What does pilgrimage of pilgrimages mean?

Saying something is the pilgrimage of pilgrimages is much more than a pretty phrase. It's a compliment steeped in culture, faith, and local pride. In the North and on the islands, but also in the media and tourism marketing, the expression serves as a seal of greatness and uniqueness. The literal meaning is clear: the pilgrimage that, among so many, stands out as the greatest reference. The symbolic meaning goes further, because it summons history, devotion, music, gastronomy, economics, and an unmistakable popular aesthetic.

The expression has been circulating in Portugal for decades and finds parallels in the Portuguese-speaking world. In Belém do Pará, Brazil, the Círio de Nazaré is repeatedly nicknamed this way by newspapers and worshippers. Here, several towns proudly claim the title, sometimes alongside another, even more common epithet: the queen of pilgrimages. It's a friendly game between localities, but also a faithful portrayal of the importance of these festive calendars to collective life.

What is a pilgrimage, after all?

A pilgrimage is a festive and devotional journey to a shrine or cult image on a set date, bringing together the faithful and the curious. It has religious roots, but radiates into social life and the economy. It's not just a procession, nor just a June festival. It's both and more.

In broad strokes, a pilgrimage combines:

• Religious route with floats, banners, brotherhoods and sisterhoods
• Masses, promises, candles and ex-votos
• Popular music, marching bands and bass drums
• Festival with food and drinks, stalls and entertainment
• Craft and regional product fairs
• Fireworks, lighting and a sea of ​​people

There are parish pilgrimages, intermunicipal ones, and some that draw huge crowds. Some take place in the middle of Lent, others celebrate popular saints, and others are dedicated to deeply rooted Marian invocations. Each has its own flavor.

The value of expression in language

To say "pilgrimage of pilgrimages" uses a very productive pattern in popular Portuguese: the X of Xs to denote supremacy. It's the sardine of sardines, the pastel de nata of pastries, the pilgrimage of pilgrimages. It's an affectionate hyperbole, at once a symbolic competition and a declaration of love.

This usage isn't intended as a legal verdict. It's an affective recognition, repeated from generation to generation, that confers prestige and centrality. The expression does what good language always does: it creates compelling images.

An important nuance. In many lands, the main pilgrimage is known as the queen of pilgrimages. The epithet "queen" denotes majesty, grandeur, and beauty. The form "pilgrimage of pilgrimages" emphasizes the idea of ​​a summit, a standard that measures all others. The difference is subtle, but it's noticeable in your ears and on the poster.

Pilgrimage, procession, pilgrimage and festival

To avoid confusion, it is worth distinguishing between some closely related terms:

Term	Main focus	Movement	Festive component	Typical example
Pilgrimage	Devotion and community celebration	Yes	Strong	Our Lady of Agony, St. Benedict of the Open Door
Procession	Liturgical act in a procession and procession	Yes	Residual	Procession of the Lord of the Steps
Pilgrimage	Walk of penance and promise	Yes	Weak	Pilgrims to Fatima
Campfire	Popular and commercial coexistence	No	Total	Popular Neighborhood Saints

In practice, borders are porous. A major pilgrimage always includes processions. And it almost always culminates in a festival that turns life into a celebration.

Where is the expression used in Portugal?

The geography of Portuguese pilgrimages is vast. Minho retains its fame, but Trás-os-Montes, Douro, Beira Alta, Ribatejo, Alentejo, Algarve, and the islands maintain dense calendars. The expression "pilgrimage of pilgrimages" appears most frequently:

• In headlines and news articles that highlight the size and brilliance of an event
• In municipal and regional tourism promotion campaigns
• In popular speech, as a spontaneous compliment to a beloved party

Some recurring cases:

• Viana do Castelo. The Feast of Our Lady of Agony has long been called the queen of pilgrimages, a label that has found its way into book titles, documentaries, and posters. The use of the word "pilgrimage" also appears in promotional texts, as a poetic reinforcement.
• Gerês. S. Bento da Porta Aberta welcomes an impressive influx of faithful. Leaflets and news reports express its grandeur, placing it at the top of the list of pilgrimages in the North.
• Azores. The Lord Holy Christ of Miracles, in Ponta Delgada, encompasses a sea of ​​promises and a pageant that touches the entire island of São Miguel. The social and media impact fuels grandiose epithets.
• Nazaré and Peniche. Marian festivals linked to fishing communities generate strong support, using language that sometimes evokes the idea of ​​a larger pilgrimage.

There is no single body that determines who holds the title. Rather, there is a chorus of voices that, year after year, fuel these consecrations.

What makes a pilgrimage gain reference status?

The ingredients that favor acclaim are known:

• Documented antiquity that provides historical basis
• Regional centrality and easy access, attracting people from various lands
• Powerful narratives of miracles, promises kept, and protection in difficult times
• Much-loved cult image with striking iconography
• Rich ritual: processions of stewards, sea of ​​flowers, carpets, decorated boats, blessings of the sea or the countryside
• Massive and continuous participation, without serious memory loss
• Robust associated economy: accommodation, catering, street trading, artists and bands
• Regular media coverage and social media presence
• Capacity for welcoming and organizing, ensuring safety and well-being

When many of these factors converge, the community tends to naturally say that it has the pilgrimage of pilgrimages on its hands.

Tradition that reinvents itself

The rural festive calendar has been impacted by migration, secularization, and changes in agricultural work. Even so, pilgrimages have not disappeared. They have reinvented themselves. They maintain their devotional essence but incorporate new elements:

• Stages with musical programming for large audiences
• Digital communication with live streaming
• Safety regulations, contingency plans and restrictions on fireworks during periods of risk
• Sustainability, recycling and plastic reduction actions
• Reception spaces for people with reduced mobility

The result is a balance between old and new that preserves the soul and enhances the experience for those who participate.

Participate with respect and good humor

Going on a major pilgrimage requires practical care and a sense of community.

• Confirm the times of celebrations and processions
• Respect the sacred paths and the instructions of the authorities and brotherhoods
• Avoid pushing in areas of greater density, especially near the floats.
• Dress simply during religious ceremonies
• If you are bringing children, arrange meeting points and identify their contact details.
• Reduce noise and photography in the church, except when expressly permitted
• Support local businesses and experience local cuisine
• Take the bag to the trash and leave the space as you found it.

The party is more beautiful when everyone contributes to it running smoothly.

Two portraits that help to understand the epithet

Our Lady of Agony, Viana do Castelo

Viana practically needs no introduction when it comes to pilgrimages. The festival honoring Our Lady of Agony combines Marian devotion, maritime culture, and a Minho aesthetic that's celebrated worldwide. Richly costumed stewards, layered family gold, salt carpets, ethnographic parades, decorated boats on the Lima River, choreographed fireworks, and the splendor of philharmonic orchestras capture the collective imagination.

The oldest and most frequently used label is "queen of pilgrimages," a term consolidated in the press and bibliography. Even so, the phrase "pilgrimage of pilgrimages" occasionally appears in promotional texts, underscoring the idea that Viana serves as a benchmark for the notion of a Minho pilgrimage par excellence. The level of organization, the tangible and intangible heritage, and the loyalty of the people of Viana to their Lady reinforce this perception.

Lord Holy Christ of Miracles, Ponta Delgada

In the Azores, Senhor Santo Cristo occupies a unique place. The Convento da Esperança becomes the epicenter of an entire city that moves to the rhythm of promises, candles, and songs. The Ecce Homo float travels through streets adorned with flowers, with open portals and windows spilling out of handkerchiefs and tears. The Azorean diaspora returns to the island, hotels are sold out, and airlines increase flights.

Some people break the archipelago's routine to make their presence felt year after year. The emotional intensity and scale of the procession, combined with the power of the historical narrative, lead the press and the community to treat this festival as a major landmark in the island's calendar. The expression "pilgrimage of pilgrimages," when applied, highlights the event's centrality to the island's identity.

Expression in public discourse and marketing

Festivals with great visibility don't just rely on tradition. They have teams and partnerships that work on image, communication, and visitor attraction. Titles like "Pilgrimage of Pilgrimages," "Queen of Pilgrimages," or "Largest Pilgrimage in the Country" appear in:

• Official posters and tourist brochures
• Regional campaign slogans
• Television reports and press specials
• Radio plays and podcasts
• Publications by city halls on social media

Advertising poetics draws from popular language, and popular language welcomes media repetition. The cycle reinforces the aura surrounding certain dates.

Related phrases and terms

The expressive richness surrounding the festivals gives rise to many epithets. Some of the most frequently heard:

• Queen of pilgrimages. Typically attributed to Our Lady of Agony in Viana.
• The largest in the North. Used on posters and news to reinforce scale.
• The oldest. Claim based on parish records or municipal chronicles.
• Land of pilgrims. An expression of local identity linked to devotion and hospitality.
• A promise paid. A formula that reflects the intimate relationship between faith and action.

In the pilgrim's lexicon, it's also important to distinguish between pilgrim and pilgrimage. The former is associated with a local route, linked to a cult image. The latter refers to long, sometimes international, routes, such as the route to Santiago de Compostela. In practice, there's a lot of overlap.

Short calendar of pilgrimages in Portugal

Dates are indicative and subject to change. Always check the official program.

Pilgrimage	Location	usual month	Nickname or distinctive note
Our Lady of Agony	Viana do Castelo	August	Queen of pilgrimages
St. Benedict of the Open Door	Lands of Bouro, Gerês	August	Great influx from the North
Lord Holy Christ of Miracles	Ponta Delgada, São Miguel	May	Intense devotion, Azorean diaspora present
Our Lady of Peneda	Arcos de Valdevez	September	Mountain sanctuary, unique environment
St. Bartholomew	Barca Bridge	August	Riverside dances and traditions
Our Lady of Nazareth	Nazareth Farm	September	Historical connection to the sea
Bom Jesus and Holy Week	Braga	March or April	Emblematic processions
Lord of Matosinhos	Matosinhos	May	Fair, floats and sacred art
Our Lady of Remedies	Lamego	September	Monumental staircase and processions

This doesn't exhaust the map. In each district, there are pilgrimages of strong vitality and stories of devotion that deserve attention. Many parishes maintain dates that, although less publicized, sustain community life with equal force.

How a collective memory is formed

The expression "pilgrimage of pilgrimages" only makes sense because collective memory needs milestones. Childhood years, the scent of basil, the first date at the festival, a promise fulfilled in pain. The repetition of these gestures year after year transforms the festival into a clock of social time. Schools close, businesses adjust their schedules, emigrants return, musicians reserve the date. The civil calendar bows to the devotional calendar.

There's also a sense of identity. In regions where the economy has been tough and emigration has been massive, claiming that the land has the pilgrimage of pilgrimages is a way of saying: we're small, but we do great things. It's culture in its purest form, strengthening self-esteem and belonging.

Practical questions that often arise

• Is the expression official? No. It's popular and promotional.
• Who decides which pilgrimage is the most important? No one in particular. Public opinion, the scale of the event, and tradition solidify the practice.
• Can multiple pilgrimages claim the title? Yes. And that doesn't diminish the value of any of them.
• Is devotion lost with the tourist dimension? It depends on the community and the organization. Many cases demonstrate a healthy balance.
• Are there pilgrimages outside of the summer with the same intensity? Yes. The Lord Holy Christ in May, and several Easter and Lenten festivals, have a strong impact.

One certainty permeates all the answers. Pilgrimages are more than just a day on the calendar. They encompass language, memory, folk art, and faith. When someone says that a festival is the pilgrimage of pilgrimages, they're acknowledging all of this in one fell swoop. And inviting us to come see for ourselves.