Every year, starting in May, a festive atmosphere takes over all the Islands of the Azores in celebration of the Divine Holy Spirit. This popular festival, a deep-rooted tradition in the Azores, is always held seven weeks after Easter Sunday, on the day the Holy Spirit is said to have descended upon the twelve apostles, known as Pentecost Sunday.
This celebration dates back seven centuries and is commemorated not only in Portugal but also in countries with a history of Portuguese settlement, such as Brazil and the United States.
The feasts take place on Sundays, during the seven weeks following Easter, and feature a mix of dancing, flower arrangements, and the coronation of a child, who presides over the ceremonies with a sceptre and a silver crown. On the last Sunday, Pentecost, there is a grand celebration where the Sopa do Espírito Santo is served. In some places, a ‘tourada à corda’ (bull-on-a-rope) is also held.
The festivities take place in small chapels or ‘Impérios’, which are used to serve the soup and display the celebration’s emblems (the crown, the standard, and the sceptre).
On Terceira Island alone, there are 58 Impérios, painted in the vibrant colours typical of spring.
Sopas do Espírito Santo
The popular Sopas do Espírito Santo are also known as ‘Sopas do Império’. Although many people say these soups are typical of Terceira and Faial islands, they can be found on all the islands, with slight variations in the recipes.
(C) diariodalagoa.com
The base of this recipe is stale bread, which is spread with butter and then covered with the broth from the cooked meats. The moment the soups are shared is always one of the most anticipated, truly showcasing the community spirit. Tables are set for dozens or even hundreds of people to share the main dish: the Sopas do Espírito Santo.
The festivities are always accompanied by plenty of music, singing, bazaars, and auctions, with the proceeds going towards the celebration.
In a cloth or cheesecloth, place the garlic cloves, quartered onions, chili paste, mint, and a cinnamon stick. Tie the cloth and place it in salted water for the soup. When it comes to a boil, add the meat and chicken and let it cook.
When the meats are cooked, add the cabbage and lard and let it cook a little longer. In separate pots, cook the liver and blood in water.
Cut the bread in half horizontally, then cut each half into four or five pieces. Place the bread in a bowl with the soft side facing up, and drizzle with a ladleful of alcatra sauce and a sprig of mint. Top with the cabbage, small slices of liver and blood, and pour over a little broth. Cover for a few minutes, then pour over the remaining broth.
The soup is covered with a linen towel and wrapped in blankets to keep warm for two to three hours. After eating the soup, the meat, chicken, and remaining liver and blood are served. After the soup, the alcatra is eaten with massa sovada or table bread, depending on the parish.
The soup is cooked in large cauldrons and served outdoors in earthenware bowls.
Video
We also share with you this recipe for Sopas do Senhor Divino Espírito Santo by Leonor Santos.
Interesting Facts
During the Holy Spirit festivals, the traditional soups, massa sovada, meats, and ‘vinho de cheiro’ are served. Other dishes also served include sweet rice pudding, ‘bolo de véspera’, ‘rosquilhas da noite’, ‘suspiros do corvo’, and ‘vésperas do Pico’, which vary depending on the location.
In addition to local residents, it is increasingly common to see foreign visitors, making the event more and more of a tourist attraction.
(C) diariodalagoa.com
Each ‘Império’ plans its festivities with its own unique characteristics. The Festas do Divino Espírito Santo in Ponta Delgada, for example, feature “an ethnographic parade from all the parishes in the municipality with 26 ox-carts, 56 floats, 18 ‘folias’, three musical groups, and two vans of massa sovada”.
The many visitors who come to the Azores during the festival season are captivated by the hospitality of the Azorean people. This tradition showcases values of humanism and solidarity, reflected in the sharing and fellowship among all generations and social classes. Furthermore, the festivities highlight an important religious dimension, deeply connected to the relationships formed between locals and visitors from all over the world.
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