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Flag of the Holy Spirit

It is one of the insignia used during the Festivals of the Holy Spirit. Usually made of red silk damask, it bears at its center, in gold, the symbol of the Holy Spirit: the Crown or a dove. The flagpole may also be topped with a dove and is generally decorated with colored ribbons.

On Terceira and other islands of the central group, on the islands of the western group, and on São Miguel, the flag is one of the central insignia used in the parades and processions that form part of the ritual sequence of the Festivals. It is usually carried by the so-called ensign of the flag. In some parishes—for example, on São Jorge—it is instead the steward (mordomo) of the festival who carries it. In addition to occupying a prominent place in parades and processions, the flag also plays a significant role in other ceremonies, such as the coronation Mass or the recitation of the rosary.

On most of the islands of the Azores, the Flag of the Holy Spirit—or banner—was also used as the ceremonial insignia of the folia, the group responsible for directing and providing musical accompaniment to the festivities. The folião charged with carrying the flag—which is generally more modest in style than the banners mentioned above—is commonly referred to as the standard-bearer. The number of these folias—with the exception of Santa Maria and Flores—has meanwhile declined drastically, as musical accompaniment by philharmonic bands has become widespread at the festivals.

According to M. B. Simões (1987), the term Flag of the Holy Spirit is finally also used to designate the insignia of certain Brotherhoods or Empires of the Holy Spirit, being raised on the large mast located near the Empire during the festivities.
—João Leal (Nov. 1998)

Bibliography
Leal, J. (1994), The Festivals of the Holy Spirit in the Azores: A Study in Social Anthropology. Lisbon, Dom Quixote Publications.
Oliveira, E. V. (1986), Popular Musical Instruments of the Azores. Lisbon, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Simões, M. B. (1987), Lexical Guide to the Cult and Festivals of the Holy Spirit in the Azores. Lisbon, Institute of Portuguese Culture and Language.