St. John of Braga

The St. John's Festival in Braga is the biggest and oldest Sanjoaninas in Portugal.
Celebrated in June, the São João Festivities are undoubtedly the annual event in Braga with the greatest historical content and the most developed roots in the population's identity profile.
Considered to be the oldest public festivities in honor of St. John the Baptist in Portugal, dating back to the beginning of our nationality, they are also the ones that enjoyed the greatest affirmation and recognition both during the 18th century and in the period between the last quarter of the 19th century and the first quarter of the following century.

The biblical pictures of the river Este, the dances of King David and the shepherds, as well as the originality of any Minho pilgrimage in its religiosity, folklore, fireworks, illuminations, concertinas or challenge songs, confirm the superior genuineness of this community celebration in Braga.
The night of São João itself, from June 23rd to 24th, full of cultural shows and firework displays, is marked by an influx of locals and outsiders from neighboring towns, armed with leeks and hammers, as tradition dictates.