Editing Azores (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Igreja do Colégio dos Jesuítas.jpeg|thumb|left|The [[Portuguese Architecture#Azores Islands|architecture of the Azores]] is characterized by the contrast between black volcanic stone and white stucco.]]

===Religious societies and festivals===
Religious festivals, patron saints, and traditional holidays mark the Azorean calendar. The most important religious events are tied with the festivals associated with the [[cult of the Holy Spirit]], commonly referred to as the festivals of the Holy Spirit (or {{Lang|pt|Espírito Santo}}), rooted in millenarian dogma and held on all islands from May to September. These festivals are very important to the Azorean people, who are primarily Roman Catholic, and combine religious rituals with processions celebrating the benevolence and egalitarianism of neighbours. These events are centred around {{lang|pt|treatros}} or {{lang|pt|impérios}}, small buildings that host the meals, adoration and charity of the participants, and used to store the artefacts associated with the events. On Terceira, for example, these impérios have grown into ornate buildings painted and cared for by the local brotherhoods in their respective parishes. The events focus on the members of local parishes, not tourists, but all are welcome, as sharing is one of the main principles of the festivals. Some limited events focus on tourists, including a public event that the city government of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel holds, which attracts visitors and locals.
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250
| image1 = Imperio esp santo inocentes guarita (cropped).jpg 
| image2 = Império do Espírito Santo da Serreta - Ilha Terceira - Portugal (16509600071).jpg 
| image3 = Império do Espírito Santo - Porto Martins.jpg 
| image4 = Império do Espírito Santo - Quatro Ribeiras.jpg 
| footer = {{Lang|pt|[[Cult of the Holy Spirit#Impérios|Impérios]]}} of the [[Cult of the Holy Spirit]] are found throughout the Azores.
}}
[[File:SMG PDL 20090517 SaoJose FestaSSCristo03.JPG|thumb|left|Procession of the [[Cult of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres|Cult of the Holy Lord Christ of the Miracles]]]]
The Festival of the [[Cult of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres|Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles]] ({{Lang|pt|Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres}}) in Ponta Delgada is the largest individual religious event in the Azores and takes place on [[Rogation days|Rogation Sunday]]. Pilgrims from within the Portuguese diaspora normally travel to Ponta Delgada to participate in an afternoon procession behind the image of Christ along the flower-decorated streets of the city. Although the solemn procession is only held on one day, the events of the Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo occur over a period of a week and involve a ritual of moving the image between the main church and convent nightly, ultimately culminating in the procession, which is televised within the Azores and to the Portuguese diaspora.

The Sanjoaninas Festivities in [[Angra do Heroísmo]] on Terceira are held in June honoring [[Anthony of Padua|Saint Anthony]], [[Saint Peter]] and [[John the Baptist|Saint John the Baptist]], in a large religious celebration. The festival of [[Our Lady of Lourdes]] ({{Lang|pt|Nossa Senhora de Lourdes}}), [[patron saint]] of whalers, begins in Lajes on Pico Island on the last Sunday of August and runs through the week—Whalers Week. It is marked by social and cultural events connected to the tradition of [[whaling|whale hunting]]. The Wine [[Harvest festival|Harvest Festival]] ({{Lang|pt|Festa das Vindimas}}), takes place during the first week of September and is a century-old custom of the people of Pico.

On Corvo, the people celebrate their patron saint {{Lang|pt|Nossa Senhora dos Milagres}} (Our Lady of Miracles) on 15 August every year in addition to the festivals of the Divine Holy Spirit. The {{Lang|pt|Festival da Maré de Agosto}} (August Sea Festival), takes place every year beginning on 15 August in Praia Formosa on Santa Maria. Also, the {{Lang|pt|Semana do Mar}} (Sea Week), dedicated almost exclusively to [[watersport|water sports]], takes place in August in the city of Horta, on Faial.

{{Lang|pt|[[Carnival|Carnaval]]}} is celebrated in the Azores. Parades and pageants are the heart of the Carnaval festivities. There is lively music, colorful costumes, hand-made masks, and floats. The traditional bullfights in the bullring are ongoing as is the running of bulls in the streets.

===International visitors===
During the 18th and 19th&nbsp;centuries, Graciosa was host to many prominent figures, including
*[[François-René de Chateaubriand|Chateaubriand]], the French writer who passed through upon his escape to America during the [[French Revolution]]
*[[Almeida Garrett]], the Portuguese poet who visited an uncle and wrote some poetry while there
*[[Albert I, Prince of Monaco|Prince Albert of Monaco]], the 19th&nbsp;century oceanographer who led several expeditions in the waters of the Azores. He arrived on his yacht ''Hirondelle'', and visited the ''furna da caldeira'', the noted hot springs grotto.
*author [[Mark Twain]] published ''[[The Innocents Abroad]]'' in 1869 – a travel book, where he described his time in the Azores.

=== Sport ===
Notable sports teams in the Azores include [[C.D. Santa Clara|Santa Clara]] ([[Primeira Liga]]), [[S.C. Lusitânia (basketball)|Lusitânia]] ([[Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol]]), [[Associação de Jovens da Fonte do Bastardo|Fonte do Bastardo]] ([[Portuguese Volleyball First Division]]) and [[Sporting Clube da Horta (handball)|Sporting Clube da Horta]] ([[Portuguese Handball Second Division]]).

The [[Rallye Açores]] is an international rally race held annually since 1965, which was part of the [[European Rally Championship]] and the [[Intercontinental Rally Challenge]].

The [[Azores Senior Open]] was a golf tournament held in 2008 as part of the [[European Seniors Tour]].
{{Clear}}