St John of Porto

“Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!”

— William Butler Yeats

I’m very proud of my city, the place where I was born and where I live, Porto. One of the things that really gets me in a bad mood is how we are losing our unique regional identity, especially in the way we celebrate important events. My country is a mix of Celtic-Latin culture and Moors. Even today we can still see and feel how young couples marry in the traditional way while visiting Minho, Northwest of Portugal. If you google a traditional Minho Bride, there’s more than visual similarities to other similar cultures where the black, Red and white is part of the bride’s colors. Despite being one of the most profound Catholic countries we have a deep pagan identity very present in the way we celebrate things. One of the most unique and democratic events is that of the Festival of St.John of Porto that started has a pagan celebration of fertility and the summer solstice, but quickly the church appropriates the event and even gave a patron saint. On this night, people come to the city centre and more traditional neighborhoods to pay tribute to Saint John. From popular dancing parties, street concerts to eating the traditional barbecued sardines and “Caldo Verde” with the help of beer or wine the main attractions are the firework spectacle that embodies the spirit of the sun and the releasing of illuminated flame-propelled balloons over Porto’s summer sky. One very common routine for all that live here is the walk from Porto’s riverside core – Ribeira to the nearby suburb of Matosinhos, where the most adventurous wait for the sunrise and a bath in the ocean. Bearing my name, John=João it’s my favorite celebration of the year, also the day of birth of my best friend since childhood, one shared by me and Pamela with a core group of friends.

João de Medeiros