In Brazil, Catholic festivals inject over $60 billion into the country’s economy. The nation, known for its deep devotion to Catholicism, is one of the world’s largest Catholic nations, with over 100 million Catholics. Despite its syncretic fusions, Catholic festivals, which occur throughout the country, are not just religious events but also major tourist attractions, generating billions of dollars annually
Brazil, famous for its Carnivals of Arts and Culture, has turned various activities into tourist attractions, including Catholic festivals that celebrate saints nationwide. Today, these festivals attract tourists from around the world, with visitors flying in from Europe, America, and other regions.
According to recent reports from Brazil’s tourism guides, Festa Junina, which typically celebrates winter in June and is tied to Catholic traditions, attracts billions of dollars nationwide. Festivals such as Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Saint Aparecida’s festival, and Parintins in northern Brazil also contribute significantly to the economy. Hotels and businesses around these areas thrive as tourists flock to Brazil for these events.
The Lavagem do Bonfim in Salvador, northern Brazil, is another event that draws international tourists who come to participate in the cleaning of the Catholic church. During this period, businesses boom, flights are booked, and hotels flourish, infusing billions into the economy. These festivals are no longer confined to church premises but are celebrated in communities, halls, streets , and other venues.
The festivals span the country and are celebrated in different communities. Apart from attracting tourists from around the globe, these celebrations maintain Brazil’s spiritual link with Catholicism.
The Minister of Tourism, Gilson Machado mentions that religious travels in Brazil have huge potential for their cultural aspect and for their socioeconomic impact as a source of employment and income. Many religious itineraries are already established in different states of Brazil, such as Estrada Real, the Route of Faith; the Path of the Saint Martyrs; the Path of the Seven Missions, and the churches of Ouro Preto (both sites World Heritage by UNESCO).
In total, Brazil hosts more than 200 religious events like the annual procession Círio de Nazaré, followed by 2 million people and the largest of its kind in the world. Classed as World Intangible Heritage by UNESCO, the march is held since 1793 in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth.
According to the government’s tourism guide , In 2023, around 20 million people joined the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Aparecida – a Catholic church second in size only to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Near the city of São Paulo, there is also the astounding Zu Lai Buddhist Temple, the largest in Latin America.
Festa da Penha in Vila Velha:
The Festa da Penha is the third-largest religious festival in Brazil, following the feast of Our Lady of Aparecida (SP) and the Círio de Nazaré (PA). During the Romaria dos Homens, thousands of devotees walk 14 kilometers to the Convent, located on a hill with a sea view.
Commemorative Dates of the Catholic Church:
- Easter Vigil (variable date, celebrated at night and known as the mother of all Vigils)
- Pentecost (variable date)
- Saint John the Baptist (June 24)
Ten Holy Days of Obligation:
- January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
- January 6 – Epiphany
- March 19 – Solemnity of Saint Joseph
- Ascension of Jesus – variable date: Thursday of the sixth week of Easter
- Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) – variable date between May and June: first Thursday after Trinity Sunday
- June 29 or the following Sunday – Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul
- August 15 or the following Sunday – Assumption of Mary
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day
- December 8 – Immaculate Conception of Mary
- December 25 – Christmas
Holy Days of Obligation in Brazil:
- Mary, Mother of God – January 1
- Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) – variable date between May and June: first Thursday after Trinity Sunday
- Immaculate Conception of Mary – December 8
- Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ – December 25
- Saints Peter and Paul – June 29 or the following Sunday
- Assumption of Our Lady – third Sunday in August
- Christmas of the Lord – December 25
Religious Festivals in Brazil:
- Saint Joseph of Ribamar, Maranhão – September 12 to 21
- Festa do Rosário: various municipalities in the interior of Minas Gerais – variable date
- Círio de Nazaré: Belém, Pará – second Sunday of October
- Feast of Our Lady Aparecida (patroness of Brazil) – October 12
- Feast of Padre Cícero: Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará – November 1 and 2
- Feast of Saint Barbara: Salvador, Bahia – December 4
- Feast of Our Lady of Rocio: Paranaguá, Paraná – November 5 to 15
- Feast of Santo Cristo de Ipojuca: Ipojuca, Pernambuco – December 23 to January
The Catholic religion has the largest number of followers in Brazil and, therefore, has the largest celebrations with the most participants.
One of the most important religious festivals is the Círio de Nazaré, held in Belém, Pará, in devotion to Our Lady of Nazaré. Every year, in October, the city receives about 2 million visitors, known as pilgrims, who participate in a faith walk through the streets.
During the days of the festival, there are various processions – such as the Trasladação, the Motorcade Procession, the River Procession, the Children’s Procession – as well as masses and various performances.
The Círio has been held for over 200 years. It is recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by IPHAN and declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Feast of Our Lady of Pleasures:
Held for over 360 years in the city of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, a neighboring city to Recife, Pernambuco, at the beginning of Holy Week, it honors the apparition of Our Lady to the soldiers fighting against the Dutch invasion. The program includes various celebrations that bring together thousands of devotees annually. It is one of the most traditional events on the state’s religious calendar and is popularly known as the Pitomba Festival because it takes place during the harvest season of the fruit, which is well-known in the Northeast.
Feast of Bonfim:
Bahia residents already know: on the second Thursday of January, it’s time to bring scented water, buckets, and flowers to perform a symbolic washing of the steps of the Church of Our Lord of Bonfim in Salvador.
The Washing of Bonfim is special for uniting Catholics and Candomblé practitioners in the same event, representing an important union between religions. The procession includes people traditionally dressed in white in honor of the orixás, and everything is done with lots of music, dances, and typical foods.
Festa Junina:
The roots of Festa Junina trace back to European celebrations of Catholic saints like Saint Anthony, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Peter. Brought to Brazil by the Portuguese, the festival merged with local customs. Today, Festa Junina begins in June, aligning with the start of winter in Brazil.
Saint John’s Day:
Christianity designated June 24 as the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, with observance beginning the night before, known as Saint John’s Eve. This day is celebrated by many Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches, and the Anglican Communion, as well as by Freemasonry.
In Sweden, the summer solstice is such an important festivity that there have been proposals to make Midsummer’s Eve the national day of Sweden, instead of June 6. In Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the summer festival is a holiday. In Denmark and Norway, it is also called Saint Hans’ Day.
