The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated in Portugal on August 15th as a national holiday. According to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven, body and soul, to join her son, Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary is more than a respected and beloved religious figure in Portugal; she is revered as the queen of Portugal and connected with key events in the country’s fight for independence.
As part of the celebrations for August 15th, feasts are held in local churches and an annual festival known as Romaria is held in several locations across Portugal. The festivities include brass bands, drums, and traditional Galician bagpipes, while images of Mary, Queen of Angels, are crowned in churches.
For those visiting or living in Lisbon, there are four places to catch the August 15th celebrations in the Municipality of Mafra: Barreiralva, Monte Bom, Enxara do Bispo, and Cheleiros. The events include pilgrimages and masses, culminating in community parties where locals share food and regional products.
A traditional treat during these celebrations is the “parrameiro,” a unique sweet bread that stands out from everyday bread due to its enriched dough made with eggs, sugar, and aromatic ingredients. It is widely popular throughout Mafra and known by various names such as the bride and groom cake, party cake, cargo cake, fogaça, or horseshoe. Despite its variations in composition, texture, and shape, the “horseshoe” form is most common.
The recipe for this sweet bread has evolved over the years. Originally sweetened with honey, it is now made with sugar. Traditionally, it was baked at home with great care in wood-fired ovens and often placed on fig leaves to enhance flavor and prevent ash contamination.
Because August 15th is celebrated during one of the biggest holiday periods in Portugal, the beaches are also usually full. Whether you spend the holiday at church or at the beach, we hope you enjoy the holiday!
