How to celebrate Festa do Divino Espirito Santo in Paraty & Sao Luis, Brazil

Festa do Divino Espirito Santo, or the Festival of the Holy Spirit, is one of Brazil's most cherished religious celebrations. Rooted in centuries-old traditions and blending Catholic religion with local Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous cultural influences, the largest celebrations of this festival are held in Paraty (Rio de Janeiro state) and São Luís (Maranhão).

Closely associated with Pentecost, Festa do Divino Espirito Santo commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, as described in the Bible. The festival is strongly influenced by the 13th-century devotion of Queen Isabel of Aragon, known for her acts of compassion and dedication to the poor. Her legacy is reflected in the festival’s core values of charity, humility, and solidarity.

When is Festa do Divino Espirito Santo in 2025

In 2025, Festa do Divino Espirito Santo will be celebrated on May 25, continuing a legacy that dates back to Portugal’s medieval period.

People dressed in red and white stand on a stage in front of a large white bird statue and red banners

Ready to plan your trip to Festa do Divino? > Find cheap accommodation in Sao Luis > Find cheap accommodation in Paraty > Find cheap bus tickets to Paraty

Origins and Significance of Festa do Divino

The Festa do Divino traces its origins to 14th-century Portugal, during the reign of Queen Isabel of Aragon. Queen Isabel, renowned for her piety and charity, established the festival as an expression of devotion to the Holy Spirit. According to legend, she vowed to honor the Holy Spirit if divine intervention could bring peace to Portugal during a period of civil unrest. In fulfillment of her vow, she organized a great feast for the poor, where a commoner was crowned as emperor for a day, symbolizing humility, justice, and the distribution of divine blessings. This tradition was solidified within Portuguese culture and soon became an annual celebration.

With the arrival of Portuguese colonists in Brazil during the 16th century, the festival was introduced to Brazil where it merged with Indigenous and African traditions. The Jesuits played a significant role in spreading the devotion to the Holy Spirit, incorporating local customs and symbols into the celebration. Over the centuries, different regions of Brazil adapted the festival to reflect their own cultural identities. For example, in coastal towns like Paraty, the maritime processions became an integral part of the celebrations, while in Maranhão, African rhythms and dance infused the festival.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the Festa do Divino had become deeply entrenched in Brazilian religious and social life. It was particularly embraced by rural communities, where it provided an occasion for social gatherings, feasts, and musical performances. The tradition of selecting an “Imperador do Divino” (Emperor of the Holy Spirit) continued, reinforcing ideals of charity and communal responsibility.

Where is Festa do Divino celebrated

Today, the festival remains an important symbol of faith and culture, and is celebrated in numerous Brazilian cities and towns including:

Paraty (Rio de Janeiro state)
São Luís (Maranhão)
São João del-Rei (Minas Gerais)
Pirenópolis (Goiás)
Palmas de Monte Alto and Salvador (Bahia)
Moju (Pará)
Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)
Gravataí (Rio Grande do Sul)
Various small towns in Sao Paulo state, including Sorocaba, Mogi das Cruzes, and São Luiz do Paraitinga

Festa do Divino in Paraty

Paraty, a picturesque colonial town known for its well-preserved architecture and cultural festivals, hosts one of the most elaborate Festa do Divino celebrations in Brazil. The event spans several days, leading up to Pentecost Sunday.

Rituals and traditions in Paraty

Coroação do Imperador Mirim (Crowning of the Child Emperor): One of the most iconic elements of the Paraty celebration. A local child is chosen months in advance to serve as the Imperador ou Imperatriz do Divino, symbolizing purity and humility. During a ceremonial mass at the Igreja Matriz, the child is crowned with a red velvet cape and gold crown, in a ritual that mimics royal coronation but honors divine grace. The child leads processions, hosts guests, and serves as a figure of unity and hope for the community.
Procissão do Divino com o Estandarte (Procession with the Banner): A red banner with a white dove at its center, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, is paraded through the cobblestone streets of Paraty. The banner visits homes that have prepared private altars, where prayers are offered, and songs are sung. The banner is never carried alone; it is accompanied by devotees, a marching band, and the child emperor’s royal court.
Barracões Comunitários (Festival Tents): Temporary structures erected in Paraty’s historic center where the community gathers daily during the festival. Volunteers serve Sopa do Divino, a traditional soup made in massive cauldrons with beef, potatoes, carrots, and thick slices of bread. Meals are free and open to all — a reenactment of Queen Isabel’s values of charity and food for the poor. These meals are spiritual acts, considered part of the fulfillment of promises (pagamento de promessas).
Concertos da Banda Santa Cecília (Concerts): The local Banda Santa Cecília, founded in 1820, plays a key role during the festival. Their repertoire includes religious hymns, imperial marches, and traditional processional music. They accompany both solemn church ceremonies and the more lively street parades.
Levantamento dos Mastros (Raising of the Festival Poles): Two mastros (wooden poles) are raised near the church or barracão at the beginning of the festivities. The poles are adorned with ribbons, pine branches, flowers, and images of the dove. The act is accompanied by fireworks, hymns, and the playing of the Banda Santa Cecília. The poles signal that the Festa is officially underway, and their presence throughout the event is symbolic of divine protection.
Sete Domingos do Divino (Seven Sundays of Preparation): The festival isn’t limited to a single week, it is preceded by seven consecutive Sundays of spiritual preparation, each marked by special masses, visits of the Holy Spirit’s banner to different homes, and communal prayers.
Distribuição do Bolo do Divino (Distribution of the Divine Cake): On the final day of the festival, a massive cake, often weighing over 100 kilograms, is baked and shared in the public square. The cake is made with contributions from the community and is a symbol of abundance and unity. It's blessed by the priest before distribution, and everyone is encouraged to eat as a spiritual act.

What is eaten during Festa do Divino in Paraty

Sopa do Divino: This is the main traditional dish of the festival in Paraty. It’s a meat-based soup (usually beef or chicken), cooked with vegetables and thickened with day-old bread. It’s prepared in large quantities and served free to the public after the main procession, symbolizing charity and equality.
Pão benzido (Blessed bread): Distributed during mass or processions. These small loaves are blessed by the priest and given to the faithful as a spiritual and symbolic gesture.
Biscoitos de polvilho: While available year-round, these cassava-starch biscuits are often made in homes and offered to guests during the festival days.

Festa do Divino in São Luís

São Luís, the capital of Maranhão, offers a unique Afro-Brazilian interpretation of the festival. The celebrations here are deeply influenced by the city’s mixed cultural heritage - with European, African and indigenous influences. The celebrations primarily take place in the town of Alcântara, at the start of the Amazon Jungle.

Rituals and traditions at Festa do Divino in São Luis

Enfeite dos Mastros (Decorated Poles): Two ceremonial wooden poles (mastros) are raised at the beginning of the festivities, often adorned with red and white ribbons, flowers, and symbols of the Holy Spirit (like doves). These poles are placed near the church or house hosting the Divine, and their raising is accompanied by prayer and music. Sometimes, food or symbolic items are offered at the base of the mastros as a sign of gratitude or a fulfilled vow (promessa).
Cortejo do Imperador (Imperial Procession): In São Luís, the procession can include both religious and royal imagery. The Imperador do Divino (Emperor of the Divine), whether adult or child, leads the cortejo wearing a red cape and a crown, symbolizing not earthly royalty, but the spiritual sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. The procession is accompanied by drums, chanting, and folia groups, who sing traditional verses as they travel from home to home.
Hospedagem do Divino (Hosting the Divine): A rotating system of hospitality, where each night or day the image and flag of the Holy Spirit is hosted by a different family. The host family decorates a home altar and serves food to guests — part religious devotion, part communal sharing. These gatherings are often accompanied by "ladainhas" (sung litanies) and sometimes improvised poetry or prayer.
Caixeiras do Divino (Women Drummers): Unique to Maranhão, groups of women drummers who play caixas (small drums) and sing songs, often standing in a circle. Their presence is both spiritual and symbolic, linking gender, faith, and community. Their music guides many parts of the celebration — including the alvorada (pre-dawn wake-up call).
Alvorada do Divino (Dawn Ritual): At 4 or 5 AM, music groups go through neighborhoods playing drums and singing to awaken the faithful. Coffee and sweets like broas de milho and pão doce are served afterward.
Distribuição de Esmolas (Distribution of Alms): Representatives of the Divine (often children or elders) go door-to-door collecting donations (esmolas) - often food, candles, or symbolic money. In return, they offer blessings and prayers.

What is eaten during Festa do Divino in São Luis

Arroz de festa do Divino: A festive rice dish specifically prepared during the celebrations. It includes seasoned rice with chicken or pork, vegetables, and sometimes olives or capers—distinct from everyday rice dishes.
Café do Divino: A traditional early morning gathering where coffee is served with specific festival sweets like Pão doce do Divino, a sweet, braided bread baked specially for the occasion, often with sugar glaze or coconut, and Broas de milho (home-made corn biscuits).
Almoço do Divino (Divine Lunch): A key moment in the celebration. The menu typically includes chicken stew, rice, feijão verde (fresh green beans), macaxeira (cassava) or inhame (yam).