Are you ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of the Cascatas de São João in Porto? If you’re visiting this vibrant city during the São João festivities, you’re in for a delightful treat. The Cascatas de São João, intricately crafted miniature structures, are a sight to behold and an integral part of the neighbourhood celebrations. In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about these whimsical creations, from what they represent to where you can find them. So, let’s embark on a journey to discover the magic of the Cascatas Sanjoaninas and make your Porto experience truly unforgettable.
Go here for the Tronos de Santo António in Lisbon.
Origins and Structure
It is said that the tradition appeared in the 17th century and may have arisen from the habit of setting up nativity scenes. As we saw in the Portuguese Nativity Scenes post, these cascades also depict figures in traditional Portuguese garb. You’ll find representations of the daily life of professions that no longer exist: the washerwoman, the milkmaid, the soldier, the shepherd, the fisherman and the miller.
In other words, instead of the cascatas having the figures of Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, like in the nativities, they feature Saint John the Baptist and scenes from his life. The animals that roamed the city in those days, such as donkeys, sheep, oxen and horses, are also depicted.
The representation of St. John is always at the top of the Sanjoanina waterfall. Another indispensable factor is the water feature. The presence of water links to the baptism of Jesus by Saint John the Baptist himself.
Back to São João in Portugal.