Feast of the Blessed Sacrament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Feast of the Blessed Sacrament |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Festival |
| Frequency | Annually; every first weekend in August |
| Venue | Madeira Field |
| Location(s) | New Bedford, Massachusetts |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 110 |
The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is a huge four-day festival. It celebrates Portuguese culture. This exciting event happens every year in New Bedford, Massachusetts. You can find it at Madeira Field.
The festival takes place on the first weekend of August. It is known as the biggest Portuguese cultural festival in the world. It is also the largest ethnic festival in New England. The Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento organizes this amazing event.
Contents
History of the Feast
How the Festival Started
The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament began in 1915. Four immigrants from Madeira started it. They wanted to bring a piece of their homeland's religious festivals to the United States. It was also a way to celebrate their safe journey to America.
Changes Over Time
For many years, only men born in Madeira or their male descendants could join the committees. These committees help plan the festival. In 1998, the rules changed. Sons of Madeiran mothers were then allowed to join.
More recently, in April 2023, the club made another big change. They updated their rules again. Now, women are also able to serve on the festival committees.
Fun Traditions and Activities
What to See and Do
The festival has a special Mass at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church. This Mass honors the Blessed Sacrament. But many people come for all the other fun activities.
The Feast is famous for its lively parade. There is also live music and traditional folk dancing. Kids can enjoy many activities. There are also exciting amusement park rides. Of course, there is lots of delicious food and drink!
Special Madeira Wine
A unique part of the festival is the special Madeira wine. This wine is imported directly from Madeira. It comes in large wooden barrels. This is possible because of an agreement with the Madeiran government.
Delicious Festival Food
The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament offers many tasty dishes. These foods are popular at the festival. Some favorites include:
- Escabeche de atum (tuna dish)
- Carne de espeto (meat cooked on skewers)
- Linguiça (Portuguese sausage)
- Bacalhau (codfish dishes)
- Carne de vinha d'alhos (marinated pork)
Interesting Facts
Governor's Favorite Event
Former Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, really liked this festival. He once called it an "all-time favorite." He was sad when the 106th annual festival was canceled. This happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
