1985 Festa da Trindade de Lowell, MA (1)

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1985 Festa da Trindade de Lowell, MA (1)

1985-05-31

1985-06-01

1985-06-02

This video contains footage of the first phase of the Feast of Trinidade (Feast of the Eternal Father) in Lowell, MA that took place from May 31st to June 2nd in 1985 at Saint Anthony's Church. The video was originally recorded by Colony Communications.

Wine, meat, and bread is shown being delivered to the parish hall for the 250 participants, and then a priest leads the group in prayer to bless the food. Some of the participants, including the children, are interviewed about their attendance at the feast, what their families are going to make with the food they're given, how this festival is traditionally celebrated in the Azores, and what other information they know about this tradition.

Then, the reporter in the video discusses the Cantoria event that took place during the festival featuring José Amaral, José Galdinio, José Borges, and Francisco Andrade, accompanied by José da Rocha and likely Vítor Santos on guitar and viola.

The procession for the festival was held at 4:00pm on Saturday, June 1st, 1985, followed by the Bodo de Leite celebration where children and other participants dressed in regional clothes and handed out cheese, milk, and barley dough to everyone present.

During footage of the Festa da Trinidade procession, the reporter gives more information about the festival's tradition and its origins in the Azores as well as in Lowell, when it was brought back as a tradition in 1983 by Leo Silva, Henrique de Sousa, and other members of the Portuguese American community. Henrique de Sousa is then interviewed about the organization of the festa.

The Grupo Folclórico de Chicopee dancers are shown performing during the festival, and then the reporter describes the feast that was held after the procession with traditional Portuguese foods. The Holy Ghost crowns and their history are discussed, along with more history about this celebration. The folclórico dances continue, and then more footage of the Bodo de Leite and the Cantoria event is shown. The credits for the original TV program roll, and are followed by additional footage of the Festa da Trinidade procession with the Queens of São João, Portuguese businesses and organizations, dance troupes, and marching bands.

Permission to link out to YouTube page granted by Januario's son, Rob Leal.

UMass Lowell, Center for Lowell History

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1985 Cantoria Desafio Festa De Trindade Lowell, MA (1)
1985 Cantoria Desafio Festa De Trindade Lowell, MA (2) (shown in video)
1985 Cantoria Desafio Festa De Trindade Lowell, MA (3)

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