Sunday, September 2, 2012

St Elizabeth of Portugal Festivities - Portugal

Elizabeth of Aragon, also known as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 – 4 July 1336; Isabel in Portuguese), was queen consort of Portugal and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
She is the patron saint of Coimbra and every two years the city hosts the Festas of the Rainha Santa to honor her. This year the festivities took place between July the 1st to the 9th.
This card was sent by Cristina who lives in Coimbra.

 
Guia Turístico do Norte
 The high point ate two religious processions, one in the day-time and the other at night, when the statue of the saint is carried across the bridge to the Graça Church, returning on the following Sunday to its permanent home in the Convent of Santa Clara-a-Nova.
Queen Isabel was King Dinis' wife. Known for her great piety, she showed great sympathy for the poor and excluded, and thus came to be known as the Holy Queen. She was canonised in 1625, an occasion for Coimbra to show its joy & enthusiasm in celebrations which lasted a whole week. - in: http://www.turismodecoimbra.pt/en/festivals-fairs-and-public-holidays/festas-da-cidade-de-coimbra-e-da-rainha-santa-isabel.html

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