The Portuguese community came out last week in celebration of a tradition that has spanned centuries in the Azores.

Every year the large scale public festival includes an open-air mass followed by a procession, distribution of meat, bread and wine, an auction of gifts to the Holy Ghost and an array of secular activities ending with a big feast.

The origin of the festivities can be traced to Queen Isabela of Portugal, the wife of King Diniz, who reigned between 1295 and 1322.

The purpose for the occasion, in which food is a key element, is part of a Portuguese folk tradition.

Spectator to the event held last Sunday, Anna Faria -- who is the spokesperson for the Portuguese Bermudian Organisation -- said it was the keeping alive of the Acorean tradition that is important.

"This tradition of celebrating the Holy Spirit was not maintained in Bermuda until three years ago, but it means a lot for the people in the Azores so it is important that we have brought the tradition here and are keeping it alive.'' She added: "It would be good for us to have a wider mixed community attending the celebrations, that's when it would be really successful. It is important to have different cultures there so we can learn about each other.'' One of the organisers of the event, Father Albano Silva. said it was a historical celebration.

"During the celebrations we have `bensoes' which means bread, wine and meat and some sweet bread. This is a custom that was created by Isabela Queen of Portugal to help the poor and we have an honour for the holy spirit,'' Father Albano said.

He added: "In Bermuda we had high mass and then following we had a procession like a parade with a symbol of the holy spirit which is a crown, one glove and one dove.

"The procession consisted of a musical band, and a philharmonic group to sing songs.'' Father Albano also said the mass took place in the St. George's Prep school yard and the procession took place in the St. George's Square. The crown remained in the cruise ship terminal for people to view.

"After this we had a social festival on the bridge. We served free food consisting of a meat dish, bread, and stew which we call Sopas du Espirito Santo (soups of the spirit sent).

"There is soup with meat, special vegetables, wine and sweet bread. We invite everyone whether you are Portuguese or not and the meal is free for all, we do not discriminate.'' Father Albano added that after the feast there was lots of music, dance and entertainment until midnight.

"This festival represents charity between people and I think it's important for Bermudians to come and celebrate the charity between the people.'' He also said that to create the whole day a committee of men and women did a lot of preparation to make it really special.

"Before we have this festival we have seven weeks of preparation. And during each week the crown of the holy spirit remains in the houses of different families and they go to each families house to pray, sing and continue to have a nice time.'' Father Albano added: "For people in Bermuda if they don't know the whole story they don't understand therefore, we must go to the roots of the story.

There is always an open-air mass at St. George's Prep with a processional to the terminal with a lot of children involved.

During the rest of the evening there are local and visiting performers and there is an auctioning off of baked goods and produce. It all goes towards general funds for the committee.