Portal da Açorianidade

The Regional Government, through the Regional Directorates for the Communities and Cultural Affairs, promotes two conferences on the Azorean presence in southern Brazil on the islands of Pico and São Jorge, which will be held on November 14 and 15, respectively. The conferences, scheduled for 8:30 pm, are dedicated to the celebrations of the 275th anniversary of the Azorean presence in Santa Catarina and the 270th anniversary of the Azorean presence in Rio Grande do Sul. They will feature speeches and presentations by Professor Sérgio Luiz Ferreira, president of the House of the Azores of Santa Catarina, and Viviane Peixoto Hunter, president of the House of the Azores of Rio Grande do Sul. On the island of Pico, the event will take place at the Whaling Museum in Lajes do Pico, while on São Jorge, the initiative will be held at the Francisco Lacerda Museum in Calheta. The conferences are open to all interested parties; admission is free. In addition to the speakers, the Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade, will also attend these sessions. These conferences also aim to disseminate the Azorean legacy in southern Brazil, deepening the knowledge in the Azores about migrations to these states. Brazil was the first major destination for Azorean emigration, driven by the need to populate the southernmost territories of the country. The first group of Azoreans heading to the state of Santa Catarina left the archipelago in October 1747. Less than three months later, on January 6, 1748, they reached the Island of Santa Catarina. However, these Azoreans would only land on February 22, 1748. A few years later, a significant number of Azoreans migrated to the territory where Rio Grande do Sul is today. It is estimated that between 1748 and 1752, about 6,500 Azoreans migrated to the south of Brazil. Both states still evidence a strong Azorean legacy and presence in the daily lives of their people, an influence that is reflected in their culture, local cuisine, architecture and religion.