Religious Events

Religious processions, funerary events, and other sacred celebrations captured during the first decades of the 20th century in Rio de Janeiro

By General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Procissão do Dia de Reis (06.01.1924) by Augusto MaltaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Three Kings' Day procession, 1924

A pulsating city full of life, Rio is no stranger to major events and shows. Things were no different at the beginning of the 20th century.

Missa Campal em homenagem ao jubileu do Cardeal Arcoverde. (1924)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Outdoor mass, 1924

The same city that was rapidly modernizing did not give up its religious traditions.

Our Lady of La Salette procession on 9/29/1929 (1929-09-29)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Our Lady of La Salette procession, 1929

The procession of Our Lady of La Salette in Rio de Janeiro in the 1920s was a significant religious event attended by thousands of devotees. As in other processions up to this day, the faithful, united in hymns and prayers, carried images of saints throughout the streets.

2nd Sunday–Feast of Our Miraculous Lady of Penha, grounds and templeGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Feast of Our Lady of Penha

This video shows a family heading to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Penha, with its imposing architecture. To this day, the sanctuary hosts devotees and pilgrims from various areas, and has consolidated its position as an important center for pilgrimage in the country.

CemeteryGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Cemeteries

Within the Pathé Baby images in the Paschoal Nardone Collection, there are scenes like this one where a family appears to be visiting a tomb and paying tribute in one of the city's cemeteries.

Foliões em baile de carnaval não identificado (1954)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Carnival

Also a celebration of religious origin, Carnival would become the face of Rio de Janeiro. Click here and see what celebrations in the first decades of the 20th century were like.

Credits: Story

Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo Paes

Secretary of State
Eduardo Cavaliere

General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Rosa Maria Araujo

Documentation Center
Maria Thereza Kahl Fonseca

Curatorship, editing and historical research
Conrado Werneck Pimentel

Text revision
Pedro Paulo Malta

Interns
Luísa da Costa de Oliveira and Marcelle Araujo Lins

Film digitization
LUPA/UFF - University Laboratory for Audiovisual Preservation

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Stories from General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

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