São João Braga
São João de Braga is the oldest Sanjoanina festival in Portugal.
Born in 1150, when a church dedicated to São João was founded in the city of Braga, it was throughout the 16th century that the festivities established themselves as one of the festivals of São João that involved more people, especially in terms of the number of spectators.
With activities where the profane merged with the religious, the Corrida do Porco Preto became one of the most important moments in Braga's Sanjoanino calendar, which was joined, in the 18th century, by the masked and biblical dances.
Consolidated in history as the oldest Sanjoanina celebration in Portugal, Braga lived, in the mid-19th century, two important and simultaneously coincident pilgrimages: that of São João da Ponte and São João do Souto.
Increasingly attractive to the community of Braga, but also to outsiders, it is at the end of the 19th century that the city takes an important step towards the union of the two Sanjoaninos festivities, passing, in 1983, to be designated a commission of parties in charge to perpetuate the festivities of São João de Braga.
The festivities of São João de Braga ended up being the biggest festivities in the city of Braga, thanks to the involvement of the City Council and the Commercial Association of the city, seeing the number of events, institutions, people involved and spectators increase year after year. after year.
Source: SãoJoãoBraga