Lenten pilgrimages

23 February, 2023Azores

The practice of the “Romeiros de São Miguel”, previously called “visit to the little houses of Our Lady”, is a phenomenon of great ethnographic importance due to the originality of the elements used and also to the persistence that this tradition has had over the centuries.

It is believed that this tradition began during the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions of the 16th century in Vila Franca do Campo, as a response by the population to calm the fury of these natural disasters.

Over the years, the parishes of the various municipalities began to organize pilgrimages, which consist of faith walks on foot around the entire island for 8 days.

During these walks, the groups of pilgrims – between 30 and 200 in each parish – stop by the various churches and hermitages – about 100 temples – to venerate the Virgin Mary and the Blessed Sacrament.

The pilgrims usually stay overnight in the parish halls of the churches or in some of the houses of people who make themselves available to welcome them. Some of their relatives have the opportunity, in these stops, to visit and deliver more food and clothes to continue their journey. In addition, some people from the parishes offer dinners and lunches to the pilgrims.

Also, during their route, the pilgrims pray the rosary and chant various prayers such as the hymn of the Virgin Mary (Ave Maria).

Each pilgrim presents a typical costume covered with elements such as: a shawl around the shoulders, a scarf around the neck, a bag on the back, a rosary, and a stick in the hand.

When on the march, the group adopts a formation with 3 wings, which the wings on the sides are composed of the pilgrims, in front of each wing a guide, and in the middle wing the master, the boatswain, the souls’ reminder, the souls’ prosecutor, and the cruzado.

This tradition occurs from the beginning to the end of Lent.