Charity and gratitude encompass the third weekend of July on the Island.
For nearly a century, the Holy Ghost Society has hosted a feast and a parade in Oak Bluffs. This year’s festivities take place once again at the Portuguese American Club, with the feast on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and the parade commencing Sunday morning at 11:30 with an auction following.
The first celebration took place in 1928 at the DeBettencourt Farm. Throughout the decades the focus of the tradition has remained one of community, said Portuguese American Club president Gina deBettencourt. Her family has been helping to plan the feast for generations.
“Our mission [at the club] is to be benevolent and to give to the community, so this, giving the sopa away on Sunday, that part of the tradition is fantastic,” she said.
The origins of the celebration trace back to the 13th century, when Queen Isabella of Portugal promised the Holy Ghost that she would sell her crown and jewels if the spirit would help her people after a famine devastated the nation. She then saw ships on Pentecost Sunday sailing in with bread and meat, bringing food to her people and restoring her faith. Feeding the masses bread and beef broth, also known as sopa, celebrates the devotion of charity and giving in Azorean history. It was the one day where the crown didn’t matter, and everyone could rejoice in food and dance, social classes aside.
It is also a time of reunions and providing a respite during the busy summer, according to Ms. deBettencourt.
“Some of the people you don’t see other than this time of the year,” she said. “You get to see their grandchildren or grandparents. It’s really nice and a lot of people do things in memory of their family and loved ones.”
Every year during the parade, young girls help carry Queen Isabella’s crown, which symbolizes the queen selling her crown to feed the poor. Traditionally, feasts were held on Pentecost Sunday, but now take place in the spring and summer worldwide.
For Tricia Bergeron, former president of the PA Club and a long-time organizer of the event, the feast is a celebration of her heritage.
“My grandfather was one of the founding fathers of the PA club,” she said. “My aunt ran the feast for years. I was president of the club for years. It’s all about the heritage.”
The event has also always been volunteer based, with people dedicating their time, energy and skills to ensure the weekend runs smoothly.
“The tradition of people giving and helping with their time [is great], some people with money, some people with their trade, like cooking,” Ms. debettencourt said.
The PA Club primarily fundraises for education scholarships, families in need and other community causes, but the feast helps raise money for the club itself.
“In order for us to give to others, we have to make sure we’re taken care of as well,” Ms. deBettencourt said.
Ms. Bergeron started spearheading the feast in the 1990s.
“The event itself has really not changed a whole lot,” she said. “More food and more people, but the whole core of it and everything about it is still the same. It’s just so nice to see everybody come out.”
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