Honoring the Portuguese Culture in the Valley

Honoring the Portuguese culture is the focus of a huge celebration that took place in Easton over the weekend. It culminates with a hearty meal and parade.

The bands and queens wind their way through the streets of Easton, led by the queens big and small, who represent Portugal’s Queen Elizabeth, who helped the sick and the poor.

The festival includes a traditional sopas meal, made from meat, cabbage and bread.

Festivals like this are all about tradition. California has a large Portuguese population, most scattered through the farming towns of the Central Valley.

They came here from the Azores, a collection of islands off the coast of Europe.

These festivals keep cultural and religious traditions alive and bring the Portuguese community to together.

Read More

~ by kingstonstone on May 17, 2008.