FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY

These festivities are held eight weeks after Easter Sunday, as per the church calendar. The celebration is based on a legend that explains how a pest of insects attacked the barns of Dominican friars, and how the tragedy was remedied. Due to the origins of the festival, blessed “merendeiras” (bread rolls) are thrown out during the procession when it passes through Carvalho do Outeiro road, which is in the centre of the town of Batalha. Onlookers catch and keep these “merendeiras” throughout the year, in order to keep moths and other insects out of their wardrobes. The festivities are an interesting religious celebration, where an “ Emperor” leads the procession of offerings with richly decorated trays.