As part of the Pilgrimage to Nossa Senhora do Fetal, and constituting its high point, the nocturnal processions in honor of Nossa Senhora do Fetal, popularly known as “Procissão dos Caracóis”, take place in the Parish of Reguengo do Fetal, a community in the municipality of Batalha – Portugal, with an area of around 28 km2 and two thousand inhabitants, just 12 km from the Sanctuary of Fátima. The parish is located on the slopes of Serra de Aire.
The name “Procissão dos Caracóis” comes from the fact that they are lit from snail shells, inside which a wick is dipped in olive oil.
In addition to the two nocturnal processions mentioned above, the festival also includes a third, diurnal.
During the nocturnal processions, both the paths they take and other prominent points in the village are illuminated with snail shells. These both reproduce religious images and originate symbolic phrases, which make the parish a particular case of manifestation of popular culture, both in the national and international context.
The Parish Council of Reguengo do Fetal decided to start the process leading to the classification of the “Procissão dos Caracóis”, to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage (PCIN). This proposal is supported by the Câmara Municipal da Batalha through the Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha (MCCB) in partnership with the Higher School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (ESECS-IPLeiria).
“Oh Senhora do Fetal, who lives on that hill, don’t forget, always protect my fountain square, my fountain square is a square with joy, it was next to a palm tree that Maria always lived”.
Maria Carvalho
Reguengo do Fetal em 30/09/2022
