São Jorge is an island in the central Azorean archipelago. It one of the Triangle island with Pico and Faial as neighbours. São Jorge's is a relatively long thin island with tall cliffs, and where the population (approximately 10,500 habitants) is concentrated on various deltas along the north and south coasts (its east to west length is 53 km and its north to south width is 8 km and its area is 237.59 km²).
History
The Azores were populated after 1430 by the initiative of Infante D. Henrique. On 23rd of April this island has a festivitie dedicated to Saint George which we think that it's where the name of the island came from. Although unclear, Azorean chroniclers believe that settlement was concentrated in the two communities of Velas and Calheta, and developed into the interior. What is certain is that the island was populated by the time that João Vaz Corte Real, the Captain-donatário of Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira) obtained the captaincy of the island, by contract on May 4, 1483. By 1500, the settlement of Velas was elevated from villa to municipality (giving rise to the supposition that Velas was the first center on the island).Climate
In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, in an area of high pressures the island benefits from the influence of the Gulf Stream that maintains water temperatures between 17º and 23ºC, and atmospheric temperatures hovering between 13° and 24°C. Annual humidity hovers around 75% and the level of precipation has molded the physical appearance of the island
Human geography
Historically the communities were linked by coastal ports since the trails in the interior were barely transitable. Consequently, communities were isolated from one another necessitating local solutions to common problems and building local ties between families.
Velas, Calheta and Topo have developed due to the fact that they were near the ports and local economies, in addition to administrative necessity and central positions.
Administratively, São Jorge is divided into two municipalities: Calheta in the east with five parishes and Velas in the west with six parishes. The rural population is basically aligned along the lines of communication divided by areas of unpopulated pastureland between localities.
Culture, Tradition & Tourism
There are the festivals of Espírito Santo that concentrate on the many impérios around the island, and are an important manifestation of the religious character of the islands. These festivals occur every Sunday during the seven weeks before Easter, and culminate on the seventh Sunday, Pentecosts.There are processions to the church and masses associated with this festival, but also include serving meat-soup-like broth and gathering of the local citizens for conversation and/or dancing.
Velas' Semana Cultural (Culture Week) is also another festivity that mixes local traditions and cultural influences from abroad. During this week expositions and presentations of local Azorean culture are mixed with local concerts, and finally a regata between Velas and Horta, Faial during the first week of July. Meanwhile, in the village of Calheta the Festival de Julho (the July Festival) highlights four days of festivities that brings together ethnic processions, musical comedies, theatrical presentations and local sports competitions.
The Romarias (religious pilgrimages) are a tradition of the island's Catholic communities, and strongly linked to catastrophes associated with historical earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Romaria de Nossa Senhora de Carmo occurs every year in the Fajã dos Vimes (July 16th), and the Romaria de Santo Cristo in the Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo, are popular processions where many faithful walk between religious sanctuaries, praying and stopping for mass at local churches.
Tradition
The local gastronomy includes local plates of fish and pork with an abundance of spices.Clam dishes are fairly unique to São Jorge, being the only location in the archipelago where clams are discovered in Fajã Caldeira de Santo Cristo. The sweets are: coscorões, roquilhas de aguardente, espécies, suspiros, olvidados, bolos de véspera, cavacos, queijadas de leite, and açucareura branca.
We also have the traditional corn-bread (made from white or yellow cornmeal) .The Azorean yam was also an important base of the local diet, as well as an export product. The local São Jorge cheese has been the most important part of the local economy, resulting in the establishment of an order, the Confraria do Queijo de São Jorge, to promote the consumption and sale of this popular cheese
