Every June, Brazil bursts into celebration with Festa Junina, a vibrant festival rooted in both faith and tradition. At the heart of the festivities is “São João” (Saint John), which honours Saint John the Baptist. In Campina Grande, Paraíba, the celebration reaches its peak with “O Maior São João do Mundo” – the World’s Biggest São João – a citywide spectacle second only to Carnival in both scale and popularity.
Festa Junina is a rich tapestry of European pagan and Catholic rituals interwoven with Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian customs. It blends religious devotion with rural heritage, marking the winter solstice and the corn harvest. Celebrating community and countryside life, the festival has become both a cultural and economic phenomenon – in 2024 alone, it attracted 3 million visitors and generated R$700 million.
The main attraction on 21st June is the record-breaking Quadrilhão Junino at Parque do Povo – a dazzling folk dance performed by 1,010 couples in a choreographed re-enactment of a traditional rural wedding. The rhythm of forró fills the air, streets are adorned with colourful flags, and stalls overflow with corn-based treats, capturing the essence of Brazil’s beloved winter celebration.
