June Festivals starts in Persenburg
One of the most anticipated festivities of the year, the June Festival, Festa Junina or Festa de São João in Portuguese, takes place in June, celebrating the nativity of St. John the Baptist, as well as St. Anthony and St. Peter. Tradition imported from Brazil, the annual celebrations adapted from European Midsummer take place in the beginning of the winter in imperial capital.
Despite its name, the celebrations began on the last weekend of May and will last until the middle of June. During four consecutive weekends, the festival celebrate religion and also rural and simpler life and feature typical clothing, food and dance – particularly quadrilha, which is similar to square dancing.
The festival also has the support of the Imperial Family. For years, members of the Imperial Family have been helping the Persenburgian community with the festival, especially the Emperor, who helps organize the event. However, this year is the first one where the Empress also helps in the organization of the event, especially in assisting the group of young people of the Saint Stephen King of Hungary’s Cathedral, which intends to raise funds for philanthropic and cultural works.
Thus, the Imperial Family can be seen celebrating and working on the biggest and most popular festival of the imperial capital.