A fervor in decline..
In Portugal, you will often hear the Portuguese parting ways by exchanging these words: " Até amanha, se Deus quiser " (see you tomorrow, God willing...). This is the Portuguese equivalent of the Arabic Inch'Allah: God willing... It must be said that the Portuguese are largely religious and the majority of them are Catholics: nearly 77%, if we are to believe their statements. Half of them say they go to mass regularly and nearly 80% live in rural areas. But the number of Catholics decreased by more than 7% between 1999 and 2011. And their share of attendance has shrunk in favor of Protestants, Orthodox and Jehovah's Witnesses. Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism are also present, but in smaller proportions: their followers represent only 6 percent of total believers and 0.8 percent of the population. Portuguese who claim to be non-believers have increased from 8.2 percent of the population to 13.2 percent. Not surprisingly, Portuguese non-believers are among the youngest. On the other hand, nearly one-third of marriages are still performed in church today.
The feast of the saints
Portugal is a secular state, which means that it defends and promotes the separation between the state and religious communities. However, since 1976, the constitution has guaranteed freedom of worship for all religions, whether or not they are in the majority. Nevertheless, the traditional festivals, largely inspired by the Christian calendar, are very popular in the country. The romarias are an opportunity to celebrate a saint, but also to get together as a family and, for visitors, to attend the parades and participate in the feasts! One of the most important events is that of Nossa Senhora da Agonia, literally Our Lady of Agony, which is held in August in Viana do Castelo, in the north of the country. During the procession to the sea, rowing boats carry the relic between the mouth and the estuary of the Lima River. More than 400 women in traditional dress form a colorful folkloric parade, before the Senhora is walked through the streets and returns to its bases. Accordions, Galician bagpipes and bass drums give the signal for the party that lasts for a good part of the night..
An appearance..
On May 13, 1917, in Fátima (Santarém), the Virgin appeared to three little shepherds: Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto. On several occasions in the months that followed, the Marian apparition gave the children visions (of hell) and various revelations that have since been the subject of multiple interpretations. Since then, every year, thousands of believers from all over the world go - mostly on their knees - to Fátima, where a chapel and several churches have been built. Pope Francis was there in 2017: he was celebrating the centenary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary before the three children. Their graves can be seen in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, erected in 1928. Francisco and Jacinta died at a very young age, in 1919 and 1920. Lucia, who became a Carmelite nun, died in 2005.
