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Religious festival · Salvador
Tribute by the fishermen of Rio Vermelho, in Salvador, to Iemanjá, orixá of the salt waters: devotees and visitors bring flowers and gifts, which are placed in baskets on boats and taken out to the open sea late in the afternoon.
In the photo: Salvador
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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Festival of Iemanjá — Salvador
On February 2, with the House of Iemanjá opening to receive offerings on the eve, February 1.
February
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
Every February 2, the Rio Vermelho neighborhood along Salvador’s waterfront wakes up to celebrate Iemanjá, the orixá of the salt waters, mother of fish and protector of fishermen. The celebration is organized by the Colônia de Pescadores Z1, with support from the city hall, and is considered the largest festival dedicated to an orixá in Bahia. The date coincides with the day of Our Lady of Candeias, or of Light, in the Catholic calendar.
The tradition in Rio Vermelho dates back to the 1920s, when, during a period of poor fishing, the fishermen of the colony decided to offer gifts to the Mother of the Waters to ask for abundance. Before that, the offering took place together with the festival of Sant’Ana in the same neighborhood. The tribute grew in public and became one of the best-known dates in Salvador’s festive calendar; the festival is recognized as the city’s intangible heritage.
The program begins in the early hours, when the main offering, prepared in a candomblé terreiro, arrives in procession at the fishermen’s colony and is welcomed with a dawn salvo of fireworks. Throughout the day, a long line of people, many dressed in white or blue, bring flowers, perfumes, mirrors, combs and notes with requests to the House of Iemanjá, where the offerings are arranged in large baskets. Others throw flowers directly into the sea, on Praia da Paciência and on the surrounding rocks.
Late in the afternoon, the baskets are taken to the fishermen’s boats, which set out in a maritime procession and deliver the gifts offshore. Meanwhile, Rio Vermelho, the city’s bohemian neighborhood, fills with samba circles, afoxés, bars and parties that continue into the night. For those in Salvador in early February, the festival shows the strength of Afro-Brazilian religions in the life of the city, on the eve of Carnival.
The dawn salvo of fireworks in the early hours, with the arrival of the main offering at the colony. The line of offerings at the House of Iemanjá. The boats leaving with the baskets late in the afternoon, viewed from the Rio Vermelho waterfront.
Arrive early to Rio Vermelho, preferably on foot or by rideshare to the edges of the neighborhood: the streets around the colony are closed to traffic. Bring flowers if you want to make an offering; many vendors sell them in the neighborhood. Wear light clothing, white or blue, sunscreen and bring water. The boat procession is best seen from the rocks and the waterfront near Praia da Paciência.
Acarajé, abará and cocada sold from the trays of the baianas of Rio Vermelho; fried fish and moqueca at the neighborhood’s bars and restaurants.
The festival falls a few days or weeks before Carnival, a period of high demand for lodging in Salvador. Book in advance, preferably in Rio Vermelho or in Barra, to be able to walk around.
In the city
Flavors of Brazil
February
February/MarchFrom Saturday to Carnival Tuesday, beginning with the departure of the Homem da Meia-Noite at midnight between Saturday and Sunday; Carnival falls in February or March, depending on Easter.
The party on the cobbled hills of Olinda’s historic center, a World Heritage site: blocks and troças without a trio elétrico, frevo orchestras on foot and giant puppets, led by the Homem da Meia-Noite.
February/MarchFrom the Thursday before to Ash Wednesday of Carnival week, which falls in February or March according to Easter.
Salvador’s street Carnival, led by trios elétricos and by Afro blocks, across three main circuits: the Barra to Ondina waterfront, the downtown Campo Grande, and the Pelourinho.
February/MarchDuring Carnival week, in February or March, with the official opening at Marco Zero before Sábado de Zé Pereira, when the Galo da Madrugada parades; main programming continues through Tuesday.
The state capital’s street Carnival, to the sound of frevo and maracatu: the Galo da Madrugada in the center on Sábado de Zé Pereira, the official opening at Marco Zero, and poles with stages and processions spread across the neighborhoods.
Your questions
On February 2 every year, in the Rio Vermelho neighborhood. The House of Iemanjá begins receiving offerings on the eve, February 1.
Flowers, especially white and blue, perfumes, mirrors, combs, soaps and notes with requests. The gifts are arranged in baskets and taken to sea by the fishermen late in the afternoon.
The Colônia de Pescadores Z1 of Rio Vermelho, with support from Salvador’s city hall. The tribute originated among the neighborhood’s fishermen.
Festivals and events in Brazil
February/MarchIn February or March, depending on the Carnival calendar, which changes each year with the date of Easter.
The samba school parades at the Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí and the street blocos spread across the city during Carnival days.
February/MarchEvery two years, in even-numbered years, between mid-February and early March, during the grape harvest. · Every two years
The grape harvest and Italian immigration festival in Caxias do Sul, in the Serra Gaúcha, featuring a parade of floats in the city center, grapes served in the park, colonial food and Italo-Gaucho culture.
JanuaryOn January 20, the day of the city’s patron saint, which is a municipal holiday in Rio de Janeiro.
The patron saint’s day in Rio de Janeiro, with masses and the procession that carries the saint’s image from Tijuca to the Metropolitan Cathedral in the downtown area.
JanuaryOn the Thursday before the second Sunday after Epiphany (January 6), which is the Sunday of the Feast of the Lord of Bonfim; therefore it always takes place in January, usually on the second or third Thursday of the month.
A walking procession of several kilometers from Cidade Baixa to the Sacred Hill in Salvador, where baianas dressed in white wash the steps of the Basilica of the Senhor do Bonfim with scented water.
March/AprilFrom Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, in March or April depending on Easter’s date; the sawdust carpets are made in the early hours of Holy Saturday for Sunday.
Holy Week celebrations in Ouro Preto’s baroque churches and steep streets, with nighttime processions and, on Easter Sunday, streets covered by colorful sawdust carpets made by residents and visitors.
May/JuneOn the days leading up to Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter; therefore it falls in May or June.
Paraty’s most traditional religious festival, with a novena, processions through the historic center, a solemn Mass and a Sunday Pentecost procession.
