WIf someone were to ask me which three trees I associate with the city of Porto in northwestern Portugal, my answer would be: linden, magnolia and rosewood, or in other words: Tilia tomentosa, Magnolia grandiflora and Jacaranda mimosifolia, which are currently blooming profusely, i.e. squares and Finely perfume parks. And of course decorate with flowers in white or purple. Sure, there are other distinctive species, but these three really can’t be overlooked at the moment.
Supposed “lavender trees” next to neatly tiled churches even caught the eye of British tourists who actually only wanted to see and hear the “Gorillaz” in the Parque da Cidade. No, not monkeys in some city park, but the band that once became famous through a deliberately stereotypical cast – with four cartoon characters in 2-D. All fans know that their singer and songwriter had his breakthrough eighteen years ago with an album called “Parklife”. So now postage and a performance in pink at the Primavera in the Parque.
To describe this music festival, which is now held in six cities on three continents, as a springtime ritual would be both right and wrong. On the one hand, it’s already June, on the other hand, some make a pilgrimage from New York across the pond or year after year from all over Europe, because Corona is allowing it again at the moment. And when the free flower crowns are proudly worn to breakfast or shopping the next day, it is reminiscent of Scandinavian midsummer festivals with a lavish portion of pop or gypsophila.
On June 23rd, the Festa da São João is celebrated in Porto, the big city festival on St. John’s Eve. On this occasion, flower pots are given away, with a love verse on each flag.
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Image: sks
That this carnation should subtly commemorate the peaceful putsch in 1974, which paved the way for democracy after decades of dictatorship, would probably be much too far-fetched: Which festival visitor is so familiar with botany and the history of the country to be able to think of a delicate wink with a bunch of gypsophila? The “Girls & Boys” from the UK must have had a hard time with the questionnaire at the information stand for the European Parliament. They were able to vote for the last time in 2019 and would now have to admit via tablet that they no longer intend to do so. There were cloth bags as a reward, while elsewhere you were tempted with T-shirts, free beer, unusual drinks or simply water from Porto, pure or flavored with lemon or orange slices. Extensive studies could be carried out on the culinary offerings at a festival, depending on the region and the changing times. The food here is obviously carnivorous, and the wine is not just white or red, but in an unusual variety and stylish cups. From plastic.
In honor of John
The Portuguese know how to party, and Porto is currently preparing for the Festa da São João, the big city festival on St. John’s Eve on June 23rd. This marks the end of the asparagus and rhubarb season here, and flower pots are being given away here: “Manjerico”, Ocimum minimum, a type of bush basil with small, intensively scented leaves (mainly of geranyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol and 3-octanol). From a distance this is reminiscent of the once popular bobbed haircuts when approaching the city center stalls where the pots of decorative greenery are currently for sale.
Paper flags rise up from it, which carry no religious message, even if they are given away in honor of the three popular saints Peter, John (in Porto) and Anthony (in Lisbon). However, the herbal balls are gifts of love to the wife or girlfriend, so there are appropriate verses on them that tell something about kissing, for example: Não mandes beijos, amor. Beijar é face com face. A agua tem mais sabor, junto da fonte onde nasce. Have fun interpreting!