Fotos

Last week it was time for the snail procession. It takes place every year, in Reguengo do Fetal, a small village, not far from Fatima. It's called "snail procession" because the way followed by the procession is all decorated with empty snail shells, filled with olive oil and used as candles. This tradition has been kept for centuries and there are usually two processions: one to bring Our Lady of Fetal from Her chapel, at the top of the hill to the Parish church, in the village and another one that takes place a week later, to take Her back to her chapel. During the day, the people decorate the streets and the yards with the shells forming nice patterns. At around 20h30 there's a mass and then the sign is given for people to light the shells. The moment Our Lady reaches the doorway to abandon the church something magical happens - all the electric lights are completely turned off and the devotees follow her to the chapel at the top of the hill. No light on the way, except the light coming from the shells, like it happened centuries ago.