In Brazil, knights and masked riders take to a football pitch for religious festival

Folk in the historical town of Pirenópolis in central Brazil celebrated Monday a religious and cultural festival held annually around the Christian holiday of Pentecost.

The Festa make Divino Espírito Santo – or the Festival of the Divine Holy Spirit, blends Catholic traditions with popular folklore and theatrical performance, dating back to the early 19th century.

Knights charge at each other at what is usually a football festival. These are the Cavalhadas. Folk dressed as cavalry symbolise medieval battles between Christian knights and Moors.

Meanwhile masked riders, mascarados, are there to add fun and humour to the celebration. Their identification is kept secret.

“It may no longer work if there have been simplest the knights without the masked riders.” said one mascarado, his face hidden behind a black mask with rows of square teeth. “It’s your complete that makes this beautiful festival happen for almost 200 years.”

The festival features religions processions, masses, and symbolic rituals love the coronation of the “Emperor of the Divine.”

Acknowledged as Intangible Cultural Heritage by Brazil’s National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN), the celebration highlights the nation’s colonial roots whereas blending Catholic faith with Afro-Brazilian expression.

For the opposite folks of Pirenópolis, the festival is a point of pride and a tough part of their identification. It brings the neighborhood together across generations to organize the occasions, maintain traditions, and share their culture with visitors.

Locals value glimpse the festival as a way to contain their history and celebrate what makes their town inspiring.