Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil - Festa do Divino

Today we are in Diamantina to show the Festa do Divino tradition,
a large procession prepared by the local community,
which reminds the Empire's époque.
Older than the hills, buildings and churches of 18th century of Diamantina,
it is the devotion to the Holy Spirit.
- The Hole Spirit is God. It is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
So, other than Saints, the Holy Spirit is not an intercessor, he is the author of the grace.
In the intimacy of the faithful, he is simply called Divino.
- In any trouble, I always remember of my closest friend, which is Divino.
I ask, close my eyes and picture just as if I was talking to you.
He replies me a lot.
But the tradition to celebrate him wasn't born here.
- In Portugal, Queen Isabel de Castela, wife of King Dom Dinis,
built a church in Alenquerque to the Holy Spirit.
At the first celebration ever made to the Holy Spirit,
they catch the poorest beggar and coronate him as if he was the King.
They dress him with an imperial tog and after the celebration,
they went on a procession until the palace where it was served a sumptuous lunch.
That mobilized the Portuguese Court in such a way that
they asked King Dom Dinis the permission to repeat this act everywhere in Portugal.
Pay tribute to Divino became a law, created in Portugal,
but established also in the colonies.
Even after several centuries, Diamantina preserved the tradition.
Every year, one inhabitant offers to be the Emperor.
He chooses his court and organizes the procession.
A procession and its imperial garments.
Dona Dina has a gathering.
The family started its participation in the Festa do Divinio in the twenties.
- The best homage I can make to him is to offer my family at the celebrations.
I try to create it pretty.
I don't think a lot; I free my dreams and create,
trying to homage and set him happy and satisfied.
That's what I can do to return his favors.
Next year, Jessica will materialize her grandma's shared dream;
become the Empress of Divino once she reaches the age of 15.
- I always asked my grandma: 'Grandma, I want to be the Empress',
and she said: 'Your turn will come, just wait'.
And how many Diamantina inhabitants have lived theirs Empire days?!
At the Rosário Church, this document of 1745 reveals the celebration's importance.
It already treated the procession as a tradition.
- It is an old tradition at this sisterhood to elect every year,
just like the Divíno's Emperors, a Queen and a King.
Accordingly to the tradition, they will always have to be black.
Therefore, in this document made by the Sisterhood of Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Negros,
we can see that even in 1745 they already treated it as an old tradition.
Even though is an aristocratic celebration,
it is still a popular celebration, where everyone participates.
Thereby, Diamantina prepares every detail of the procession.
Months before the celebration begins, the dressmakers of Diamantina work starts.
Piece by piece, it all follows the style defined by the celebrators.
But all accordingly to tradition's accuracy.
By the hands of Dona Coroaci have passed dickers of garments this year,
giving her a lot of work.
- Lot of work. I've done some needlework for one entire month in the past.
Full of details, lot of embroideries.
Once I spent 400 meters of embroidery in just one dress.
A little medal of Divino in the sewing machine and Dona Coroaci continues the history.
- We vow to make it all different. No one repeats a garment from the last years.
We valorize our work a lot. It is a pretty garment.
We got to work hard? But it will be appreciate after all.
At the building where Chica da Silva lived,
the procession's high fashion became an exhibit.
This Empress dress was wear in the seventies.
The old garments and photos were the research source
for fashion design students, which crated new models.
During a year, students researched Diamantina's celebration.
They didn't only want to create outfits that could be used on the procession,
but also understand details of this tradition.
And thenceforward get to know more about Brazilian fashion.
- Since it's an outfit that prioritizes the high fashion,
nothing can be made without care; it has a first class finishing.
That is preserved for ages.
Noble fabrics, nicety in the finishing.
Carmem e Ivana also spent a year among sewing threads and needles.
Not to create celebration garments, but small pieces of a miniature procession.
- The festivity is a celebration of interesting apparatus and joy.
The red, white and gold prevail, which are strong colors.
All celebration's acts are present.
The Emperor and the Divino flag.
Our Holy Mother surrounded by angels.
The apostles.
Angels that represent talents of the Holy Spirit.
The Empress.
And even the Military Police band.
The procession miniature will be part of a museum about the Divino celebration.
- I'm very proud of Diamantina's festivities.
I believe that Diamantina has a strong cultural tradition
and I believe that this tradition has to be showed.
Visitors have to acknowledge our culture.
- The Festa do Divino demonstrate that Diamantina is a lively cultural humanity heritage.
It is not an idle town, a display, as an old museum concept.
Sunday of Festa do Divino and Diamantina wakes up decorated.
The Marujada dances along the streets, way before the crowd arrives.
And make reverence to the Emperor and to the Empress.
- At this happy moment, I find myself at your presence.
The Emperor opens the procession carrying the Divino's flag.
- At the beginning, when we are placed and voted as the Emperor, we get affected a lot.
When it gets closer to the celebration, we get agonized.
As the festivity goes on we relax, it is a nice and delicious felling.
Inhabitants and tourists spread across the streets and balconies
to watch the procession pass by.
- It is a felling of olden times maintenance and history presence,
of faith, of proud, of heritage; a marvelous felling
being from Diamantina and to protect our culture.
- Memories, history redemption.
Wonderful. Indescribable.
I congratulate Diamantina.
- Very attractive, amazing celebration. Every year gets prettier.
Given that accordingly to Portugal tradition the crowd could represent
the empire at the celebration, no royal garment was forgotten.
Even after such a long time, Diamantina accurately keeps this tradition.
And the luxury, not only from the garments, but also from the flags and banners,
is a strong characteristic during the procession.
- These traditions were all preserved along the centuries.
We can securely guarantee that this is one of the most important festivities in Brazil.
- Every merrymaker usually makes a better performance
compared to the last years, with lots of grandiosity.
Seu Antônio came wearing a morning dress and a top hat.
He inspired in a memorable inhabitant.
- I'm very happy. I intended to come just as Juscelino K., when he tenured.
I tried to find a shining top hat but I got this instead.
The Military Police band finishes the procession and plays the Divino Revelry.
There is no sheet music and known author, but the song,
created a century ago, pass by band generations.
The procession finishes when it arrives at the Capela do Amparo, for a blessing.
- It is touching. As far as for its history, tradition, culture and faith.
People really come and believe that it is an Empire procession, it is the Holy Spirit.
I got really thrilled, a lot of times.
Created by: Globo Minas
Subtitles by: www.diamantina-travel.com.br