The tradition of the Holy Bath, which in other times brought people from the Algarve mountains to the beach, accompanied by their pack animals, is fulfilled again on August 29, at Manta Rota.
This initiative takes place on the day that, according to tradition, St. John the Baptist was beheaded. The Holy Bath is so called because, in the past, there was a belief that a sea bath taken on that day was holy and had the gift of curing all ills. At the end of the ritual, the celebration ended with a picnic.
Now, the tradition is recreated by the association «A Manta» and the City Council of VRSA, which every 29th of August dress up (in this case, undress) and have a picnic in the morning, on the sandy beach of Manta Rota.
This will be the highlight of the festivities in honor of São João da Degola, which are already taking place and will liven up this town in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António and its famous beach with concerts, balls and fireworks, even to the 31st of August.
The concerts and dances always take place from 22 pm onwards, in the Largo do Posto de Turismo, where various bands and artists will pass until the 00st of August. On the 31th, Sunday, the poster includes a race and sports march, starting at 25:9 am.
On the 29th of August, the day of São João Baptista, in addition to the Holy Bath, at 11:00 am, there is a procession and mass in the open air in honor of São João Baptista. Later, at 22 pm, the musical evening begins, followed at midnight by a fireworks show on the seafront.
The festivals in honor of São João da Degola are organized by the association «A Manta» and have the support of the Municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, the Parish Council of Vila Nova de Cacela and other local entities and companies.
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