BETHLEHEM, Pa. — "Viva Portugal!"
It was the call of more than one guest speaker Saturday at Payrow Plaza, as a large crowd of all ages gathered for the 45th Portuguese Heritage Day weekend festival.
Demonstrating undeniable pride, many donned a variety of red, white and green T-shirts and waved flags as brightly colored as the traditional costumes on awaiting performers nearby.
“Our ancestors were bold adventurers who fearlessly traveled uncharted waters, discovering new territories and forging lasting connections with people, deeply shaping our cultural identity and collective outlook on the world,” said Tony Marinho, Ph.D. committee chair.
Marinho's grandfather was on the first planning committee for the festival, once held on the former Bethlehem Square, the plaza near the old Boyd Theatre, said Marinho, chef and owner at Curated Hospitality Consulting.
The “Day of Portugal” holiday is celebrated every year on June 10.
The date commemorates the death in 1580 of revered Portuguese poet Luís Vaz de Camões, whose famous poem, "Os Lusíadas," lauds Portugal’s maritime exploration and discoveries.
Portuguese Ambassador to the U.S. Francisco Duarte Lopes confirmed the strength of the Portugal-United States alliance in his speech.
“This is a relationship that goes way far back, 150 years,” said Duarte Lopes. He pointed out two times significant Portuguese individuals have come to Bethlehem during the 1800s, in military and science efforts.
“Our military have been together for 80 years, since the second world war, and have fought together in missions in the Balkans, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and they keep on being together, side by side, every time our security is at stake,” he said.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola met Duarte Lopes in Lisbon, Portugal, last year and invited him to Bethlehem. Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh, clapped and smiled as he thanked her and spoke of their meeting.
Mayor J. William Reynolds presented the ambassador with a proclamation from the city.
“We are truly what we are because of our people, and the stories they have brought from other places, and it truly, truly is an honor tome to be here today and be a part of this,” he said.
“We have always been a city who has welcomed people, and in turn, those who we have welcomed have welcomed others. And our Portuguese community is one of our strongest.”
Besides Boscola, local dignitaries who spoke included Portuguese American Club President Arnaldo Jorge, state Rep. Steve Samuelson, and Father Andrew Gehringer, Holy Infancy Church, who gave the blessing.
Boscola asked the crowd to keep her mother, who is in hospice, in their prayers, adding levity by telling them she mentioned to her mother this morning that she was attending the festival today, to which her mother responded, “Bring me a sardine.”
Sardines are a staple of Portuguese cuisine and were on the menu at the festival which followed the ceremony and parade across the Fahy Bridge.
In addition to the sardines, traditional food like bifanas — sandwiches made with thin slices of pork, a white wine paprika marinade, and papo secos, a light and airy bun with a crispy crust — and Portuguese donuts were among the foods served after the flag-raising and parade, at the Portuguese American Club at 337 Brodhead Ave. in South Bethlehem.
Entertainment included Sound Voyage, Ricky Fernandes, Portuguese Star Music, and folklore dancing by Rancho Raizes de Portugal from South River, New Jersey, and local troupe Grupo Folclorico Portugal no Coracao!
