The Regional Government of the Azores will grant time off on May 6, the Monday of the Santo Cristo festivities, to regional public administration workers whose services are based on the island of São Miguel.
The order issued by the Presidency of the Regional Government, published today in the Official Journal, also determines that public administration workers with offices in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, will be allowed to take time off on May 9, the Thursday of the Santo Cristo festivities.
Exceptions are made for “employees of services and bodies which, for reasons of public interest, must remain in operation during that period, under terms to be defined by the competent member of the Regional Government”.
The executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) states, however, that “without prejudice to the continuity and quality of the service to be provided, the top managers of the services and bodies […] must promote the equivalent exemption from the duty of attendance of the respective workers, on a day to be set in due course”.
The order signed by President José Manuel Bolieiro stresses that the feast in honour of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres “has a profound meaning for Azoreans, mobilizing sentiment, faith and adherence in the Azores and in the diaspora”.
“The centuries-old tradition confirms that the festival in Ponta Delgada is of great importance in mobilizing the entire population of São Miguel, with all the municipalities joining in,” he said.
The Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, which bring together thousands of people in Ponta Delgada from all the islands of the archipelago, the mainland and emigrants from the United States and Canada, are held every year on the fifth Sunday after Easter.
This year’s celebrations kick off on May 3rd.
On Sunday, May 5, the image of Santo Cristo runs through the main streets of Ponta Delgada during a procession that has been held since 1700 and is the highlight of the religious festivities.
In another order published today in the Official Gazette, the Government of the Azores grants time off to public service workers based on the islands of São Jorge, Pico and Faial, on May 21, the Tuesday of the Divine Holy Spirit.
Exceptions are made for “employees of services and bodies which, for reasons of public interest, must remain in operation during that period, under terms to be defined by the competent member of the Regional Government”, the order states.
Also in this case, it is stated that there should be “the equivalent exemption from the duty of attendance of the respective workers, on a day to be determined in due course”.
The executive stresses that “the celebration of the Divine Holy Spirit has a profound significance for the Azorean people and their identity, and its cult is celebrated on all the islands of the Autonomous Region of the Azores”.
“Traditionally, the festivities associated with the cult of the Divine Holy Spirit on the islands of São Jorge, Pico and Faial extend beyond the Monday of the Divine Holy Spirit, which this year takes place on May 20, the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores,” explains the order signed by the chief executive.
The Holy Spirit Festivities in the archipelago, one of the most popular celebrations in the Azores, begin after Easter and run until the following eighth Sunday, the Sunday of the Trinity, but they can last well into the summer.
These festivities are also celebrated in emigrant communities, mainly in the United States and Canada.
The Monday of Espírito Santo was chosen to celebrate the Day of the Region, which this year will be celebrated on May 20, the next Monday, a regional holiday.
