every last Sunday in August, or the first sunday in september, the great devotion to São Roque of the people of paquetá island takes the shape of a festivity called festa de São Roque - celebrated so loudly and joyously, to be regarded as the most traditional celebration on the island.

São Roque is the saint that protected against the plague, wounds, and snake bites - for this reason quite popular among farmers, and honored with countless churches in his name.

in rio, of all the churches named after São Roque, the most traditional is the one on paquetá island, made famous by the local feast for the saint - It was not always this popular, but as the years passed, it became so famous that even the Emperor dom Pedro II stared to attend, amongst the hundreds of pilgrims who would arrive in canoes bringing singing choirs and musical instruments.