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The fireworks mark the end of the official festivities. It is common for citizens of Porto to keep celebrating until the first hours in the morning. They walk from Porto's riverside core - Ribeira (for instance the parish of
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spectacle, which now includes multimedia shows. The party has
Christian roots but is also mixed with pagan traditions, with the fireworks embodying the spirit of tribute to the sun.
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Festivities have been held in the city for more than six centuries. During the 19th century Saint John's day became the city's most important festival.
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commented that "Porto's Festa de São João is one of Europe's liveliest street festivals, yet it is relatively unknown outside the country".
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A tradition with roots in pagan courtship rituals is for people to hit each other either with garlic flowers or soft plastic hammers.
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Traditional attractions of the night include street concerts, dancing parties, bonfire jumping, eating barbecued sardines,
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competitions, bonfires, fireworks, feasting, drinking, raves, procession, decorations, national dress, sports
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Webpage of a conference at
University of Porto with short description of the city and the Saint John party
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and meat, drinking wine and releasing illuminated flame-propelled balloons over Porto's summer sky.
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The party starts early in the afternoon of 23 June and usually lasts until the morning of 24 June.
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where they wait for the sunrise near the sea, and sometimes, take a bath in the ocean.
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At midnight, partygoers make a short break to look at the sky at Saint John's
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The
Guardian, 12 June 2004, "There's only one São João"
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Report about Saint John's party on site WhatsOnWhen.com
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Travel
Channel YouTube Video 'Festival of São João'
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251:Official Site of the Saint John's Parties in Porto
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302:Official Website of Porto's Saint John party
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193:) up to the seaside in Foz (parishes of
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208:In June 2004, a journalist from
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201:) or in the nearby suburb of
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125:Festa de São João do Porto
55:Festa de São João do Porto
24:Festa de São João do Porto
353:Summer events in Portugal
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222:Bonfires of Saint John
150:Saint John the Baptist
16:Portuguese festival
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102:23 June 2025
81:Celebrations
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191:São Nicolau
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164:Description
52:Also called
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203:Matosinhos
128:(English:
106:2025-06-23
199:Nevogilde
134:Midsummer
114:Frequency
75:midsummer
43:, during
305:Archived
287:Archived
216:See also
183:firework
146:Portugal
45:São João
156:History
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93:June 23
117:annual
238:Notes
142:Porto
64:Porto
41:Porto
39:, in
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89:Date
70:Type
35:The
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