Hundreds of people came out to celebrate Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres in Hamilton with full pageantry yesterday.

People from the Portuguese community and the wider Bermudian community took to the flower petal-lined streets for a parade from St Theresa’s Cathedral and a festival at Mount Saint Agnes Academy.

Luis Malo, 35, said it was his first Bermudian Santo Cristo celebration since moving here from the Azorean island of São Miguel ten months ago.

He said: “I come here to remember the big festival of my island.”

Mr Malo, who lives in Warwick, explained that the Santo Cristo celebrations back home were much larger, featuring a parade that lasts five hours.

He admitted that he preferred the greater festivities of São Miguel, but added that he liked to see everyone come together in Bermuda.

Mr Malo added: “I’m here next year, so I think I’ll go again.”

The Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres – which translates to “Festival of the Christ of Miracles” – started in Mr Malo’s home of São Miguel in 1700.

It involves taking a statue of Senhor Santo Cristo, or Jesus Christ, typically moments before his crucifixion, and leading it through the streets from a designated cathedral.

The procession, which takes place the fifth Sunday after Easter, happens on a street decorated with art made from flower petals. A large festival usually takes place during or after the procession.

Melanie Mendonca, 28, came to the festival just a day after flying in from the UK for a wedding.

She said that it was her first Santo Cristo festival in almost 15 years after attending regularly in her youth.

Ms Mendonca said: “It’s really cool being back. It honestly feels the same – literally the same traditions with the opening of the tickets, the food and the music. It’s all exactly how I remember it.”

Ms Mendonca, who planned to stay for another two weeks, said that her favourite tradition was the raffle, where people would by a bag of tickets and collect prizes for lucky ballots.

She added that she enjoyed “the simple things” that came with the celebration, such as the food and entertainment.

Celebrations started on Saturday with an 8pm mass at St Theresa’s Cathedral, followed by a feast and the removal of the statue of Senhor Santo Cristo from the chapel.

Yesterday, a mass was followed by a procession from the cathedral along Dundonald Street, through Woodlands Road, to Laffan Street and back to the cathedral.

Festivities featured Portuguese food and drinks and live entertainment, including music from Julio Lorenço and Casa de Açores Children’s Folklore Group.

Duane Dickinson said that he came for the lively festivities.

He said that, although he was not a member of Bermuda’s Portuguese community, he appreciated the cultural exchange.

The 59-year-old added: “We in Bermuda can learn from the Portuguese about being together.”

Mr Dickinson, from Southampton, said that he had been attending the Santo Cristo celebration on and off for about 20 years, after Portuguese colleagues from his days as a landscaper invited him to the event.

He added that he had seen more Bermudians from outside of the Portuguese community attend over the years.

Mr Dickinson said: “I think the Bermuda Government needs to take a page out of this.

“We need more of this. Not just from the Portuguese community, but from the Filipino Community, Jamaican community, and all together. I think it can bring Bermuda closer together.”

Photo gallery