Paulo Monteiro

The first inhabitants of the Azores islands brought with them this ancient religious practice, whose rituals are still practiced in a more or less pure manner. Those rituals take very different forms in each of the islands.

The festivities, that occur from May to August, are organized by brotherhoods, which collects gifts from the brothers, in order to fund it. On the main day of celebration, on Sunday, a religious ceremony takes place at the church. During that ceremony, several people are crowned.

This series documents the festivity in Vila Nova, island of Terceira.