We find in Clermont-Ferrand the second largest Portuguese community in France. And if there's one event the world won't miss: it's Midsummer. We explain why.
It is a festive weekend for the Portuguese community. On June 21, 22 and 23, the diaspora celebrates Saint Jean in Clermont-Ferrand. It is about celebrating every year the birth of Saint Jean-Baptiste. But in fact, this date, near the summer solstice, mainly celebrates the arrival of sunny days. A weekend synonymous with joy and humor for the Portuguese: “It's one of the biggest folk festivals in Portugal. It's unmissable. To give you an idea, there are a million people in the streets of Porto every year to celebrate Midsummer..
Clermont-Ferrand has a very strong relationship with Portugal and its people. In addition to being twinned with the city of Braga, located in the north of the country, the capital of Auvergne is also home to approximately 30,000 Portuguese. For this reasonorganized Camponeses Minhotos Operating System I decided more than 30 years ago to import “Portuguese party culture” In Clermont-Ferrand. “My father's name is Jan, maybe that's why.”, joked Dennis Ferreira, vice president. So midsummer is an opportunity for the community to come together around one event. “We are approaching the summer holidays. For some they miss the country and cannot wait to be reunited with their families. Celebrating Saint-Jean in Clermont-Ferrand allows them to taste the holidays and enjoy a little of the air of Portugal in Clermont-Ferrand..
Midsummer is not short of traditions. Dennis Ferreira explains it to us: “Midsummer is an opportunity to taste traditional culinary dishes, such as grilled sardines or fartura (Portuguese pancakes) and bifana (marinated pork). The tradition also requires that you equip yourself with a plastic mallet to hit the heads of passers-by during the party. Finally, we always end Midsummer with fireworks..
On the program this weekend in the streets of Clermont-Ferrand: parade, dancing and popular concerts. Dennis Ferreira defines: “We will have a percussion group performance, a giant puppet show and a mini accordion concert.” The party also has a few surprises in store: “We will have visits from young celebrities. There will be Mario Ramsamy from the musical image group known as Les Démons de Midnight and also Claire L, singer of L5. On June 23, Eran Costa, a well-known artist in Portugal, will be present.All that is missing is a Portugal win at Euro 2024, on Saturday 22 June, in their match against Turkey to fill the Portuguese with joy.
