TheCírio de Nazaré is a Catholic religious celebration, originating fromPortuguese colonizers, involvingprocessions (pilgrimages) in devotion toOur Lady of Nazareth, held in the Brazilian city ofBelém (state ofPará). It has been observed annually since 1793, on the second Sunday of October, and currently attracts approximately two million participants.
The devotion traces its roots toPortugal, where it is observed on September 8 in the town ofNazaré.[1] In Brazil, it was originally an evening or nighttime pilgrimage, which explains the use of candles. In 1854, to avoid the heavy rainfall that had occurred the previous year, the procession was moved to the morning.
The event also takes place in other parts of theNorthern Region, includingMacapá,[9]Rio Branco,[10] andManaus,[11] as well as in various other Brazilian regions due to migration from Pará, where processions are held to maintain a connection to Belém through acts of faith.
The Sacred Image of Our Lady of Nazareth, Portugal
According to theLegend of Nazaré, a small wooden statue of theVirgin Mary, in which she is depicted seated and nursing theChild Jesus, originated inNazareth. The dark-colored statue has been identified as an artifact from the early centuries of Christianity. It traveled fromNazareth throughMérida, Spain, and reachedNazaré, Portugal, in 711.[12]
In the 12th century, the statue became a symbol of faith for the knight D. Fuas Roupinho, who, in 1182, built theChapel of Our Lady of Nazaré in gratitude to the Virgin after surviving a serious accident while pursuing a deer on horseback. The chapel was constructed over a cave where the statue was located. In 1377, KingFerdinand (1367–1383) established a larger temple, theSanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré, to which the statue was moved.[12] Since then, every September, the Portuguese gather at the Sítio da Nazaré to honorOur Lady of Nazareth. The mainpilgrimage, the Círio da Prata Grande, starts inMafra and carries another image of the Virgin Mary standing, similar to the one venerated in the Brazilian Círio, in aBerlin.[12]
In the 17th century, devotion to Our Lady of Nazareth was introduced in Pará by the priests of theSociety of Jesus (Jesuits).[13] Although the devotion began inVigia de Nazaré, the most well-known account states that in 1700, Plácido, acaboclo descendant of Portuguese and indigenous ancestry, found a small, deteriorated wooden statue of Our Lady of Nazareth, a replica of the Portuguese statue, approximately 28 cm tall, near the Murutucu stream in Belém, an area now behind theBasilica of Our Lady of Nazareth of Exile.
Plácido took the statue to his home, cleaned it, and created a makeshift altar. According to tradition, the statue repeatedly returned to its original location, prompting Plácido to interpret this as a divine sign and build a small hermitage at the site. The story of the statue’s return attracted local residents, who began visiting the hermitage to pay homage. The account gained the attention of the governor of theCaptaincy of Grão Pará, Francisco Maurício de Sousa Coutinho, who ordered the statue moved to the city palace’s chapel. Despite being kept under guard, the statue disappeared and reappeared at Plácido’s hermitage. This led to the devotion gaining official status, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth was later built where the hermitage stood.
In 1773, thearchbishop andbishop of Belém do Pará, João Evangelista Pereira da Silva, placed Belém under the protection of Our Lady of Nazareth. In 1774, the statue was sent to Portugal for restoration and returned in October of that year in a procession from the city port to the sanctuary, accompanied by the governor, bishop, and other authorities, marking the first Círio. The event has since been held annually on the second Sunday of October.
One notable miracle attributed to the Belém statue involves the passengers of the Portuguesebrig "São João Batista". On July 11, 1846, the brig, which had previously carried the statue to Lisbon for restoration in 1774, wrecked shortly after departing Belém forLisbon. The passengers were saved by adinghy, which had also transported the statue in 1774, and returned to Belém. The dinghy has accompanied the procession since 1885.
Although the Belém Círio is the most prominent in Brazil, the oldest Círio, dating to 1630, is inSaquarema, Rio de Janeiro. After a stormy night, fishermen found a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary among rocks separating the sea from a lagoon, where the current Parish Church stands. The image reportedly returned to the rocks multiple times, leading religious authorities to begin constructing a chapel, later replaced by the current temple. The Saquarema Círio was recognized as Brazil’s oldest during a visit by the Belém pilgrim image on September 23, 2009.
The Círio rope was introduced in 1855 to pull theBerlin carrying the image of Our Lady of Nazareth due to flooding from theGuajará Bay in theVer-o-peso area. It was officially adopted in 1868.[14]
The rope initially had a U-shape, with two rows for men and women, both attached to the Berlin, used from 1922 to 2004. Since 2005, it has a linear format with five stations, resembling a Catholic rosary, with a head nucleus and a Berlin nucleus. The rope measures 400 meters long and two inches in diameter.[14]
According to tradition, Plácido found the statue wearing a mantle. Since then, a new mantle is crafted for each Círio based on the festivity’s theme. Until 1973, Sister Alessandra of the Daughters of Saint Anne Congregation, linked to Gentil Bittencourt School, created the mantles using donated materials from anonymous devotees. After her death, her student, Ester Paes Rocha, took over, and various designers have since contributed to the mantle’s artwork.[15]
Initially held between September and November without a fixed date, the Círio was set for the second Sunday of October in 1901 by Bishop Dom Francisco de Rego Maia.[14]
The Berlin was introduced in 1882 at Bishop Dom Macedo Costa’s suggestion. Until 1854, the statue was carried by a Government Palace chaplain on alitter by four or six men. In 1855, a carriage, a precursor to the Berlin, was used.[16]
Initially, the statue was carried alone in the Berlin. Until the rope was introduced, the carriage was pulled by horses. In 1926, the Berlin was replaced by anandor under Archbishop Dom João Irineu Joffily’s changes, but it returned in 1930. The rope was removed in 1926 due to violence concerns but reinstated in 1931 with the Berlin.[16][17]
There are five official Berlin versions, with the current one in use since 1964, restored in 2012. Replicas are used in other pilgrimages, and a niche holds the statue in the presbytery for the Children’s Pilgrimage and Festival Procession.[16]
The pilgrimage originally started at the Government Palace, moved to theOur Lady of Grace Cathedral in 1882, and began at the Church of Saint Alexander in 1891.[17]
In 1918, the Círio was held on the last Sunday of October due to theSpanish Flu pandemic, marking the first date change since 1901.[14]
In 1969, a replica of the statue, known as thePilgrim Image, was crafted in acaboclo style, representing the Amazonian population. It is used in the Círio pilgrimages and was restored in 2002.[17] The original statue, theOriginal Image, is kept in the Basilica Sanctuary’s Glória do Altar-Môr, lowered in May for the basilica’s sanctuary status festivities and in October during the Nazarene period, placed in a glass dome. The statue left the basilica three times: in 1980 forPope John Paul II’s visit, in 1992 for the 200th Círio anniversary, and in 2021 for a blessing outside the basilica.[18]
The Image Lowering Ceremony, started in 1969, was initially restricted and held after the Transfer at 11 p.m. Since 1992, it has been open to the public at noon after the Motorromaria. In 2020, it was restricted due to COVID-19 measures, and in 2021, it was open with limited capacity for vaccinated individuals, returning to standard format in 2022.[18]
In 1991, the Círio reached one million participants, and in 1992, it reached two million.[14][17]
The 2000 and 2004 editions were the longest, with the 2000 procession ending at 3:45 p.m. due to a Berlin wheel issue and disorganization, and the 2004 procession ending at 4:15 p.m. due to a rope attachment issue.[14]
In 2002, a fire at Casa Chamma caused the Berlin to detour via Avenida João Alfredo and Travessa Frutuoso Guimarães, ending at 11:15 a.m., the third fastest Círio, surpassed by the 2019 (11:30 a.m.) and 1995 (10:37 a.m.) editions, the latter facilitated by the rope not being attached.[14][19][20]
In 2004, the procession began during the Holy Mass at theoffertory to end earlier, but the rope issue caused the longest procession.[21]
In 2020, the Círio was canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, replaced by a special program including a Holy Mass, hospital visits, documentaries, shows, and a flyover of the pilgrim image. Processions elsewhere were also canceled.[22] This followed a cancellation in 1835 due to theCabanagem revolt.[23]
In 2021, the transfer toAnanindeua andMarituba resumed along main roads, but the main procession was not held.[24]
1799 - Construction of the third hermitage, inaugurated between 1800 and 1802.[17]
1805 - The Float of Miracles is introduced, commemorating the 1182 miracle of Dom Fuas Roupinho, ordered by QueenMaria I of Portugal.[27]
1826 - The fireworks float is introduced, discontinued in 1983 to prevent accidents.[17]
1835 - The Círio is not held due to theCabanagem revolt.
1840 - The statue undergoes a second restoration in Portugal.
1846 - The miracle of thebrig João Batista occurs, with sailors surviving a shipwreck.[17]
1854 - The Círio is moved to the morning due to heavy rains.
1855 - The litter is replaced by a carriage, a precursor to the Berlin, and the rope is used due to flooding. Acholera epidemic affects Belém but does not stop the Círio.[17]
1859 - The first Recírio is held, with the statue returning to the Government Palace.[28]
1988 - The Transfer follows the Círio’s route in reverse.[29]
1989 - The first Road Pilgrimage is held toward Icoaraci.[17][45]
1990 - The first Motorromaria and Children’s Pilgrimage are held.[17]
1991 - The Círio reaches one million participants.[17]
1992 - The 200th Círio introduces the Transfer to Ananindeua, and the original statue participates.[6] The procession reaches two million participants.[17] The first Círio is held inSão Luís.[46]
1993 - The Círio celebrates 200 years.
1995 - The rope attachment begins at Avenida Boulevard Castillo França, and Rádio Nazaré FM provides sound.[6][20]
1998 - The first Castanhal Pilgrimage is held.[47][48]
1999 - Following the Fluvial Pilgrimage, the statue is presented with military police honors.[49]
2000 - The Float of Plácido and the Nazaré Junior Guard are introduced.[17][50]
2001 - The first Youth Pilgrimage is held.
2002 - A fire at Casa Chamma causes a detour, ending the procession early.[17] The Transfer includesMarituba.[6]
2004 - The Círio arrives at Praça Santuário around 4:15 p.m., the longest edition in history, surpassing the 2000 record. It was the only time the procession left Largo da Sé before the end of the Holy Mass, during theoffertory, to speed up the pilgrimage, causing controversy.[21] The Círio is designated Intangible Cultural Heritage byIPHAN. The first Cycle Pilgrimage is held.[51]
2006 - The Basilica is elevated to sanctuary status.
2009 - The Transfer Mass is moved to 4:30 p.m.[17]
2014 - The first Runners’ Pilgrimage is held.
2018 - The Transfer surpasses the Círio in attendance.[52]
2020 - The Círio is canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, replaced by the Aerial Círio.[14]
2021 - The Transfer resumes, but the main procession is replaced by the Aerial Círio.[24]
2022 - The first Float Transport is held as an official pilgrimage.[53][54]
2023 - The first Accessibility Pilgrimage is held. The Transfer and Círio encounter challenges with the ropes, but they nevertheless proceed.[55][56][57][58] The first Círio outside Brazil is held inMiami.[59]
The religious devotion spans fifteen days during the Nazarene Fortnight. Key pilgrimages include:
Pilgrimage
Description
First Edition
Ref.
Transport of the Floats
The transport of 14 floats occurs four days before the main pilgrimage, heading to the Pará Dock Company warehouses via Nazaré Avenue, 14 de Março Street, Antônio Barreto Street, Visconde de Souza Franco Avenue, and Marechal Hermes Avenue. It became an official pilgrimage in 2019, debuting in 2022 due to the COVID-19 rescheduling.
On the Friday before the Círio, the statue processes in a Federal Police vehicle through Belém, Ananindeua, and Marituba, accompanied by various vehicles and people. It stops for tributes and concludes at Matriz Square in Ananindeua. Since 2002, it includes Marituba and starts in the morning.
The statue travels from the Basilica Sanctuary to Icoaraci, accompanied by vehicles and people. Since 1990, it starts from the Belém Cargo Terminal, and since 1992, from Matriz Square in Ananindeua, early Saturday.
The statue travels alongGuajará Bay on the Garnier Sampaio (H-37) ship from Icoaraci, accompanied by vessels honoring the Virgin. In 1986, clouds reportedly formed a face during the first edition.[17]
After the Fluvial Pilgrimage, motorcyclists accompany the statue to Escadinha do Cais do Porto, concluding at Gentil Bittencourt School. From 1987 to 1989, it was transported by bus.[17]
Held at night before the Círio, the statue moves from Gentil Bittencourt School to the Belém Metropolitan Cathedral since 1906. It follows the Círio route in reverse since 1988. In 2018, it surpassed the Círio in attendance.[17][60]
The main procession, held on the second Sunday of October, starts at the Belém Cathedral and ends at Sanctuary Square, attracting around 2 million people.[17]
Youth communities honor the Virgin on the Saturday afternoon after the Círio, hosted by different parishes, featuring a missionary cross since 2012.[17]
The shortest procession, on Monday morning, concludes at Gentil Bittencourt School. It includes a prayer of supplication and the incineration of objects associated with promises.[28][61]
TheBerlin, crafted in 1964 by João Pinto in Baroque style from red cedar, carries the statue during the Círio and Transfer, adorned with natural flowers. Smaller Berlins are used in other pilgrimages.[62]
The rope symbolizes the fulfillment of the pilgrims' vows.
The 400-meter, 700-kilogramrope, made of twistedsisal, was introduced in 1868 to replace the use of oxen. Since 2005, it is shaped like a rosary to prevent delays.[17]
Mantle used by the image of Nazaré during the 2020 Círio
Themantle, which is newly crafted each year, covers the statue, depicting Gospel themes. It was initially made by the Daughters of Mary, then Sister Alexandra, and later Ester Paes França.[63]
Official poster of the 2012 Círio
Círio posters, displayed since 1826, promote the festival. Initially handcrafted, they are now designed from photographs.[64]
Candles andfloats of promises symbolize vows, with children dressed as angels participating.[17]
Children dressed as angels, one of the traditional symbols of the Círio found during the processions
Thefireworks displays during the passage of the image through the historic center of Belém occur during the Transfer night and the main Círio day, organized by the Union ofStevedores of the State of Pará. Additional tributes during these processions are provided by theBank of Brazil, theBank of the State of Pará, and the Bank of the Amazon. These institutions often feature performances by invited singers to honor the patroness of Pará. The Bank of Brazil contributes a display of confetti, balloons, and streamers launched from the top floor of its headquarters, covering Presidente Vargas Avenue.[65] Other tributes are offered by the choir of theTheatro da Paz, residents of the Manoel Pinto da Silva Building, state and municipal secretariats, the football teamsPaysandu Sport Club andClube do Remo, the Rede Liberal, and theMarist and Santa Catarina de Sena schools, all located along the procession route.[66][67]
Other traditions includenovenas, prayer cycles held in the weeks leading up to the festivity by devotees who visit neighbors' homes. The family lunch, held on the Sunday of the procession, is a communal event often compared toChristmas in significance for the people of Pará. The traditional Círio lunch includesduck in tucupi, a dish ofPará cuisine, served with white rice andmaniçoba, another regional dish. TheNazaré Fair is held adjacent to theBasilica Sanctuary, where the so-calledmiriti toys are sold.
The Círio procession occurs annually on the second Sunday of October, resulting in a variable date. The following table lists the ordinal numbering of the Círio de Nazaré, their dates, approximate attendance, duration, and themes adopted since 1995.[68]
The first live broadcasts of the Círio occurred during the radio era through Rádio Clube do Pará and Super Rádio Marajoara. Due to technical limitations in the 1950s, announcers followed the pilgrimage in cars and used fixed points for interviews, employing electrical wires, microphones, and telephone lines. The introduction of recorders in the 1960s facilitated external coverage.[98] Sound trucks were first utilized in 1988, followed by loudspeakers affixed to lighting poles. Subsequently, these were strategically positioned along the designated route.[99] In 1995, Rádio Nazaré FM began covering the Círio with prayers, hymns, and updates on the Berlin's location and tributes.[100]
The first televised images of the Círio appeared in the 1950s via black-and-white films. In the 1960s,TV Marajoara and TV Guajará (nowBoas Novas Belém) began broadcasting select moments of the pilgrimage. TV Marajoara used strategic locations, such as the Stevedores' Square, the Cathedral front, and Nazaré Square, with audio from Rádio Marajoara. In the 1970s, TV Marajoara adopted color images usingRede Tupi's microwave system and increased live coverage points in partnership with TV Guajará, forming the Paraense Television Network.[98]
In 1976,TV Liberal Belém introduced real-time coverage, focusing on the passage in front of its headquarters on Nazaré Avenue and the Stevedores' tributes at the formerO Liberal building. In 1983, TV Liberal broadcast the first aerial images using a helicopter. In 1997, the Círio was broadcast online globally using TV Liberal’s signal.[101]
In 1988,RBA TV joined other stations in the Paraense Television Network, which was discontinued in the 2000s.[102] In 1989, the Fluvial Pilgrimage was broadcast live by aRede Manchete affiliate.[103]
In 2002, TV Nazaré began broadcasting the Nazarene Fortnight programming live, becoming the official broadcaster of the Círio. In 2018, TV Nazaré broadcast the Transfer live for the first time.[104] National broadcasts began in 1992 through the Network of Educational Stations, followed byTV Cultura,Rede Bandeirantes in 2008, and Amazon Sat in 2013.[105] In 2024, Rede Bandeirantes andTV Brasil resumed national broadcasts in collaboration with TV Cultura do Pará.[106][107]
In 2014,SBT Pará broadcast the Círio in high definition. In 2020 and 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, stations aired special programs instead of the pilgrimage, with TV Nazaré and Rede Cultura do Pará providing images of the Aerial Círio.[108] TV Círio, a free streaming service, was launched to cover pilgrimages, masses, and special programs.[109] All pilgrimages of the Nazarene Fortnight are currently broadcast by Rede Cultura do Pará, SBT Pará (except in 2016 and 2017), TV Liberal,RecordTV Belém, RBA TV, TV Nazaré, and TV Círio.[110]
^This record follows a narrative from theCrônica da Missão dos Padres da Companhia de Jesus no Estado do Maranhão by João Felipe Bettendorff (1625–1698), with a fragment of the procession in the city dated to 1750. However, according to IPHAN documentation, the Círio in Vigia began in the mid-19th century.
^It is not certain when this procession was first held, although historical records document an edition in 1881
^abcd"Círio".Michaelis On-Line (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived fromthe original on 2021-09-07. Retrieved2021-09-07.
^CARVALHO, Luciana; CAMPOS, Marcelo; OLIVEIRA, Thiago da Costa (Cur.).Patrimônios do Norte: Homenagem aos 81 anos do IPHAN. Rio de Janeiro: Paço Imperial, 2018.
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