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The devil roams free on the night of August 29th at Praia da Luz. On this day, Peasants from the Algarve used to flock to the coast on a pilgrimage to purify their souls with a nighttime swim in the sea.
Peasants no longer come, but accordion dances still take place in front of the beach. The local, national, and foreign communities gather as families on the sand, lighting bonfires, having barbecues, eating, drinking, and dancing.
As midnight approaches, the crowd begins to gather by the water.
At exactly midnight, chaos reigns: everyone rushes into the water for a purifying swim, screams and laughter filling the air. People run in and out of the water, splashing everywhere—chaos reigns for a few minutes… and then everything calms down.
Wrapped in towels, the celebration continues on the beach.
Praia da Luz, August 29th, 2017
