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Religious festival · Paraty
Paraty’s most traditional religious festival, with a novena, processions through the historic center, and a solemn Mass followed by a procession on Pentecost Sunday.
In the photo: Paraty
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
In the days leading up to Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter; therefore it falls in May or June.
May/June
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
The Feast of the Holy Spirit came to Brazil with the Portuguese colonizers and is one of Paraty’s oldest religious celebrations. It concludes on Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter, so its date changes each year.
During the festival days, the historic center hosts processions with the red banner of the Divino, music, and the festival emperor, represented by a boy from the community. On Pentecost Sunday, the Mother Church holds a solemn Mass, followed by a procession and fireworks.
The schedule is published by the parish and the city of Paraty. Street events take place in the historic center, which can be explored on foot.
In the city
Flavors of Brazil
May/June
June/JulyBetween late June and early July, always including June 29, German Settler Day, a municipal holiday in Petrópolis.
Petrópolis’s German Settler festival, featuring traditional German food and beer, folk dance groups, and events around the Crystal Palace.
June/SeptemberEvery two years, in odd-numbered years; generally in September, sometimes in June. · Every two years
The major book fair of Rio de Janeiro held every two years, with publisher booths, author events, and programming for children and young people.
Your questions
Because it ends on Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter, which varies each year. The festival falls in May or June.
Festivals and events in Brazil
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 a procession that carries the saint’s image from Tijuca to the Metropolitan Cathedral in the city center.
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 Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome and the street blocos scattered around the city during Carnival days.
July/AugustOnce a year, between the second half of July and the beginning of August, during winter break.
The Sesc winter festival in the Mountain Region, with concerts, theater, dance and circus at Sesc Quitandinha, in Itaipava and other venues in Petrópolis.
July/AugustOnce a year, usually between July and August, for five days.
The literary festival that fills Paraty’s historic center with author talks, debates, and a parallel program spread throughout the town.
AugustOnce a year, in August, from Thursday to Sunday.
The Japanese culture festival of Petrópolis, held at the Palácio de Cristal, with traditional dances and music, martial arts, workshops, Japanese food and a cosplay contest.
AugustIn August, from Thursday to Sunday.
Paraty’s alambique festival, featuring tastings of the region’s cachaças, caiçara food and music, held under the tents at Pontal.
