Festivities grounded in religious devotion prevails at Festa San Pedro

Rejoicing and merriment prevails with much gusto but for Festa San Pedro (Feast of St. Peter), the patron saint of the Portuguese Settlement fishermen and folks indirectly involved in the fishing industry, their annual festivities are also grounded in religious devotion, fervour and traditional rituals dating back to the days when the Portuguese ruled Malacca between 1511 and 1641.

Apart from the customary Eucharistic Celebration at the settlement’s Chapel of the Rosary, a procession bearing the statue of St. Peter, blessing of the decorated fishing boats are still steadfast while a new item, the staging of a 30-minute narration and song drama on the saint’s life story made its debut recently.

Undertaken by a 30-strong cast comprising youths of the parish of St. Peter in Pengkalan Rama and their settlement counterparts, the drama staged at the open air stage at the Portuguese Square (Medan Portugis) was produced and supervised by retired teacher Tony D’Silva.

Festive lightings: The boats on parade.

According to settlement regedor (headman) Peter Gomes, the festivities listed in the Tourism Malaysia Calendar of Events since the late 1980s would draw droves of local and outstation visitors as well as tourists both local and foreign. All proceedings have survived through the ups and downs of the Malacca Portuguese-Eurasian community and spells a one-of-a-kind celebration in the South-East Asian region, noted Gomes.

He said that the feast has been part and parcel of their lives ever since their ancestors took to fishing in the old days. “Although fishing is now not a predominant livelihood, we as a community have a duty to make sure related festivities and celebrations stay alive,” he said. Of the religious aspects linked to the feast, the boat blessing ceremony has a very long history. The ritual dates back over some five hundred years to the Age of Exploration when Prince Henry the navigator launched Portugal on its seafaring crusade. To commemorate this event, vessels are put out to sea.

At the start: The procession bearing the statue of St. Peter leading the crowd.

The boats are first cleaned and then tastefully decorated with Biblical quotes and scrolls, flags, candles, miniature illumination, buntings and lighted candles. This year, images of St. Peter, angels, mermaids and young anglers were deployed to add still more realism and originality.

The blessing of the boats ceremony conducted by the religious priests is undertaken to implore God’s blessings for a better and bigger catch in the days ahead. The religious significance behind lighted candles lining the boats’ edgings denotes the “light of faith” which guide fishermen through the hardships of life while bringing them to havens of refuge. The recent religious aspects witnessed the presence of Bishop Paul Tan of the Malacca-Johore Diocese along with diocesan vicar general Monseigneur Sebastian Francis, Fr. Michael Mannayagam the parish priest of St. Peter’s Church and Deacon Anthony Chua.

Blessings: The procession leading to the water front.

The bishop was the principal celebrant at the late evening Eucharistic Celebration and together with Deacon Chua jointly conducted the blessing of the boats ritual. Also in attendance were members of the Irmaos de Greja (Brothers of the Church organisation) which is regarded as the oldest church-based society in South-East Asia. The society members were directly involved in the procession bearing the statue of St. Peter and took care of general organisational chores and tasks linked with all religious procedures and guidelines associated with the three-day feast celebration.

The three-day festivities incorporated food and fun fairs, educational exhibitions, traditional games and pastimes, football competitions, aerobics and cultural performances plus a host of stalls selling various merchandise ranging from religious articles to clothes. Garnering brisk business were the food stalls with emphasis strictly laid on traditional community fare, fragrant curries, cuisine, dried and packed foodstuffs and delicacies and dishes both for sampling, on-the-spot consumption or purchases for home and friends.

All in a row: Boats of fishermen belonging to the Portuguese-Eurasian fishing folks residing at the Portuguese Settlement gaily decorated and waiting to be blessed and judged as part and parcel of the annual Festa San Pedro held annually in the latter part of June.

Traditional song and dance routines with authentic costumes and backdrops along with in-house entertainment talent shows were also staged nightly to keep visitors from all over Malaysia and Singapore entertained. For sisters and brothers formerly from the settlement and currently residing or working outstation or across the causeway, the festivities proved a time for reunions and re-bonding of friendships and catching up with former neighbours, family members and old friends of yesteryears.

As Gomes aptly concluded, “During the 130 years of Portuguese rule, the community inherited a priceless jewel - a heritage beyond monetary value, this being the Portuguese-Eurasian culture, traditions and heritage, of which Festa San Pedro is richly part and parcel of.”

-thestar online.