(23 Apr 2020) Brazilians gathered to celebrate the popular St. George's Day on Thursday despite restriction measures taken by Rio de Janeiro's government to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus.
Instead of a colourful crowd, just a few people carrying statues showed up outside a local church.
Some lit candles, brought flowers, fruits and food to the saint that is celebrated by both Catholics and Afro-Brazilian religions.
Before sunrise, Sonia da Silva and her son Ricardo Teixeira were outside the church asking the saint to help, not just Brazil, but the world to overcome the pandemic.
"This year is different," said Anastacia Silva, an unemployed 33-year old woman who every year since 2013 goes to the church to thank the saint for helping her son Joao Marcos recover from a serious health problem.
This year she went to pray for help for the poor, whom she fears suffer worse consequences during the pandemic.
The devotion to the saint is very strong in the city where it rivals in popularity with its official patron, St. Sebastian.
The saint arrived in Brazil with Portuguese colonialists, and was embraced by African slaves.
The saint represents "ogum", an entity of the Candomble and Umbanda worshippers who believe it gives them strength and protection against all evil.
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