Brazilian town celebrates its Azores ancestral heritage

Описание: (2 Dec 2017) Santa Catarina state in southern Brazil celebrates its close connections to Portugal's Azores islands each year.
With song and dance, local communities commemorate their ancestors who emigrated from the island chain in the mid-18th century.
Several families from the archipelago in the mid-Atlantic made the journey to Brazil, settling on the coast of Santa Catarina state.
Their Azorean customs eventually merged with the native and African traditions of their new home country.
Each year, the Azorean Culture Festival celebrates the resulting mix of traditions, and reflects on the region's links to the islands.
The two-day event was held in the small town of Enseada de Brito this year.
At the climax of the festival, a couple representing the Portuguese emperor and his wife led a parade to the Our Lady of the Rosary Church.
After mass, festival-goers danced around the St. Sebastian pole as it was carried through town.
While the decorated pole was paraded around, many drank "consertada", a mix of coffee, cinnamon and the Brazilian sugarcane liquor called cachaca.
Once the pole was laid down, revellers pulled off the flowers and made a request to St. Sebastian, known locally for helping singles find their match.
During the festival, artisans also showcase traditional crafts, including lace making and pottery.
The communities of Santa Catarina have even preserved some artisanal methods since lost in the Azores themselves.

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