St. Anthony and the Fish Congregation

5th Tribute to Popular Saints – Invitation by Juvenal Nunes This June, Juvenal Nunes invites readers and writers to join in celebrating the Popular Saints. His initiative, Uma Quadra para um Santo, encourages us to share our own reflections, poems, or stories, accompanied by the festive badge.

I’m happy to participate with the following post — a tribute to Saint Anthony and the joyful traditions of Lisbon in June.

Every year in June, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Anthony. Growing up as Catholics, most of us knew him as Saint Anthony of Padua — the saint of lost things — the one we pray to when something goes missing, often with a sense of quiet urgency and hope.

 It was only during our visit to Lisbon last year that we learned from our guide that Saint Anthony was actually born in Portugal. That discovery added a whole new layer of meaning to his name for us, especially when we began to see how deeply he is woven into the city’s identity — right down to his curious “sardine congregation” and the lively street celebrations that are associated with Lisbon each June.

One thing you quickly discover in Portugal is that sardines are far more than just a fish — they’re practically a national symbol.

Every June, especially in Lisbon, the city is said to burst into street parties, music, and the unmistakable smell of sardines grilling over open flames. Saint Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon, is honoured with lively festivities, and somewhere along the way, the humble sardine became the star of the show.

Part of the charm lies in an old legend about Saint Anthony himself. When people refused to listen to his sermons, he is said to have preached to the fish instead — and the sardines supposedly gathered and “listened” attentively, their heads rising above the water. Whether taken as faith, folklore, or metaphor, it’s a story that perfectly captures his connection with the sea and with everyday people.

Mural painting in the sacristy of the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. Saint Anthony preaching to the fish - Wikimedia Commons

Sardines also happen to be in peak season in June, making them both abundant and delicious — the perfect food for large street gatherings. Affordable, simple, and shared communally, they became inseparable from the festival over time.

Today, sardines appear not just on grills but in art, souvenirs, and playful installations  — a reminder of how a simple fish became a national icon. I can’t help but wish I could experience the festival in person one day.