Traditional festivities and ethnography: The main festival of the island takes place in Vila do Porto on August 15, in honour of the patron saint Nossa Senhora da Assunçăo. The Holy Spirit festivities take place from April to June and are very traditional. Besides its religious meaning with the crowning of the emperor and the traditional parade, its secular aspect is also of much interest. The traditional soups of the Holy Spirit, unique in the archipelago, are cooked on fire in big iron pots set on the streets. Everyone can freely eat at the same table and prove this delicious soup.
Based on the natural resources, clay and wood, the handicraft consists mainly of pottery and weaving: jerseys, patchwork quilts and linen of rare beauty.
The folklore, first influenced by popular music of the mainland provinces Beiras and Alentejo, changed due to the specific conditions of the island and gained a own shape. There are several good folklore groups that have been doing successful researches and are able to reproduce rigorously music, dances and clothing from ancient times.
A visit to the Ethnographic Museum is also recommended.