Círio de Nazaré is an integral part of the history of the people of Pará. Held on the second Sunday in October, the festival brings together millions of worshippers and tourists from all corners of the globe and of various religious faiths.
The history
It all began in the year 1700 with the discovery of the statue of Our Lady of Nazaré by Caboclo Plácido, on the banks of a stream located near where the Basilica and Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré now stands. Since then, devotion to the Virgin has grown, and in 1793 the first procession in honour of the patron saint of the people of Pará took place.
Since then, the Círio has taken place annually, always in October. The main programme of the festivities always takes place in the second week of the month and involves many events. It begins on Tuesday with the official opening Mass and ends on Sunday with the Círio de Nazaré procession.
The programme
The main events of the Círio de Nazaré take place in the second week of October.
It is exactly on Tuesday at 6 PM that the official opening Mass of the Círio takes place. The Mass occurs at the Basilica Sanctuary and marks the beginning of the marathon of events during the main week of celebrations. On Wednesday at 8 PM, the Procession of the Transfer of the Cars begins, where the cars that accompany the image of Our Lady of Nazaré during the Círio are paraded to the warehouses, where they will wait for the day of the main procession.
On Thursday at 6 PM, the Mass for the Presentation of the Mantle takes place at the Basilica Sanctuary. This is a moment of great emotion among the faithful who squeeze in to see the new garment of the saint up close. On Friday, the program starts early. Around 7 AM, a Mass is held at the Basilica, followed by the transfer of the Virgin’s image to Ananindeua, in the metropolitan region of Belém. There, it remains until Saturday when it leaves for the Road Romaria.
The Círio Saturday starts at 5:30 AM with the Road Romaria in Ananindeua. It’s a 24 km walk until reaching the Icoaraci waterfront. There, around 9 AM, the Fluvial Romaria begins, transporting the Pilgrim image by boat across the waters of Baía de Guajará towards the center of Belém. Hundreds of small and large boats follow the main boat. It’s a beautiful sight to see!
At 11:30 AM, the Virgin’s image arrives at the port in Praça Pedro Teixeira. At this moment, the Moto Romaria begins. Motorcyclists escort the image of the Saint to Colégio Gentil Bittencourt. Once the Moto Romaria ends, the focus of the celebrations shifts back to the interior of the Basilica Sanctuary. Around 12:30 PM, the original image of Our Lady of Nazaré is lowered from the Glory.
Back at Colégio Gentil Bittencourt at 4:30 PM, the Mass begins, followed by the Trasladação—a procession that carries the Pilgrim image in an open cart to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Belém. The image is protected by the Guard of Nazaré and by the floats, which are iron structures through which the rope that surrounds the image passes. Amidst the crowd, the faithful vie for a moment to touch and hold the rope. This is one of the most beautiful and important events of the Círio!
Did you know?
One of the most important symbols of the Círio de Nazaré is the rope that surrounds the image of Our Lady. It represents the bond between the Virgin and the faithful. Touching the rope is considered one of the greatest acts of faith and devotion to the saint and one of the ways for the faithful to fulfill promises.
How to take part in Círio de Nazaré
If you want to participate in the Círio, the first step is to plan to be in Belém do Pará during the second week of October. Saturday and Sunday are the days that draw the largest crowds, but there are significant events throughout the entire Círio week.
The second step is to choose how you want to participate in the festivities. If you are looking to volunteer during the events, sign up through the official Círio website. There, you will find all the information on how you can help. There are volunteer opportunities in various areas, even for handing out water to cool off the faithful crowding around the Círio rope.
If you are going to the Círio to fulfill promises, participating in the pilgrimages and processions is the way to go. Now, if you just want to witness the grandeur of this festival, there are several options. The cheapest way to follow the Círio is from the sidewalks along the route of the Virgin’s procession. But be prepared for a sea of people passing alongside the float and the rope that follows closely behind.
For a bit more comfort, you can purchase a ticket to sit in one of the stands along the procession route; pay to stay in one of the VIP boxes; or buy a ticket to board one of the boats participating in the Fluvial Romaria (on Saturday). Choose the option that best fits your style for enjoying such a large event and enjoy every minute of that contagious energy!
