The Cirio de Nazaré festival in Belém celebrates the life of Our Lady of Nazareth. The main procession is held on the second Sunday of October, but the celebrations start in August.
Tradition has it that the Cirio of Nazare was first started when a farmer and lumberman named Plácido José de Souza found a Virgin and Child image on the edge of the Murucutu creek. He took the image home, but it would mysteriously go back to the place it was initially discovered every time he brought it home.
To honor the image, Placido built a small chapel at the edge of the creek. Since then, the Cirio has been celebrated as a long procession lasting around five hours, where thousands of people follow the statue in the streets of Belém. The Cirio festival is considered to be "Christmas of the Amazon" because everyone is involved in preparing for the Saint's arrival.
During the time, new elements were incorporated into the tradition because the people wanted to honor their patron saint. Before the Cirio procession, the statue is taken by the people to the square of Ananindeua, a nearby city. When it reaches the Icoaraci pier, it is held at a Mass. It's followed by an annual river procession. This was created to honor the "watermen," who consider the Virgin of Nazareth as their patron saint.
There is a traditional contest to see who has the most colorful boat. The procession continues through the waters of Guajará Bay, culminating at the Gentil Bittencourt School. Following the parade is a candle-lit procession that symbolizes the discovery of the Saint and its return to where it was found.
When the procession passes the Old City, the faithful start to gather at daybreak the next day, believing that this will bring them closer to the Virgin. The archbishop leads the image to the carriage at 7 o'clock, while bells ring and fireworks explode. There are 15 days of festivities culminating in a religious procession; the Children's Cirio, and the Re-Cirio, which includes a shorter route back to the Gentil Bittencourt chapel.
There are various cultural elements of the celebration that reflect Brazil's multicultural society. The blending of the sacred and profane makes this event aesthetically pleasing, touristic, social, and culturally relevant. Some families transmit the celebration, with young children and teenagers accompanying their parents to the festivities. For many, the Carnivale is an annual event; for others, it's a place for public demonstrations.