Another festive edition of the annual Arraial de São João was celebrated this weekend, with its programme taken to Macau Fisherman’s Wharf this year.
‘Arraial* de São João’, or “St. John’s Festival”, is among the traditional festivals and celebrations commemorated by Macau’s local Portuguese and Macanese communities. It has been included in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macau since 2020 and celebrates Portugal’s victory against the Dutch in Macau during a pivotal battle that took place on June 24, 1622, a military triumph considered by the Portuguese as a blessing from Saint John.
The annual event had, since 2007, taken place at Bairro de São Lázaro (望德堂坊) , while other venues have included the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre for the 2024 and 2025 editions.
This year’s open-air event which kicked off on Saturday and was on until yesterday, saw various booths set up along the coastline.
Booths featured those set up by organiser Associação dos Macaenses (ADM - Macanese Association), as well as partner organisations Associação dos Jovens Macaenses (AJM - Macanese Youth Association), the International Institute of Macau (IIM) and Casa de Portugal em Macau (CPM - Portugal’s House in Macau), among others.
Attendees and passers-by had a chance to sample snacks, culinary delights and beverages, alongside browsing books and accessories, among others, gathering fairgoers of all ages under a festive atmosphere.
*“Arraial” can be translated as “street party”, “country fair” and “folk festival”. In both Portugal and Brazil, an arraial usually refers to a traditional, open-air street festival or folk fair, typically held in June or July. – Gemini
**Customarily, the term “Macanese” denotes Macau’s community of mixed Portuguese and Asian descent, and its diaspora. – MPD
Fairgoers celebrate ‘Arraial de São João’, or “St. John’s Festival”, at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
