Aparecida - Saint's Feast-Day

(Local Name: São Benedito Festa das Congadas) São Benedito Festa das Congadas

In addition to the Old and New Basilicas there are a number of other churches in the town, among them the chapels of Santa Rita and Santa Teresinha and the church of São Benedito. The saint's feast-day, also known as the Festa das Congadas (dance plays of African origin which culminate in the crowning of the "Rei do Congo"), is celebrated in São Benedito immediately after Easter Day, when more than forty groups dance and perform in honor of the Virgem do Rosário (Virgin of the Rosary) and St Benedict. There is also a parade of folk figures of the Paraíba valley, João Paulino, Miota and Maria Angu.