The spirit of Christmas in the Amazon: Círio de Nazaré Procession in Belém

Every October, in Belém do Pará, millions of devotees gather to celebrate Our Lady of Nazaré, the Patroness of the Amazon.

Nazarene Court

The Círio de Nazaré, which began more than 200 years ago, is one of the greatest traditions in Northern Brazil and is the largest Catholic manifestation in the world. The festivity consists of a main procession that takes place every second Sunday of October on the streets of Belém do Pará, gathering a crowd of around 2.7 million devotees of the Saint.

In the same way as Carnival and the June Festivals in the rest of Brazil, the Nazaré festivities are celebrated throughout the month of October, forming the Nazarene Court. Currently, the court consists of 14 processions, various vigils, and masses, commencing with a mass at the Basilica Sanctuary of Nazaré and performances by local artists.

In the following days, a replica of the Patroness's image is taken to nearby cities for processions. On the same day, the original image of Nazinha, as affectionately called by the people of Pará, is brought down from her Glory of the High Altar in the Sanctuary of Nazaré to be closer to the public and available for veneration for almost the entire month in the Sanctuary Square, in front of the Basílica.

Procession

During the Círio, the 3.6 kilometre route is always the same, guided by the city's bishop and passing through squares, avenues and narrower streets, leaving the main and side streets closed to cars congested with people. It is worth remembering that, as well as teams of police, the Red Cross, and volunteers handing out water, you will be surrounded by around 3 million pilgrims, some of whom will even walk the route on their knees, out of pure devotion.

In addition, the procession includes various "allegories", similar to a samba school parade, with around 14 floats — the most famous being the Carros dos Anjinhos, with children dressed up as as angels, and the Carro das Promessas, in which pilgrims make their promises to the Saint — and the rope that pulls the Berlinda, carrying the sacred image.

During the procession there are moments of tension, in the narrowing and curving of the streets, and highlights, such as the shower of paper, the cutting of the rope and the passage through the Varanda de Nazaré — each with its own impact and cultural significance. At the end of the event, given the number of people, it takes a while for the city to return to normal.

Cultural importance of the Círio de Nazaré

The Círio de Nazaré has such a big impact on the routine of the people of Pará that it’s not surprising how important this festival is to the state's culture, it is known as the Christmas of the Pará people. And like a good Christmas celebration, the famous Círio Lunch also features a bountiful feast, supplying local families with dishes that are unique to the region, combining indigenous ingredients, techniques and knowledge with the simplest white rice, a staple of any Brazilian table.

In the ccalendar,  several of the dates highlighted here become public holidays or optional days, separating the agenda of the people of Pará into before and after the Círio. This is an important factor when it comes to booking hotels and planning your shoot in the city or with local characters, since many of them will be recovering from the procession or a big lunch on Sunday afternoon.

Filming the Círio de Nazaré

If you have experience filming protests, street parties and crowds, you’re already one step ahead. But you still need a lot of preparation. Especially since, at the Círio, it is a challenge to get close to the public without being swept away by the sea of people. So here are a few things to consider: