Portuguese Settlement, Melaka
in Melaka, MalaysiaCategory: Attraction
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474, Lorong 2 Ujong Pasir, Kampung Atap, 75050 Melaka, Malaysia Print route »
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The Portuguese Settlement (Saint John's Village; Portuguese: Aldeia de São João; Malay: Kampung St. John, Kampung Portugis) is a Malacca Portuguese community in Ujong Pasir, Melaka, Malaysia.The Malacca Portuguese are a Malaysian ethnic group with mixed Portuguese and Malay, which arose during the Portuguese colonial period (16th to 17th century).
In 1933, 11 hectares of land at Malacca were purchased with the purpose of creating a haven for scattered Malacca Portuguese and their culture. The swampy land was cleared and 10 wooden houses with earth floors and attap roofs were built. Saint John's village, as that simple fishing village was originally known, soon attracted additional malacca Portuguese living all over Malacca, and grew to become one of Malacca's main tourist attractions, improving the standard of living of its villagers.
Like many other Portuguese-speaking communities around the world, the Portuguese Settlement holds a yearly "June festival" that opens with Festa Senjuang ("Feast of Saint John", June 23) and closes with Festa San Pedro ("Feast of Saint Peter", the fishermen's patron saint, June 29). This festival is attended by about 100,000 visitors from Malaysia and abroad. At the festival one can hear Malacca Portuguese folk songs and watch dancers in colourful costumes perform to the rhythm of branyu music. An important event in the festival is the blessing of the local fishermen's boats, specially decorated for the occasion, to assure good catch.
