Autumn Equinox

August is marked by two coincident mythologies: the water, as a frontier line between life and death; and the feminine divinities, representing hope in resurrection.
The end of Summer calls for the purification against insect plagues and other problems related to this time, as the dryness of Earth, already in the vicinity of the approaching Winter. But water symbolism is also used for the cure of illnesses attributed to the devil.

St. Bartolomeu rituals “sacred baths”, Esposende, Portugal (photos E. Veiga de Oliveira)
It is possible to see gatherings by the sea, in the month of August. In the past, there would be processions with people and the statues in boats, following this calendar (some are still active). Now the rituals are the “Sea Weeks”.

Praia da Vitória festivities, Terceira
It is possible to see gatherings by the sea, in the month of August. In the past, there would be processions with people and the statues in boats, following this calendar (some are still active). Now the rituals are the “Sea Weeks”.

Praia da Vitória festivities, Terceira
The ‘Sea Weeks’, taking place in Sta. Maria and Faial, in Praia Festival in Terceira and the Baleeiros Festival in Pico, for several cultural events by the sea shore, within these same dates and spirit, may be considered as a remaining of this tradition connected to the sea.

In September, a different mystic can be observed in Azorean practices.

Archaic Venus (Turkey); La Paloma Blanca (Andaluzia, Spain); Malines, Museum of Horta, Faial
Autunm reminds the vicinity of natures’ death. Following the Eleusian Misteries, a form of religion practiced in Greece and referred by Homer in the hymn to Demeter (the Greek agriculture goddess), active during about 4000 years, September is the month to recall Demeter’s daughter Persephone, subdued by Pluto, the lord of the sub world and death. The sadness manifested on Earth, through the ruin of vegetation, caused by the long suffering of Demeter, resulted on the allowance of Zeus for a periodic return of Persephone.

Persephone subdued by Pluto, Fresco Greek Classic, c.IV BC, Museum Vergina, Greece
The devotion dedicated to feminine divinities, on this time of the year, follows the oriental (and Greek) tradition, present in mainland Portugal (Lusitania) before the roman occupation.

Cibele, National Museum of Archaeology, Portugal
Not only the meaning implicit on the corresponding festivities kept the original line, but also this line was able to influence the calendar of religious celebrations. This is possible to observe by the statistics of these celebrations, displaying a feminine dominancy during the months of August, September and October, of 66 against 37 masculine, while for the months of May, June and July, the masculine dominance is of 40 to 22 feminine.

Just like in Athens, in Terceira Island a pilgrimage of some 20km East of Angra, in this case, to Serreta village, takes place on the same date, the second week of September, with thousands of people gathering and feasting, after having crossed walking, the entire island. The most important characteristic of this act is that, although having the profile of a ritual sacrifice, demanding a big effort to those in pilgrimage, in reality it becomes one situation of joy and feast (meaning that the distortion imposed to its real significance is not complete).

Serreta Pilgrimage, Terceira island (photo Íris/Açor)
Two other similar ceremonies take place in Terceira Island on this same day and with equal meaning: The Feast of Our lady of Lapinha (Vinha Brava) and The Feast of Our lady of Remédios (Lajes). This tradition was very active in mainland Portugal, about two thousand years ago, as documented historically.

The great myth, which portrays death and resurrection, on the Persephone metaphor, is based on the generalised oriental conception of the need for an annual death of a divinity related to vegetation, as a preventive measure guarantying its reborn on next springtime. It was commonly accepted that similar rituals, practiced during Spring (the sowing period) would contribute to the vigour of the crops and other plants.
Gods’ substitutes, symbolized by animals or aliments, were taken in ceremonial meals intended to propitiate fertility.

Mithra with stars underneath the rope. Fresco from the Marino’s Temple, Italy and Mithra’ statue from Merida, Lusitania

Gatherings by the sea shore, Praia
On the other side, these rituals do have a reconciliatory power with death, transmitted to man with emphasis on the possibility of another life after.
This entire mystic appears expressed in the Azores, in a kind of subliminal understanding which becomes reflected on the characteristics of their religiosity, allowing some of these beliefs underneath the Christianization process.

The conjunct of facts of this nature (some already mentioned here), reinforces the belief of the existence of strong archaic reminiscences within the traditional festivities of the Azores.