The Festival of Trays (Festa dos Tabuleiros) or Feast of the Holy Spirit (Festa do Divino Espírito Santo) is one of the oldest cultural and religious events in Portugal. According to researchers, its origin is found in harvest festivals to the goddess Ceres. Its Christianization may be due to Queen Saint Isabel, who laid the foundation for what would be the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, a movement of Christian solidarity that in many parts of the kingdom absorbed the primitive pagan festivals. The highlight of the festivities that brought together rich and poor without any distinction occurred on Pentecost Sunday, the day when tongues of fire descended on the Apostles symbolizing the equality of all before God.
This “Thanksgiving” and offerings Feast kept its characteristics unchanged until the 17th century. Some of the changes that have emerged are justified in order to give greater grandeur to this Feast. The tradition continues and many of its ceremonies such as the Parade of the arrival of the Oxen of the Holy Spirit, which is called the Parade of the Butler, the Parade of Trays, their blessing, the shape of the tray, the dresses of the girls carrying the Trays and the Pêza or distribution of bread and meat are maintained (wine has also been distributed for some years).
The main feature of the Festival of Trays is the Parade or Procession, with a variable number of trays, in which the sixteen parishes of the municipality are represented. This procession of dignity, color, brightness and emotion runs through the main streets of the city, in a course of about 5 km, between bedspreads hanging from the windows, thousands of visitors on the streets and a shower of petals that is enthusiastically launched on the Parade.
The Festival belongs to the Trays, which must have the height of the girl who wears it on her head, consisting of thirty loaves of bread stuffed in five or six reeds that come from a wicker or wicker basket and is topped by a crown topped by the Dove of the Holy Spirit or by the Cross of Christ.
This “Thanksgiving” and offerings Feast kept its characteristics unchanged until the 17th century. Some of the changes that have emerged are justified in order to give greater grandeur to this Feast. The tradition continues and many of its ceremonies such as the Parade of the arrival of the Oxen of the Holy Spirit, which is called the Parade of the Butler, the Parade of Trays, their blessing, the shape of the tray, the dresses of the girls carrying the Trays and the Pêza or distribution of bread and meat are maintained (wine has also been distributed for some years).
The main feature of the Festival of Trays is the Parade or Procession, with a variable number of trays, in which the sixteen parishes of the municipality are represented. This procession of dignity, color, brightness and emotion runs through the main streets of the city, in a course of about 5 km, between bedspreads hanging from the windows, thousands of visitors on the streets and a shower of petals that is enthusiastically launched on the Parade.
The Festival belongs to the Trays, which must have the height of the girl who wears it on her head, consisting of thirty loaves of bread stuffed in five or six reeds that come from a wicker or wicker basket and is topped by a crown topped by the Dove of the Holy Spirit or by the Cross of Christ.
Source: Festa dos Tabuleiros 2011