my personal collection and to share on this website. My goal was to capture events that I experienced in the past that we no longer participate in for various reasons. It was a way to preserve my heritage and childhood memories in a single event, with the knowledge and artistic view I have today. I aimed to capture not just the event itself, but also the surrounding atmosphere on that day. Many of my photos are of event-goers just as much as they are of the event itself. It is in the people that this event thrives, and these are the people who make it possible. Even though the Mass, the parade, and the feast might continue in one way or another, it is the community that keeps the memories of the past alive.
It was wonderful to be with my family at this event, sharing little stories from the past and laughing together. Explaining the event to a first-time viewer like my 7-year-old daughter was a bit challenging, but she took in all the information with curiosity, asking questions along the way. After spending a few weeks in Portugal a few years ago, she has a good understanding of the people, culture, and some of the events. Overall, it was very pleasant to spend time with my family at the event.
My favorite part of the entire event, whether today or even 20-30 years ago, is the smell and taste of Malassadas, or Portuguese doughnuts. These are pieces of dough, deep-fried in oil, then allowed to cool on a rack. Once slightly cool, they are dusted with granulated sugar. Malassadas have a crunchy yet soft texture, with a taste similar to a traditional doughnut or fried dough, and a slight sweetness like Portuguese sweet bread. The combination of the sugar and a coffee makes for the perfect dessert!
Of course, it’s not all about sweet desserts. There are many traditional foods such as bifanas, which are pork cutlet sandwiches, and the spicier blade meat, a red-peppered shredded pork sandwich served on the traditional Portuguese roll.
Reflection
Attending the feast was a nostalgic journey, bringing back memories with every story and perspective from each of my family members. It was an honor to attend this year and document the event for both myself and for other family members who could not attend. I hope this article and the images inspire more people to explore their traditional culture or even discover new cultures to observe and understand. America is a wonderful place with an endless array of cultural experiences that should be appreciated by those within and outside the culture, to see how we all participate in this world from different perspectives.
