Elements of Azorean and Madeiran Culture

Azorean culture was fashioned by islands and oceans, by volcanic stone and cultivated fields, by faith, labor, migration, and memory. In this new Filamentos series, we explore the traditions, rituals, objects, landscapes, and forms of expression that have shaped the Azorean experience—from the Bodo de Leite and the Holy Spirit festivities to whaling, music, foodways, literature, and the enduring culture of the diaspora. Each installment will illuminate one element of this rich heritage, examining not only its origins but also how it continues to evolve across generations and beyond the archipelago’s geographical boundaries.

Bodo de Leite

The Bodo de Leite, which traditionally consisted of gathering cattle to be blessed by the parish priest, accompanied by the processional statue of Saint Anthony the Abbot, followed by milking and the distribution of milk, likely has its roots in ancient Portuguese traditions. It is also connected, however, to a particular set of social and economic circumstances.

Gaspar Frutuoso describes a similar custom when referring to the enslaved people who tended cattle on the island of Corvo. They celebrated the Feast of the Holy Spirit and, on certain days near that feast, it was customary to give them all the milk—thus attesting to the antiquity of the tradition. Ethnographic records reveal, however, that this celebration was not widespread throughout the archipelago. The Terceira ethnographer Frederico Lopes even considers it a modern festivity (Lopes, 1980: 242). As far as research has been able to establish, Bodos de Leite were held primarily on the islands of São Jorge and Terceira; only during the last three decades have they begun to take place in certain communities on other islands.

The Bodo de Leite thus refers to a ritual involving the blessing of cattle, the offering of food, and a communal meal, usually included in the program of festivities honoring a patron saint or in a summer festival. It generally occupies the morning of a Monday or Tuesday, following a day devoted to religious celebrations.

It takes place in the center of the parish in most communities on the island of Terceira and in Topo, on the island of São Jorge. More rarely, it is held in an open space away from the settlement, as at Terreiro da Macela, on São Jorge, and Almagreira, on the island of Pico.

The remaining variations concern aesthetic and organizational aspects that, to some extent, reflect adaptation to changing times, tastes, and social needs. In this respect, the incorporation of floats represents the most notable development in the festivity’s evolution. The floats have come to occupy a central place in the cattle-blessing ritual and are largely responsible for extending the celebration beyond the boundaries of the parish, transforming it into a pilgrimage destination for people from across the island.

The most significant example is the Bodo de Leite of Lajes, on the island of Terceira. In some communities, however, the Bodo de Leite is gradually falling into disuse.

Helena Ormonde (February 1999)

Bibliography

Gil, M. O. (1982), “Pastagens e criação de gado na economia açoriana nos séculos XVI e XVII.” Boletim do Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira, XL: 503–549.

Lopes, F. (1980), Ilha Terceira: Notas Etnográficas. Angra do Heroísmo: Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira, pp. 235–242.

Ribeiro, L. S. (1982), Obras. Angra do Heroísmo: Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira, vol. I, pp. 117–134, 289–301.

Based on a publication in Enciclopédia Açoriana. Photo of Bodo de Leite from Açores Hoje.