Latest news with #SãoJoão
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Why São João is more than just a festival: It's about celebrating wells
In Goa , São João, the Feast Day of St John the Baptist , on June 24, celebrates water. By then, the monsoon has usually filled rivers, lakes and, most importantly, the wells on which many still depend. In summer, wells are cleaned so they fill easily when the rains come, ready for people to jump in on São João! The celebration is spreading. In pockets of Mumbai like Manori and Gorai, the festival is observed with lots of water splashed around and the floral crowns called koppels . Most Mumbaikars now use piped water, but old wells can be opened for the occasion. Even diasporic Goans in Australia, Canada and the UK celebrate São João, though often in a swimming pool. The connection with wells is important. St John baptised Jesus in a spring that fed the Jordan river, but wells are vital in that dry Eastern Mediterranean region. One of the oldest has been found in Cyprus, dated to around 8400 BCE, while one of the first stone-lined wells, from around 7000 BCE, was found near Haifa in Israel, in a site now drowned by the sea. Wells have always been seen as magical, connecting our surface world to the mysteries of underground aquifers. The still mysterious process of dowsing , where sites for wells are located using forked twigs, gives them an aura of magic even before they are dug. Wells often have guardian spirits, which links to the idea of wish-granting wells. Mumbai's Bhikha Behram Well, 300 years old this year, is sacred to the Parsi community . It is said to have been built after a Parsi trader was commanded to build it in a dream. Since the location was near the sea, his plan was ridiculed, but when it was finally dug, the water was not salty and has never run dry. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Wells can be points of contention. Many caste-based battles in India have been fought over access to wells. 'Poisoning the well' isn't just a phrase for a type of argument but has been an actual tactic in wars. Yet, even when their water is tainted, wells have been of value, as is shown by Steven Johnson's book The Ghost Map . This tells the story of how London physician John Snow tracked a cholera epidemic in 1854 to one sewagetainted well. At that time illnesses were assumed to spread through 'miasma', bad air, but Snow proved that water was a vector as well, by tracing how victims across London had all drunk from that one well. Fears of well contamination have been growing in Goa. As poorly regulated building activity booms in rural areas across India, the threat of badly designed sewage systems poisoning aquifers is real. It makes people distrust wells and demand piped water, further pushing wells into disuse. Yet, in times of climate change, it is a folly to give up on wells. A recent private effort to test water in wells across the Goa valley showed that, despite intense building activity, the water quality was still quite good. They do need cleaning though and, ignoring the São João imperative, we hadn't done it for a few years. Early this summer, the well almost ran dry and we called in the cleaners. They emptied out the remaining water, except for a small pool at the bottom, and started removing years of silt. As the spouts for the springs were cleaned, we could see water trickling in again at once. With this year's early rains, the well was soon full again — and, amazingly, we could now see fish in it. Wells often have them, as a sign of the purity of the water, but we had never seen them before. The cleaners told us just a few fish were there who retreated to that last pool as it was cleaned. Now, with plentiful clean water, they were flourishing again, a sign of the enduring power of wells.
Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Porto celebrates the summer and a beloved saint with plastic hammers, sardines and leeks
PORTO, Portugal (AP) — On Porto's steep streets, several thousands of people celebrated the summer in the way the city has been doing it for decades and centuries: by bonking friends and strangers alike with toy hammers and reveling in the streets all night. A Christian holiday with pagan roots, the eve of the feast of St. John the Baptist is celebrated with fireworks, balloons and lots of grilled sardines. An older St. John's Eve ritual in Portugal's second-biggest city involved buying leek flowers believed to bring good fortune and inviting strangers to sniff the pungent plant. In the 1960s, a local businessman introduced the playful plastic hammer, which has since become the most famous symbol of the Iberian city's raucous summer solstice celebration. It's a 'celebration of energy, a celebration of what the city of Porto is,' resident Joao Sousa said, moments after being clubbed with a toy hammer. 'It's to live and relive what our ancestors have given us and be able to still enjoy it today.' St. John's Eve — São João in Portuguese — is considered to be the longest night of the year and among the most special for locals. In the days before the festival, local shops adorn storefronts with miniature dioramas called 'Cascatas' that feature figures of St. John the Baptist, scenes from his life as well as depictions of daily life in Porto. A central element in many dioramas are waterfalls, for which the elaborate miniatures get their name. The dioramas also highlight the holiday's dual Catholic and pagan roots. 'It is a pagan celebration. It is the cult of the sun, of fire, of water,' said Germano Silva, a renowned writer and historian of the Portuguese city. 'The saint enters when Christianity begins. The church in a successful marketing operation adds the saint into the solstice celebration,' he said. The festival's essence lies in having the freedom to use a plastic hammer on friends and strangers without starting a fight. Not even Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was spared. On Monday night, Montenegro took part in the Fontainhas neighborhood overlooking the Douro River. While some revelers took photos with him, others simply saluted him with their colorful plastic hammers. Tourists took part in festivities, too. Helni Turtaea, a 21-year-old from Finland, said the hammer hitting startled her at first but she quickly saw its charm. 'At first I got frightened when someone hit me ... but it has been so much fun because I think it kind of unites people when they are hitting strangers,' Turtaea said. Porto historian Silva said the celebration is about unifying strangers no matter their differences — beginning with inviting strangers to lean in and smell the leeks a person carried, to now greeting a stranger with a playful tap. 'We don't know whom we cross paths with, if the person is rich or poor, a doctor or a factory worker,' Silva said. On the night of June 23, he said a stranger is simply 'someone who passes by and is celebrating São João with us.' ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Porto celebrates the summer and its patron saint with plastic hammers, sardines and leeks
PORTO, Portugal (AP) — On Porto's steep streets, several thousands of people celebrated the summer in the way the city has been doing it for decades and centuries: by bonking friends and strangers alike with toy hammers and reveling in the streets all night. A Christian holiday with pagan roots, the eve of the feast of St. John the Baptist — Porto's patron saint — is celebrated with fireworks, balloons and lots of grilled sardines. An older St. John's Eve ritual in Portugal's second-biggest city involved buying leek flowers believed to bring good fortune and inviting strangers to sniff the pungent plant. In the 1960s, a local businessman introduced the playful plastic hammer, which has since become the most famous symbol of the Iberian city's raucous summer solstice celebration. It's a 'celebration of energy, a celebration of what the city of Porto is,' resident Joao Sousa said, moments after being clubbed with a toy hammer. 'It's to live and relive what our ancestors have given us and be able to still enjoy it today.' St. John's Eve — São João in Portuguese — is considered to be the longest night of the year and among the most special for locals. In the days before the festival, local shops adorn storefronts with miniature dioramas called 'Cascatas' that feature figures of St. John the Baptist, scenes from his life as well as depictions of daily life in Porto. A central element in the dioramas are waterfalls, for which the elaborate miniatures get their name. The dioramas also highlight the holiday's dual Catholic and pagan roots. 'It is a pagan celebration. It is the cult of the sun, of fire, of water," said Germano Silva, a renowned writer and historian of the Portuguese city. 'The saint enters when Christianity begins. The church in a successful marketing operation adds the saint into the solstice celebration,' he said. The festival's essence lies in having the freedom to use a plastic hammer on friends and strangers without starting a fight. Not even Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was spared. On Monday night, Montenegro took part in the Fontainhas neighborhood overlooking the Douro River. While some revelers took photos with him, others simply saluted him with their colorful plastic hammers. Tourists took part in festivities, too. Helni Turtaea, a 21-year-old from Finland, said the hammer hitting startled her at first but she quickly saw its charm. 'At first I got frightened when someone hit me ... but it has been so much fun because I think it kind of unites people when they are hitting strangers," Turtaea said. Porto historian Silva said the celebration is about unifying strangers no matter their differences — beginning with inviting strangers to lean in and smell the leeks a person carried, to now greeting a stranger with a playful tap. 'We don't know whom we cross paths with, if the person is rich or poor, a doctor or a factory worker,' Silva said. On the night of June 23, he said a stranger is simply 'someone who passes by and is celebrating São João with us.' ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid. ___
Al Arabiya
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Porto Celebrates the Summer and Its Patron Saint with Plastic Hammers, Sardines and Leeks
On Porto's steep streets, several thousand people celebrated the summer in the way the city has been doing it for decades and centuries: by bonking friends and strangers alike with toy hammers and reveling in the streets all night. A Christian holiday with pagan roots, the festival of St. John the Baptist – Porto's patron saint – is celebrated with fireworks, balloons, and lots of grilled sardines. An older St. John's Eve ritual in Portugal's second-biggest city involved buying leek flowers, believed to bring good fortune, and inviting strangers to sniff the pungent plant. In the 1960s, a local businessman introduced the playful plastic hammer, which has since become the most famous symbol of the Iberian city's raucous summer solstice celebration. 'It's a celebration of energy, a celebration of what the city of Porto is,' resident Joao Sousa said moments after being clubbed with a toy hammer. 'It's to live and relive what our ancestors have given us and be able to still enjoy it today.' St. John's Eve – São João in Portuguese – is considered to be the longest night of the year and among the most special for locals. In the days before the festival, local shops adorn storefronts with miniature dioramas called Cascatas that feature figures of St. John the Baptist, scenes from his life, as well as depictions of daily life in Porto. A central element in the dioramas are waterfalls, for which the elaborate miniatures get their name. The dioramas also highlight the holiday's dual Catholic and pagan roots. 'It is a pagan celebration. It is the cult of the sun, of fire, of water,' said Germano Silva, a renowned writer and historian of the Portuguese city. 'The saint enters when Christianity begins. The church, in a successful marketing operation, adds the saint into the solstice celebration,' he said. The festival's essence lies in having the freedom to use a plastic hammer on friends and strangers without starting a fight. Not even Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was spared. On Monday night, Montenegro took part in the festivities in the Fontainhas neighborhood overlooking the Douro River. While some revelers took photos with him, others simply saluted him with their colorful plastic hammers. Tourists took part in festivities, too. Helni Turtaea, a 21-year-old from Finland, said the hammer hitting startled her at first, but she quickly saw its charm. 'At first I got frightened when someone hit me … but it has been so much fun because I think it kind of unites people when they are hitting strangers,' Turtaea said. Porto historian Silva said the celebration is about unifying strangers no matter their differences – beginning with inviting strangers to lean in and smell the leeks a person carried to now greeting a stranger with a playful tap. 'We don't know whom we cross paths with, if the person is rich or poor, a doctor or a factory worker,' Silva said. 'On the night of June 23,' he said, 'a stranger is simply someone who passes by and is celebrating São João with us.'
Winnipeg Free Press
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Porto celebrates the summer and its patron saint with plastic hammers, sardines and leeks
PORTO, Portugal (AP) — On Porto's steep streets, several thousands of people celebrated the summer in the way the city has been doing it for decades and centuries: by bonking friends and strangers alike with toy hammers and reveling in the streets all night. A Christian holiday with pagan roots, the festival of St. John the Baptist — Porto's patron saint — is celebrated with fireworks, balloons and lots of grilled sardines. An older St. John's Eve ritual in Portugal's second-biggest city involved buying leek flowers believed to bring good fortune and inviting strangers to sniff the pungent plant. In the 1960s, a local businessman introduced the playful plastic hammer, which has since become the most famous symbol of the Iberian city's raucous summer solstice celebration. It's a 'celebration of energy, a celebration of what the city of Porto is,' resident Joao Sousa said, moments after being clubbed with a toy hammer. 'It's to live and relive what our ancestors have given us and be able to still enjoy it today.' St. John's Eve — São João in Portuguese — is considered to be the longest night of the year and among the most special for locals. In the days before the festival, local shops adorn storefronts with miniature dioramas called 'Cascatas' that feature figures of St. John the Baptist, scenes from his life as well as depictions of daily life in Porto. A central element in the dioramas are waterfalls, for which the elaborate miniatures get their name. The dioramas also highlight the holiday's dual Catholic and pagan roots. 'It is a pagan celebration. It is the cult of the sun, of fire, of water,' said Germano Silva, a renowned writer and historian of the Portuguese city. 'The saint enters when Christianity begins. The church in a successful marketing operation adds the saint into the solstice celebration,' he said. The festival's essence lies in having the freedom to use a plastic hammer on friends and strangers without starting a fight. Not even Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was spared. On Monday night, Montenegro took part in the festivities in the Fontainhas neighborhood overlooking the Douro River. While some revelers took photos with him, others simply saluted him with their colorful plastic hammers. Tourists took part in festivities, too. Helni Turtaea, a 21-year-old from Finland, said the hammer hitting startled her at first but she quickly saw its charm. 'At first I got frightened when someone hit me … but it has been so much fun because I think it kind of unites people when they are hitting strangers,' Turtaea said. Porto historian Silva said the celebration is about unifying strangers no matter their differences — beginning with inviting strangers to lean in and smell the leeks a person carried, to now greeting a stranger with a playful tap. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. 'We don't know whom we cross paths with, if the person is rich or poor, a doctor or a factory worker,' Silva said. On the night of June 23, he said a stranger is simply 'someone who passes by and is celebrating São João with us.' ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
