(Long Island, NY) The century-old Portuguese community on Long Island will officially kick-off June as “Portuguese Heritage Month” in 2014 with the 3rd annual Portugal Day Celebration in Farmingville on May 24th and the first parade in over two decades on June 8th in Mineola. The two events were officially announced this weekend on behalf of their respective organizers.
First, on May 24th at 7pm, over 500 residents from the Counties of Nassau, Suffolk and Borough of Queens will join together in Farmingville for what is expected to be the largest assembly of the area’s Portuguese leaders to formally celebrate the “Day of the Portugal, the Communities and Camoes.” The “Portugal Day Celebration” reception, hosted by President Fernando Trindade and the Portuguese American Center of Suffolk (Farmingville), will include invited representatives from over twenty local organizations, elected officials and distinguished guests to celebrate the highest holiday on the Portuguese calendar. This event will feature performances by Portuguese-American students signing the national anthems, folklore dancing from ensemble Aldeias de Portugal and a presentation of the “persons of the year” at the conclusion of the evening. The night’s highlights will be a Keynote Speech by Portuguese Parliament Member Maria Joao Avila and the honoring of philanthropists Jose Covas and Candida Maia, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Nassau Comptroller George Maragos and Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine. Due to limited seating an RSVP is required by contacting the PAC of Suffolk at (631) 736-1254.
The century-old Portuguese community on Long Island will officially kick-off June as “Portuguese Heritage Month” in 2014 with the 3rd annual Portugal Day Celebration in Farmingville on May 24th and the first parade in over two decades on June 8th in Mineola. Photo Credit: Long Island Portuguese Community.
Two weeks later, on Sunday June 8th, the Village of Mineola will be home to the Long Island Portugal Day Parade, the first for the Long Island community since the only other one in history back in 1992. Portuguese American and Deputy Mayor of the Village of Mineola Paul Pereira said “it is a dream come true for me to see this parade happen right here in Mineola.” The parade will start at 11am on Jackson Avenue and end around 1pm at the Mineola Portuguese Center’s annual feast & carnival at Wilson Park. “This is a great way to unite the community and I am proud to be a part of its inception.” Said Manuel Rodrigues, president of event organizer Portuguese Heritage Society – Lusitano. In a symbolic gesture to commemorate a parade “twenty years in the making,” parade director Rosa Leal of the Mineola-based group Daughters of Portugal, have announced that the inaugural Grand Marshals will be the “Children of the Community,” since none have ever seen a parade on Long Island in honor of their culture. Applications are available by emailing liportugaldayparade@gmail.com.
“The Portuguese-American community has a rich history and tradition which has helped make Long Island the place it is today. It’s wonderful to have these events which celebrate our heritage and culture, especially with the parade taking place in my hometown of Mineola. I look forward to participating in them,” said Portuguese American New York State Senator Jack Martins.
Both events will additionally include the participation of the Mineola Portuguese Center, Portuguese American Center of Suffolk (Farmingville), Portuguese Heritage Society (Mineola), L.I.P.A.C. (Brentwood) and the Alheirense Cultural Center (Mineola), over a dozen of their associated subsidiary groups and independent organizations Long Island Portuguese Lions Club (Mineola), Academia do Bacalhau (Farmingville), Daughters of Portugal (Mineola), Portuguese Continental Union (Mineola), Escola Julio Dinis (Mineola), Escola Nuno A. Pereira (Jamaica) and the American Foundation for Charities of Portugal (Hicksville), among others.
More information is available by contacting liportuguese@gmail.com on Facebook at LIPortuguese and Twitter at LIPortuguese.
