2026-06-20 Waterfalls of São João

During São João, locals build intricate, miniature three-dimensional village dioramas called Cascatas. They are similar to Christmas nativity scenes but are dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and celebrate traditional Northern Portuguese village life. The image above is someone's interpretation of the Chapel of Souls which is across from our apartment, and the surrounding figures are the sights around the neighborhood.

They are called "cascatas" or "waterfalls" because they historically featured real or simulated running water trickling down stepped, terraced hillsides made of moss, cork, and stone. 

In and amongst the scenes, is João the 'Cagão' - the pooper, which is a favorite 'hidden' statue in every cascatas. According to the locals, he acts as a humorous subject, injecting playful, down-to-earth everyday reality into an otherwise religious and traditional display.  He is, indeed, in one of these shots.  Can you find him?

Here are JR and our new friend Jennifer creating their vision of what is in the neighborhood for the local cascatas. Jennifer worked on flowerpots and flowers.

There are a number of cat colonies, so that was my contribution as JR made one of the beloved women who is in the neighborhood but is blind and needs to depend on the kindness of others for coins.