Heart beat the vain butts of Viana's suit and gold

Dthe youngest to the least young, native of the county or from other cities of the country and abroad, the stewards felt the “collective pride” of dressing and orar to the vianese.

Watching one of the most important moments of the Romaria d’Agonia was a crowd that endured hours, under intense heat, to see the protagonists of the day.

The public spread between the site of the beginning of the parade, in the extinct Civil Government, to Largo de São Domingos, where it ends.

Bomb groups commanded the parade, followed by a thousand women who on this day feel “special”.

Among them was Rosa Correia. Your 78 years are no reason to stop paradeping.

“ I'm sorry for your vanity. It seems that I rejuvenate”, joked Rosa who lives in Darque, on the south bank of the river Lima.

Trajada de Morgada, explained that the “proud” of wearing the costume and the “love for the city” lead her, in the last two decades, to join the parade in the company of the granddaughter, 16 years old, who began to parade at 14, the minimum age of participation.

“ This is how tradition goes from generation to generation. I regret that my two daughters don't care about this tradition. But, come on that my daughter-in-law is like me, or even worse”, highlighted.

The green suit of Geraz do Lima was first worn by 15-year-old Leticia Portela.

Born in Portugal and raised in France, the young woman did not hide “the happiness” in participating, despite “the nervous little boy” who accompanied her during the parade.

“It’s a huge emotion that fills the heart. Although far away [France] this parade is a very beautiful way to live the tradition of the city where I was born”, said Leticia.

Alicia Sousa, dressed as a Blue Mordoma and wielding a palm, a group of the folklore group of Meadela Lavras, paraded for the second time, but confessed that “there is always a lot of emotion and nervousness”.

“I love the Agony Festivals. It's a joy to see people who don't even live in this moment. My heart accelerates”, explained the young woman, who assured “never stop feeling Romaria because it belongs to the folklore.”.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Elly Barbosa was born and lives in New Jersey, in the United States, but since the 8 months she comes to Portugal to visit the Christmas land – Ponte da Barca.

The “roots of Portugal” cultivates them during the year at the Folklorico Ranch Casa do Minho de New Jersey.

The blue costume of Serra d’Arga intensifies the same color as Elly's eyes and the anxiety at the beginning of the parade.

“ I'm very excited. I'm very proud and, at the same time, nervous to see so many people applaud. It makes us feel special”, stressed the young woman, 25 years old.

According to Vianafestas, an association that organizes Romeria, the thousand vacancies available for the 2026 edition ended in two days, “by demonstrating the desire to participate in the parade”.

Of the thousand participants, who carry millions of euros to their chests, “766 are from the municipality of Viana do Castelo, 181 from other Portuguese municipalities and 53 from the diaspora”.

The parade was born in 1968, on the initiative of the ethnographer Amadeu Costa, inspired by the former processions of stewardship of the parishes of the municipality, in which the young stewards went to the city to present greetings to the civil and religious authorities.

“ More than half a century later, the parade remains true to its roots. In the streets there are the Costumes to the Vianese and Mordoma, many of them passed from mothers to daughters and grandparents to granddaughters, but also the Costumes of Festa da Ribeira, Morgada and Ceremony and other ways to dress characteristics of the parishes of the county ", stresses the VianaFestas in the note he sent to the essays.