Everybody loves parades, however, yesterday?s Santo Cristo procession has a cultural history that goes far deeper than marching bands and colourful outfits as it brings the Portuguese community together.

Starting after a church service at St. Theresa?s Cathedral from 2 p.m to 3.30 p.m. the procession moved down a flower-strewn Dundonald Street before 4 p.m. yesterday, as men with red gowns followed a banner honouring Santo Cristo.

The Santo Cristo procession is based on the largest religious feast in the Azores ? the Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres ? or Festival of the Christ of Miracles, which takes place on the fifth Sunday after Easter in the city of Ponta Delgada in S?o Miguel, when pilgrims follow a statue of Christ on a three-hour procession along flower decorated streets.

The first procession is said to have taken place in S?o Miguel on April 13, 1700 when the island shook with earthquakes, and in order to stop them, the Christ of Miracles statue was taken in procession around a square with religious groups and nobility following behind barefoot.

It is said the statue was worshipped by people as it passed, however, it fell off its support.

Much to the delight of the procession only a small piece of the arm was damaged, however, a 300 year-old tradition was born.

Fortunately, yesterday the seven-foot tall statue did not topple over and at least eight red-gowned men took turns shouldering the heavy load.

A marching band from the Somerset Brigade heralded the way for Catholic Bishop Robert Kurtz, followed by an unidentified girl dressed an avenging angel ? complete with wings, an upheld sword, shield and helmet.

Next came the towering, flower bedecked Santo Cristo statue, followed by the Bermuda Regiment Marching Band and Minister of Community Affairs and Sport Dale Butler.

Minister Butler said yesterday he cancelled travel plans to be in his first procession.

?Last year I was abroad and this year I was due to be abroad but I made sure that I was here on the Island to attend,? Mr. Butler said. ?One of the first things I said when I was Minister was that events like this you can only cover in a page in a regular history book. This event on its own should be a book, should be a DVD, and that was what I was trying to say, to highlight the flavour of the Portuguese community and the culture from a cultural perspective.

?The most impressive part, that we all struggle with in other cultures, is that they have all their young people here and that?s important if you are going to perpetuate one?s folklore, one?s traditions and culture.

?You have to have the young people on board. And so their families still seem to be intact and that?s an important thing and this event obviously brings the Portuguese community together, and a lot of Bermudians are here as well, and I think that bodes well for the future.?

After the statue was taken back to St. Theresa?s, the crowds gathered at a Portuguese Festival at the Bermuda Athletic Association where there was Portuguese food and music, drink, toys, games and a raffle were available.