FIESTA SAN PEDRO

From June 23 to 29, vacationing tourists flock to Portuguese Settlement in Melaka to
commemorate the annual feast of the fishermen; Fiesta San Pedro.

The Portuguese Settlement lies along the coastline of Melaka overlooking the Straits of
Melaka. The village is situated approximately 1.24 miles south of Melaka town and is
home to over 1,000 residents who are the descendants of the former Portuguese rulers
in Melaka.

The Fiesta San Pedro commemorates the Feast Day of St Peter, the patron saint of the
fishermen; the trade the Portuguese were traditionally steeped in. The official day for
the Fiesta San Pedro is June 29th, however the festivals run for a week before-hand,
which has been running for the last 67 years, highlighting the traditional significance of
the fishing trade to this seaside community.

The celebrations will culminate on June 29th, the actual feast day of Saint Peter. Evening
falls, and High Mass is celebrated in the Settlement church in honor of the saint.
Following the Mass, the statue of the saint is carried in a procession around the
Settlement, when the priest blesses the fishing boats.

A diversity of colors, sounds and activities mark the week-long fiesta. Bazaars, blaring
music, flashing lights, amusements rides are among part of the festivals. When the night
falls, live bands perform on the main stage. Cultural performances showcase the
community's blended European and Asian heritage, with dances that are a fusion of
European costumes, instruments and Asian costumes and instruments, such as the
branyo dance.

The boats which are especially decorated for the occasion, are adorned with sketches
and paintings of the New Testament scenes, Biblical figurines, nets full of catch from the
sea and even little girls dressed in white depicting angels. The blessing of the boats
indicates the fisherman's hope for a bountiful catch for the year ahead.

For more information, contact JKKK Portuguese Settlement at +606 281 2924.



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